| Italy: (14) 24 |
| Try: Capuozzo, Penalty Pen: Allan 4 |
| France: (19) 29 |
| Tries: Flament, Ramos, Dumortier, Jalibert Pen: Ramos Con: Ramos 3 |
Defending champions France got here from behind to avoid a shock defeat and beat Italy in an exciting Six Nations recreation.
The Azzurri led 24-22 earlier than Matthieu Jalibert sniped over from shut vary as France claimed a bonus-point win.
The guests seemed snug due to first-half tries by Thibaud Flament, Thomas Ramos and Ethan Dumortier.
But Ange Capuozzo scored earlier than Italy had been awarded a penalty try to Tommaso Allan kicked 4 penalties – however the hosts couldn’t cling on in Rome.
Victory for France stretches their unbeaten run to 14 matches after they received the Grand Slam final yr.
They journey to Dublin to face world quantity one-ranked Ireland on Saturday whereas Italy face England at Twickenham a day later.
Winning French mentality prevails
France received each recreation they performed in 2022 and they’re going to have wished to start out the brand new yr with an announcement victory and efficiency with their residence World Cup seven months away.
It began in keeping with the plan as Flament latched on to a unfastened Italian cross to run clear and rating the opening attempt with an interception.
Ramos was the beneficiary when Romain Ntamack’s meant cross-field kick for Damian Penaud was palmed again to the full-back to dot down for the second.
Ntamack was extra correct together with his subsequent try at kicking vast, measuring his help to perfection for Dumortier to say the ball with out breaking stride and rating a attempt on his worldwide debut.
Despite being three tries behind, Italy had been on the scoreboard courtesy of Allan’s boot, and gained reward for his or her determination to play with dynamism because the thrilling Capuozzo produced a wonderful end to attain the hosts’ first attempt.
A penalty attempt after the interval – with former France captain Charles Ollivon despatched to the sin bin within the course of – and one other Allan penalty crusing over the posts noticed Italy take the lead and threaten to spring an enormous shock on the opening weekend.
But France are usually not among the many favourites for the World Cup for nothing and their profitable mentality prevailed as they rallied and acquired again in entrance when substitute Jalibert in the reduction of inside and powered over for his aspect’s fourth attempt.
The victory, together with a hard-earned bonus level, continues France’s profitable run and units them up for what is going to certainly be a titanic recreation in opposition to Ireland.
Italy, in the meantime, will achieve big confidence from working the much-vaunted guests shut on the again of beating Australia within the autumn and can go to Twickenham subsequent weekend anticipating to make life very tough for England.
Line-ups
Italy: Ange Capuozzo; Pierre Bruno, Juan Ignacio Brex, Luca Morisi, Tommaso Menoncello; Tommaso Allan, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (capt), Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: Luca Bigi, Federico Zani, Pietro Ceccarelli, Edoardo Iachizzi, Giovanni Pettinelli, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Fusco, Edoardo Padovani.
France: Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Yoram Moefana, Ethan Dumortier; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (capt); Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Uini Atonio, Thibaud Flament, Paul Willemse, Anthony Jelonch, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: Gaetan Barlot, Reda Wardi, Sipili Falatea, Romain Taofifenua, Thomas Lavault, Sekou Macalou, Nolann Le Garrec, Matthieu Jalibert.
