Italy 18-40 France: Visitors claim bonus-point win in Rome
By Keith Moore
Last Updated: 11/03/17 4:01pm
France moved to third in the Six Nations standings with a 40-18 win over Italy in Rome on Saturday.
The Azzurri enjoyed a strong start as captain Sergio Parisse took an offload from Carlo Canna to score the opening try in the fourth minute. Camille Lopez then slotted two penalties to Carlo Canna's one to make it 8-6 to Italy at the end of the first quarter.
Gael Fickou scored France's first try shortly after which Lopez converted, and the fly-half traded further penalties with Canna which meant the teams went into the break with France 16-11 to the good.
Virimi Vakatawa followed up another Lopez penalty with France's second try of the afternoon before scores from Louis Picamoles and Brice Dulin sealed the victory for Les Bleus.
Turning point
In the 44th minute, with France eight points ahead, Gael Fickou switched play deep in his own half, took the ball up to the line and threw a dummy to slip between Andries van Schalkwyk and Andrea Lovotti.
The midfielder burst to the hallway line where he drew Luke McLean and released Vakatawa down the left touchline. The winger looked to have enough pace to finish off the move, but he was hunted down by full-back Edoardo Padovani who tackled Vakatawa into touch.
Despite seeing off the initial threat, Italy were unable to clear their lines for almost four minutes before Vakatawa finally crashed through a gap to score under the sticks. With the Azzurri 15 points behind, they were unable to get themselves back into the game.
What it means
Italy are consigned to the bottom of the Six Nations standings, with no competition points from four outings. A trip to Murrayfield to take on Scotland is all that stands between the Italians and a campaign without so much as a losing bonus point.
While there have been moments of brilliance from Conor O'Shea's side, the classic Italy problem of falling away in the last 30 minutes of games has haunted them once again in 2017.
The good
Neither side will come away from Stadio Olimpico feeling like they dominated completely, but for France the scrum was in the ascendancy throughout the encounter. There were also good individual performances from Fickou, who is forming a formidable partnership with Remi Lamerat, as well as Picamoles and scrum-half Baptiste Serin who was a nuisance around the fringes of the ruck.
The bad
For Italy it was the loss that puts them on the brink of a 12th wooden spoon in 18 Six Nations appearances, which will do nothing to silence those who are calling for a promotion-relegation system for the championship.
In the game itself, the home side's lineout was woeful which is cause for immediate concern.
Stat of the day
Italy have not won a Six Nations encounter since a 22-19 success in February 2015. Their opponents that day were Scotland - a good omen for next week?
Tweet of the day
No split loyalties from Stade Francais who were happy to see one of their players open the scoring in Rome, even at the expense of their national side.
