France moved to the brink of back-to-back Six Nations Championship titles after a scrappy but ultimately decisive 33–8 win over Italy under the roof in Lille on Sunday.
Les Bleus have taken maximum points from three rounds and can seal the championship with a match to spare if they claim another bonus-point victory against their nearest challengers, Scotland, in Edinburgh on March 7. France have not lifted successive Six Nations crowns since 2006–07.
While France’s defence again stood firm, their attack lacked the fluency that produced 13 tries across wins over Ireland and Wales. They raced to a 19–0 lead inside 30 minutes, aided by Italian errors, before labouring through a stop-start contest to put the result beyond doubt late on.
The opener arrived in the fourth minute when captain Antoine Dupont chipped through for winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who became the first player in the Championship’s 143-year history to score a try in eight consecutive matches.
France’s early pressure told again when man-of-the-match lock Emmanuel Meafou powered over for his maiden Test try, and fullback-turned-flyhalf Thomas Ramos added another after pouncing on an Italian lineout overthrow.
At 19–0, a repeat of last year’s rout in Rome looked possible. Instead, France eased off and Italy responded through a try from electric fullback Ange Capuozzo and a penalty by flyhalf Paolo Garbisi to trail 19–8 at the break.
Italy were competitive through the third quarter, disrupting France at the breakdown and winning turnover ball, but struggled to convert pressure into points. The turning point came in the 71st minute when winger Louis Lynagh was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on. With Capuozzo off receiving treatment and Italy briefly reduced to 13 men, France struck decisively.
Ramos’ perfectly weighted kick-pass bounced kindly for debutant winger Gaël Dréan to stroll in, before Ramos set up centre Émilien Gailleton for the fifth and final try.
“It was a tough match, very tight, against an opponent who put us under pressure, especially in the rucks,” said France head coach Fabien Galthié. “At one point it became a real arm wrestle.”
Italy captain Michele Lamaro lamented missed chances during a first-half spell when his side had France on the ropes. “You are playing one of the best teams in the world. You have to be precise and concrete,” he said.
France had been forced into a late reshuffle after flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert withdrew with a calf niggle, but Ramos adapted seamlessly as Les Bleus did just enough to keep their title charge firmly on track.
“It wasn’t our most complete performance,” Ramos admitted. “Italy fought hard. We have two matches left to go and get the title.”
English