Six Nations, too much France for Italy: Azzurri fall 33-8

Against the most in-form team of the Six Nations, Italy fought, held its own but succumbed at a distance and was beaten 33-8 by a France that managed to close the file only in the last 10 minutes. The partial, after the first 70′, was in fact 19-8 with the Azzurri (today in red jersey) who had held well the many outbursts of Dupont and teammates. There was a lack of concreteness in the many chances created in attack, while the Bleus managed to score points in the decisive moments, winning another 5 points and moving back to the top of the standings with full points. For Quesada’s team Capuozzo’s goal and Garbisi’s free kick. The Azzurri will return to the field on Saturday, March 8, in Rome against England.

Martino Davidi

Capuozzo immediately put under pressure from Dupont’s base kicks, with Dréan putting him in the crosshairs. Lots of high balls on either side, then Lynagh wins the aerial battle with Attissogbe but the ball – touched backwards – ends up in the hands of Dupont who immediately accelerates and with his foot triggers the run of Bielle-Biarrey who beats Capuozzo at speed and scores the first try of the match, with Ramos’ transformation. France took advantage of the moment to push, but at 6′ it was good Lorenzo Cannone to interrupt a long action by the hosts with a held, then at 9′ a beautiful interception by Zuliani on Ramos defused another French try. The French No. 10 made up for it in 13′ by finding a great 50:22 that brought his side back on the attack: first Brau-Boarie’s tackling, then a long series of pick-and-go’s with Dupont raising the tempo again and again and serving Meafou for the second try.

From a good tackle by Garbisi comes the free kick that brings Italy into the attack for the first time. Touche won well by Niccolò Cannone and great central entry by Lynagh, but then Zuliani loses the oval forward. On the next scrum France earns a free kick with Gros on Ferrari. Ramos does not find the lineout, Italy restarts with Marin and Capuozzo opening a gap on the right side, support of Lynagh who is stopped a step away from the goal line and the action fades. On the other side, however, France does not forgive and at 29′ scores with Ramos after a great restart by Gailleton, who intervenes on a loose ball after a long throw-in by Nicotera and then finds the support of the French halfback for 19-0.

The Italian reaction relies on the Italian team’s own goal.

The Italian reaction comes from Ange Capuozzo, who with a nice kick-pass finds Lynagh on the right side. Ball to Menoncello who with a nice kick puts pressure on Ramos and Attissogbe, who fail to clear a ball that stays there and is picked up by Capuozzo himself, the fastest of all to dunk. Italy also responded in the scrum, with a good kick won by Fischetti. Garbisi puts in the 19-8 points. At the end of the fraction a Zambonin forward concedes one last scrum to France, but a resounding Garbisi saves on Gailletton thrown towards the flag.

At the start of the second half came immediately another free kick from a scrum, with which Italy went back into the 22, but Zambonin was anticipated on Nicotera’s throw. On the other side a resounding Menoncello twice interrupts two dangerous French plays. The first half of the second half is deadlocked: a lot of aerial battle, a lot of scrums and a lot of mistakes on both sides in the midfield. The Azzurri lineout continued to struggle, and at 62′ France returned to attack but slammed into an excellent Italian defense.

Newcomer Spagnolo earns another free kick that allows Italy to get back into the 22, but the chance fades into a lineout, while at the other end Lynagh is cautioned for a deliberate forward just 10 minutes from the end. France goes to the lineout, advances with the maul and then scores with debutant Dréan, served by a perfect kick-pass by Ramos. Gailleton’s goal also came in the final for 33-8. In the final, Italy returned to attack but failed to shorten the gap. The French win another 5 points and confirm their lead in the scoring charts.