Italy 0
France 29
IT WASN’T PRETTY but it was effective.
In wet conditions, Philippe Saint-Andre’s much-maligned Les Bleus managed to push through against the Azzurri though serious questions still remain.
The French coach made eight changes from the side that lost to Wales in Paris but in a bruising first-half, the level of performance was still under-inspiring from the guests. It took 29 minutes for the first points to arrive when Camille Lopez slotted a penalty from 40 metres and shortly before the interval, he added another.
But having picked up an injury, Lopez surrendered kicking duties at the end of the half and it was left to Scott Spedding to knock over another three points in the dying few moments of the first period to leave France 9-0 in front at the interval.
With Lopez replaced by Jules Plisson for the second half, the substitute stretched the French lead even further within minutes of the restart and they took control of the game when Maestri touched down in the corner after some good initial work from Spedding. Plisson added the conversion and he made it 22-0 with another penalty on the hour mark.
In an untidy affair with plenty of mistakes on both sides, it was the French forwards that bossed proceedings and the Italians couldn’t dominate like they had done against Scotland.
With time practically up and with the home side penalised for not driving a scrum straight, substitute Mathieu Bastareaud took a crash ball, bounced out of a tackle and stretched to touch down. The two points quickly followed but despite an impressive-looking scoreline, it was another mixed performance from France.
Still, they remain in the hunt for the championship and head to Twickenham with some renewed confidence next weekend.
France scorers:Tries: Maestri, Bastareaaud
Conversions: Plisson [2]
Penalties: Lopez [2], Plisson [2], Spedding
ITALY: Luke McLean, Leonardo Sarto, Luca Morisi, Andrea Masi, Giovanbattista Venditti, Tommaso Allen, Edoardo Gori; Matias Aguero, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Dario Chistolini, George Biagi, Josh Furno, Francesco Minto, Samuela Vunisa, Sergio Parisse (capt).
Replacements: Andrea Manici, Alberto De Marchi, Lorenzo Cittadini, Quintin Geldenhuys, Marco Barbini, Guglielmo Palazzani, Luciano Orquera, Enrico Bacchin.
FRANCE: Scott Spedding, Yoann Huget, Gael Fickou, Maxime Mermoz, Noa Nakaitaci, Camille Lopez, Sebastien Tillous-Borde; Eddy Ben Arous, Guilhem Guirado, Nicolas Mas, Alexandre Flanquart, Yoann Maestri, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Bernard Le Roux, Loann Goujon.
Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Rabah Slimani, Vincent Debaty, Romain Taofifenua, Damien Chouly, Rory Kockott, Jules Plisson, Mathieu Bastareaud.
Referee: JP Doyle
