France v Italy LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 result and reaction as France reach quarter-finals
France 60-7 Italy: Les Bleus reach the quarter-finals with their biggest ever win over Italy
France flew into the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup with a dominant display against Italy that saw them score 57 points with hardly a reply in Lyon.
Damian Penaud was the first to go over the line, scoring the opening try two minutes into the match as France began as they meant to go on. A penalty kick right in front of the sticks was dispatched by Thomas Ramos before Louis Bielle-Biarry took control of the ball from a kick off Penaud, shuffled inside leaving two defenders on the floor, and was brought down for a try to send France further ahead.
Ramos then scored and Penaud dove over for his second try to secure a bonus point before half-time. Simone Ferrari also believed he had pulled some points back for Italy only for his try to be chalked off by a TMO review.
After the restart, France continued to dominate. Tries from Matthieu Jalibert, Peato Mauvake, and Yoram Moefana took them over the 50 mark before a second for Moefana put the icing on the cake. A consolation try for Italy’s Manuel Zuliani will not take the sting out of a second bruising defeat as the Azzurri exit the World Cup at the Pool stage.
Relive all the action as France host Italy in the Pool A decider plus get all the latest Rugby World Cup odds and tips here:
France 31 - 0 Italy
43 mins: Ferrari gives away the penalty in the scrum, Jalibert to the corner. Italy captain Michele Lamaro and scrum-half Stephen Varney both replaced very early on into this fixture. Lamaro doesn’t look impressed. Some interesting calls from Crowley in what is most likely his final match in charge.
Changes soon follow for France as they replace Flament and Atonio with Aldegheri and Taofifenua.
France 31 - 0 Italy
41 mins: Italy give away an early penalty and Jalibert goes to the corner, but the angle isn’t quite right. Italy scrum. Capuozzo has failed his HIA and will miss the remainder of the match.
SECOND HALF France 31 - 0 Italy
40 mins: Tommaso Allan kicks off the second half in Lyon!
FIRST HALF STATS France 31 - 0 Italy
Most tackles - Charles Ollivon (France, 11)
Most metres - Tommaso Allan (Italy, 53)
Most carries - Gregory Alldritt (France, 8)
Territory - France 58%, Italy 42%
Tackles - France 75 (93% success), Italy 83 (79% success)
HALF TIME France 31- 0 Italy
Ramos’ penalty kick attempt goes slightly wide to end the half, but France have been relentless so far.
TRY! France 29 - 0 Italy
37 mins: Penaud gets the bonus point! A fantastic kick under pressure from Jalibert after the ball is received from the lineout and the winger gathers it perfectly to score in the corner. It’s his sixth try this RWC.
NO TRY! France 24 - 0 Italy
34 mins: Ferrari’s clearance in the build up strikes off his own try there as his challenge on Maxime Lucu makes chest contact first and then head contact before the try. Try disallowed, and Ferrari avoids a yellow card.
TRY! France 24 - 5 Italy
33 mins: After 17 phases, Simone Ferrari gets Italy a well-needed try after some gutsy French defending.
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