France vs Italy LIVE: Six Nations rugby result and reaction from Stade de France

Referee Mike Adamson has a chat with Sebastian Negri as the teams and officials make their way back out onto the Stade de France pitch. Negri was another Italian to produce a strong first half. The rain doesn’t seem to be coming down quite as strongly as Romain Ntamack prepares to get things back underway.

The conditions are grim in Paris. France have options to diversify their attack - neither Romain Ntamack nor Gael Fickou have made a carry yet and they have handled the ball well despite the greasy ball and damp surface.

As for Italy, the question now is how to work their way into the game more consistently in attack. Marco Zanon has carried superbly and there have been spaces out the back of the inside centre on second and third phase, but with limited opportunities they may have to take just about every one to pull off the unlikeliest of shocks. They are far from out of it, though, proving a fair few prognosticators wrong.

A positive half in so many ways for Italy and yet the visitors trail by eight at the interval. Kieran Crowley’s side were very, very good defensively for the first half-an-hour, and afforded a chance in the French 22 took it in fine style through Tommaso Menoncello’s elegant finish in the corner from Paolo Garbisi’s crossfield kick.

But then came the error, as so often seems to be the case when Italy have the chance to seize an opportunity. Stephen Varney will rue not being slightly more aware of Anthony Jelonch’s location as he flicked a pass towards Monty Ioane, but it was a crucial score from the French flanker.

France grew from there, and their second try was a thing of understated beauty, both Romain Ntamack and Damian Penaud releases passes just before contact to afford Gabin Villiere an open run in down the left. It feels like the home side are just beginning to click back into gear after that disrupted build-up.

And Gabin Villiere rides the slip n’ slide into the left corner!

Italy are pinged for an aerial infringement at the lineout, encouraging France to abandon their mauling plans and try their luck through the hands. Despite a greasy ball, the handling is impeccable as Italy rush up to close the space, with Damian Penaud’s quick transfer to Melvyn Jaminet key.

Jaminet puts the ball in the hands of the ex-sevens flyer, and Villiere goes underground to beat the covering Italians to the line. Jaminet adds the conversion, and that will make France feel a whole lot better as they trot down the tunnel.

Italy just about survive another scrum examination but do less well when the ball is shifted to Marco Zanon in midfield. The supporting player goes off their feet on arrival - France penalty in front of the posts...

Which is poked into the right corner!

Dupont has another exploration around the fringes and this time France are on the same page. To the right the scrum-half now goes but that is a rapidly closing blindside - Jonathan Danty is a centre of significant bulk but even he won’t be able to remain in the field of play against three Italian tacklers.

Antoine Dupont pops his head up like a gopher from its hole as he assesses where best to go when he removes the ball from a maul that is making little progress. He skips to the right to the openside, and dribbles a little grubber in behind the Italian defence, but his midfield didn’t receive sufficient notice of their captain’s intentions - Italy’s Stephen Varney covers across and dots down.

Some joue, joue from France, flinging the ball with reckless abandon granted them by referee Mike Adamson’s call of advantage. Damian Penaud loves a dart inside against a drifting line, and Italy do well to cling on to the angular wing.

They’ll take the advantage. Another entry into the Italian 22 - can France convert this one into a score?