Italy vs France LIVE rugby: Six Nations 2023 result and reaction as Italy narrowly miss out on famous win

That’s better work defensively, though. Stephen Varney marks Antoine Dupont well, staying in the fight even as that beefy bicep of the French scrum half tries to thrust his opposite number away. Italy hold their shape and win a jackal penalty.

This is a properly frantic start from Italy. You have to applaud the ambition but they just need to settle a little. Another handling error will give France another possession inside the home half.

Here come the heavy mob, Uini Atonio and Paul Willemse used in quick succession. But a penalty to Italy 15 metres from their own line.! Willemse affords himself an extra roll in an attempt to buy time for a supporting clearout, but Matt Carley is wise to it, and pings the second row.

Antoine Dupont is fizzing already. The scrum half beats three men to the outside with a couple of fierce fends and then somehow finds a teammate with a blind, contorted offload back inside.

Kieran Crowley will be furious with this Italian start. He’s promised to encourage his team to play their own brand of rugby, but the accuracy has not been there at all so far, and it’s allowed France a very, very easy route into the game.

Italy are penalised and France kick down towards the opposition 22.

Thibaud Flament collects and strides in from 25 metres out!

We mentioned that Italy would pay if they continued to turnover the ball. It’s a self-inflicted wound, Stephen Varney short of protection near the ruck and perhaps foolishly trying to lift a dainty box kick for a chasing teammate over the very long limbs of Flament.

The second row watches the ball bounce off Varney and back into his hands and strides beneath the uprights. A simple conversion and the defending champions are up and running.

Italy had a slight nudge on at the opening scrum but it is France just in the ascendancy at the second, though not sufficiently to trouble Italian ball.

Charged down!...

It will be a long afternoon for Italy if they continue to give up ball so readily. Another error near the scrum allows French hands to once more grasp it, and the tempo is quick from the visitors. Motorised monolith Uini Atonio creates great midfield craters, but a handling error ends the movement just as it begins to build momentum.

A dropped ball just as France seemed set to pounce on an Italian error! Lovely play initially from the hosts, but an errant pass bounced kindly for Thomas Ramos, who quickly put his foot down and accelerated away.

With Damian Penaud on his shoulder, it looks like the conclusion is foregone, but Ramos’ infield pass is somewhat perplexing shelled by the great wing finisher with more French shirts arriving in support!

A strong start from France, exiting competently through Antoine Dupont’s right boot and then disrupting Italy’s lineout, though not sufficiently to gain possession.