Friday 30 August 2019

France run out comfortable winners over Italy

France rounded off their Rugby World Cup warm-up fixtures with a comprehensive 47-19 victory over Italy at the Stade de France on Friday.

Les Bleus crossed seven times, which includes a penalty try, as Yoann Huget, Camille Chat, Antoine Dupont, Arthur Iturria, Wenceslas Lauret and Thomas Ramos scored.  Fly-half Romain Ntamack also impressed with his goal-kicking, landing five conversions from six attempts in Paris.

In reply, Italy went over through Mattia Bellini (2) and Jake Polledri as they now switch their attention to tackling England in Newcastle.

France enjoyed the perfect start when slick hands led to wing Huget crossing on two minutes, the try coming after Wesley Fofana's break.  Ntamack couldn't slot the conversion so it remained 5-0, with the early score misleading the fans it would be a high-scoring first quarter.

Indeed there was to be no further score until the 19th minute as, with France minus a sin-binned Louis Picamoles, Italy took the advantage when wing Bellini went over thanks to Sergio Parisse's pass.  The Azzurri would go into the lead thanks to the extra two from Tommaso Allan.

France were down to 13 men seconds after the seven points when Rabah Slimani followed his number eight for a 10 minute spell on the chair.  But that didn't deter Les Bleus as they were awarded a penalty try shortly after as Huget was held back by Bellini, who was shown yellow.

With 13 against 14 France were still on the attack and their pack showed their muscle when hooker Chat scored to make it 19-7 with the two, which was the half-time scoreline in a first 40 that was high on penalties, which kept referee Matthew Carley busy at the Stade de France.

France came out for the second period firing and a solo score from Dupont was then followed by Iturria getting over for his first Test try, which slingshotted the French into a comfortable 33-7 advantage on 46 minutes.  Italy were now shell shocked as the game looked beyond them.

However, Polledri clawed the Italians back into matters with a crossing on 51 minutes, making it 33-14 after Allan's successful conversion.

That prompted both coaches to utilise their bench as several players emerged for the closing half-hour.  But it was a man on the field from the outset who crossed next as France flanker Lauret went over from close range to make it 40-14, effectively sealing the victory in Paris.

Italy did score their third try on 67 minutes through Bellini, which was his brace, but it was replacement Ramos who had the final say as his try and France's seventh of the evening rounded off a morale-boosting win that sends France into the Rugby World Cup on a positive.

The scorers:

For France:
Tries:  Huget, Penalty try, Chat, Dupont, Iturria, Lauret, Ramos
Cons:  Ntamack 5
Yellow Cards:  Picamoles, Slimani

For Italy:
Tries:  Bellini 2, Polledri
Cons:  Allan 2
Yellow Card:  Bellini

France:  15 Maxime Medard, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Sofiane Guitoune, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Gael Fickou, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Yacouba Camara, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Arthur Iturria, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Jefferson Poirot (c)
Replacements:  16 Guilhem Guirado, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Emerick Setiano, 19 Felix Lambey, 20 Francois Cros, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Virimi Vakatawa, 23 Thomas Ramos

Italy:  15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Mattia Bellini, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Matteo Minozzi, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Jake Polledri, 6 Abraham Steyn, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Alessandro Zanni, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Simone Ferrari
Replacements:  16 Federico Zani, 17 Andrea Lovotti, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Dean Budd, 20 Sebastian Negri, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Tommaso Benvenuti

Referee:  Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees:  Luke Pearce (England), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO:  Graham Hughes (England)

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