France keeps Six Nations Grand Slam hopes alive with victory over Italy
France maintained their Six Nations Grand Slam ambitions with a commanding bonus-point victory against Italy in Lille on Saturday, reports BritPanorama.
Les Bleus surged to a 19-0 lead early in the match, leaving their visitors scrambling to respond. Louis Bielle-Biarrey was the first to score, continuing a remarkable streak of scoring in his eighth consecutive Six Nations match after connecting with an Antoine Dupont kick. Emmanuel Meafou then crossed the line from close range, followed by Thomas Ramos, who capped off the first-quarter blitz.
Italy displayed resilience, with Ange Capuozzo securing their first points with a well-executed try. Paolo Garbisi added a penalty to keep them in contention. Their previous encounter at the same venue had ended in dramatic fashion, with a last-minute penalty attempt striking the post, denying Italy a historic win on French soil.
The crucial fourth try for France came from debutant Gael Drean, capitalising while Louis Lynagh was in the sin-bin. Emilien Gailleton also added to their tally as the second half progressed, though Italy struggled to maintain the pace of the match after the break. Their scrummaging remained a weapon, winning penalties like they did against Ireland.
Fabien Galthie’s side, though tested, never appeared at risk of a shock defeat, even as they laboured for that essential bonus point. Centres Tommaso Menoncello and Leonardo Marin showed flashes of danger, but the match ultimately belonged to the French. Now, France looks ahead to their crucial fixture against Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday, which could define their Grand Slam campaign.
With England looming in the final round, maintaining momentum away from Paris feels imperative for Galthie’s formidable squad. Meanwhile, Italy will be eager as they host England, aiming for a first victory against Steve Borthwick’s side, which has shown vulnerabilities. The Azzurri have demonstrated enough improvement to shed their past reputation as tournament underdogs.
In sporting terms, France can’t afford to view anything less than a Grand Slam as a success this year.
