In a match closer than the scoreline suggested, France leapt above their 2013 points total and solidified their status as title contenders over a competent but outmatched Italian side. A purple patch just after the intermission yielded 21 points for the home side, killing off what had been spirited performance from the visitors in the first half. Italy showed heart to shut them out of further scores and put over one of their own, but by then the French were well and truly switched to cruise control.
The first forty minutes were fairly evenly contested, though painfully short on entertainment value. Neither side really threatened much, choosing instead to do battle in the neutral areas of the pitch, and neither side could capitalise on scoring opportunities as several shots at goal were missed by assorted nominees. Jean-Marc Doussain appeared to find his kicking boots just heading into the break, enough to carry his side through with a 6 point lead.
Philippe Saint-André must have read the riot act in the change room as Les Bleus came out a completely different side. Louis Picamoles barged his way over before Wesley Fofana put the game to bed with two outstanding individual efforts. The first was a scintillating pick-and-go from a ruck that saw him skate around two defenders on a 40 metre sprint down the blindside; the second an interception against the run of play that led to a superb try for debutant Hugo Bonneval, arguably the best of the tournament to date.
It was a cruel period for Italy, who had been getting the edge in the forward exchanges, but mistakes will cost you at this level and there were plenty of them. Bullocking runs by Picamoles and Mathieu Bastareaud got France over the gainline and with that kind of momentum there was only going to be one result. That Les Bleus decided to take the pedal off the gas during the final quarter will be disappointing for Saint-André, and the unenviable task now will be to find consistency in their performance, though that has long been the case regarding this team irrespective of coach and personnel.
The game did creep become a bit unsightly again near the end as first Sébastien Vaha’amahina was carded for stupidly kicking the ball away on a penalty, and then a fracas at a scrum saw both Michele Rizzo and Rabah Slimani sent off for head-butting. Another set of officials might have had stern words and played on, but you simply cannot get away with that kind of behaviour in the new era of TMO involvement. From a disciplinary standpoint no more than a one game suspension seems appropriate given the relatively innocuous affect it had on proceedings, though the tournament could conceivably be over for both gentlemen which would be unfortunate for all concerned.
FRANCE vs ITALY
Sunday, February 9, Paris, 15:00 GMT
SCORING
26 mins – J.M. Doussain pen 3-0
28 mins – T. Allan pen 3-3
34 mins – J.M. Doussain pen 6-3
38 mins – J.M. Doussain pen 9-3
43 mins – L. Picamoles try 14-3
43 mins – J.M. Doussain con 16-3
45 mins – W. Fofana try 21-3
46 mins – J.M. Doussain con 23-3
52 mins – H. Bonneval try 28-3
53 mins – J.M. Doussain con 30-3
76 mins – T. Iannone try 30-8
77 mins – L. Orquera con 30-10
CARDS
70 mins – S. Vaha’amahina yellow (professional foul)
71 mins – M. Rizzo red (foul play)
71 mins – R. Slimani red (foul play)
FRANCE
B. Dulin; Y. Huget, M. Bastareaud (G. Fickou 73), W. Fofana, H. Bonneval; J. Plisson (F. Trinh-Duc 67), J.M. Doussain (M. Machenaud 60); T. Domingo (Y. Forestier 48), D. Szarzewski (B. Kayser 57), N. Mas (R. Slimani 48); P. Papé (capt.) (S. Vaha’amahina 67), Y. Maestri; Y. Nyanga (N. Mas 74), B. Le Roux (Y. Nyanga 76), L. Picamoles (D. Chouly 57).
ITALY
L. McLean; L. Sarto, M. Campagnaro, G. Garcia, T, Iannone; T. Allan (L. Orquera 64), E. Gori (T. Botes 64); A. de Marchi (M. Rizzo 58), L. Ghiraldini (D. Giazzon 58), M. Castrogiovanni (L. Cittadini 58); Q. Geldenhuys (M. Bortolami 70), J. Furno; F. Minto (A. Zanni 51), M. Bergamasco (A. de Marchi 74), S. Parisse (capt.).
Referee: J. Peyper (SARU)
Assistants: C. Joubert (SARU) & F. Pastrana (UAR)
TMO: G. Simmonds (WRU)
