France reignited their Six Nations campaign in emphatic fashion with a dominant 73-24 victory over Italy on Sunday, February 23, in Rome.
Les Bleus ran in 11 tries in a scintillating attacking performance, securing a crucial bonus point win that keeps them within striking distance of tournament leaders Ireland.
After a narrow and painful defeat to England in the previous round, Fabien Galthie’s side responded with an electrifying display, spearheaded by star scrum-half Antoine Dupont and full-back Leo Barre, who both crossed the line twice.
The result sets up a high-stakes clash against Ireland in Dublin in two weeks’ time, as France continues its pursuit of the championship title.
Early Scare Before French Domination
Italy briefly threatened to make a contest of the match when Tommaso Menoncello stunned the visitors with an early try in the 11th minute, successfully converted to give the Azzurri a 7-0 lead.
France quickly responded with two tries from Mickael Guillard and Peato Mauvaka, but the Italians remained competitive.
When Juan Ignacio Brex finished off a superb team move under the posts in the 27th minute, Italy found themselves only four points behind at 17-13.
However, that was as close as they would get. France swiftly shifted into a higher gear, ruthlessly dismantling Italy’s defense with relentless pace and precision.
By halftime, Les Bleus had already established a commanding lead, and the second half became an exhibition of their attacking prowess.
French Attacking Masterclass
France’s relentless pressure and sharp execution saw them rack up 11 tries in total, with Dupont and Barre grabbing two each.
Paul Boudehent, Gregory Alldritt, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Theo Attissogbe, and Pierre-Louis Barassi also added their names to the scoresheet in what became a one-sided affair.
The French forwards dominated the breakdown, ensuring quick ball movement that allowed their backs to exploit gaps in the Italian defense. Italy struggled to contain the French onslaught, conceding try after try as Les Bleus displayed their full attacking arsenal.
Italy managed a consolation score through Paolo Garbisi in the 60th minute, but by that point, the contest had long been decided.
The defeat, while heavy, was not the worst in Italy’s Six Nations history, with their record loss remaining an 80-23 thrashing by England in 2001.
Looking Ahead: France vs. Ireland Showdown
With this commanding victory, France now sits three points behind Ireland in the Six Nations standings.
The stage is set for a blockbuster encounter in Dublin, where Galthie’s men will aim to keep their championship hopes alive against the tournament leaders.
Meanwhile, Italy remains locked in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon, sitting just three points ahead of bottom-placed Wales. Their next fixture will be crucial in determining whether they can salvage some pride from their campaign.
For France, Sunday’s performance was a statement of intent—a reminder that despite their setback against England, they remain a formidable force in the tournament.
Their clash with Ireland in a fortnight promises to be a defining moment in the race for Six Nations glory.
