Key occasions
“Freed from Desire” is blaring out of the stadium audio system. All these nice French pop requirements to select from, and so they go for an Italian singer?
Speaking of Ireland v Scotland – right here is Rob Kitson’s preview.
Where to begin with that? Well, Italy have been unhealthy – they performed in a panic virtually from the primary whistle, racking up penalties and discovering no reply to France’s strategy. That mentioned, the hosts have been relentless, scoring inside two minutes and punishing each mistake.
Even with out Antoine Dupont, they produced a number of thrilling passages of attacking rugby – and appear to have that magic mix of ruthless ahead play and attacking verve that wins World Cups. If it’s to be South Africa subsequent, although, that shall be an enormous step up – a battle between maybe the 2 most full groups on the planet.
Here’s France’s immense No 8, Grégory Alldritt: “We’re going to enjoy the weekend, because it was a tough game tonight. I’m happy with the team performance … we’ll start preparing for the quarter-final once the game [Ireland v Scotland] is over.”
Full time! France 60-7 Italy
Italy concede their fifteenth penalty of the sport, and Jaminet opts to kick the three factors, taking France to 60 factors. It’s their biggest-ever win over Italy, and a severe assertion of intent.
78 minutes: A 50-22 kick for France, which Bielle-Biarrey takes rapidly to Jaminet. Negri is penalised for a excessive hit, and France can have a lineout as they search a ninth strive.
77 minutes: Ioane with one other break ahead, earlier than Allan’s kick-through is helped over the road. Moefana is again to assemble it, and the tireless Penaud runs behind the posts earlier than clearing away.
TRY! France 57-7 Italy (Moefana 75′)
It’s a second strive for Moefana, and an eighth for France – arrange by ahead energy after which created by Matthieu Jalibert with virtually dismissive ease. Jalibert misses the conversion, however the hole is now again as much as a record-breaking 50 factors.
73 minutes: There’s a little bit of an unsightly tussle the place Sebastian Negri lurches right into a deal with and – I believe – catches teammate Tommaso Allan with a stray arm. That’s what you name including harm to insult.
TRY! France 52-7 Italy (Zuliani 70′)
They can! Morisi thunders down the left flank and whereas the transfer threatens to interrupt down, their forwards preserve pushing and preserve their self-discipline. Manuel Zuliani scoops the ball up 5 metres out and holds off three France gamers to spin and contact down. Tommaso Allan converts, and Italy might keep away from a historic humiliation.
68 minutes: Pani collects a kick and positive factors a couple of yards, earlier than Ioane briefly will get past the French defence. Can Italy lastly get on the scoreboard?
64 minutes: Luca Morisi is on for Bruno. This may find yourself as France’s biggest-ever margin of victory over Italy, eclipsing a 60-13 victory again in 1967.
TRY! France 52-0 Italy (Moefana 61′)
Sixty seconds after approaching, Moefana takes France to 50 factors, gathering Penaud’s advantageous move out broad after extra bruising work from the forwards. Jaminet takes up kicking duties, and converts.
61 minutes: Ramos’ night is over; he’s changed by Melvyn Jaminet. Yoram Moefana can also be on for Gaël Fickou. For Italy, Manfredi and Zani are on within the entrance row for Ferrari and Faiva.
60 minutes: From the lineout, Garbisi is once more remoted and concedes a penalty. The France defence coach, Shaun Edwards, clenches his fists in delight, even at 45-0 up.
58 minutes: Allan’s excessive ball is tipped again well by Pierre Bruno to Garbisi, however France instantly swarm and Italy are penalised for not releasing. Actually, no – the choice goes towards France for the unique problem on Bruno within the air.
56 minutes: More modifications for Italy, with Marco Riccioni on for Ceccarelli and Manuel Zuliani changing Cannone. Some urgently wanted reinforcements within the pack, the place Italy are being torn aside. New blood within the French entrance row as try-scorer Mauvaka and Baille are changed by Bourgarit and Wardi.
55 minutes: François Cros replaces Charles Ollivon, who was rock-solid as soon as once more for France. Maxime Lucu’s night time is over too, as he’s changed by Baptiste Couilloud, who will get an opportunity to shine in his residence city.
TRY! France 45-0 Italy (Mauvaka 53′)
France don’t trouble with any fancy footwork right here – they win the lineout and roll for the road, with Peato Mauvaka getting the ball down. Ramos converts, the lead grows to 45 factors.
51 minutes: Mamma mia! The probability is gone as Italy’s assault malfunctions as soon as once more, and shortly sufficient Bielle-Biarrey is skipping down the left, and kicking by way of. Italy regain the ball, however solely after Fusco commits a cynical foul. France penalty …
49 minutes: Crowley, in what is ready to be his last sport in cost, has the thousand-yard stare on – though his aspect do have a penalty, kicked to the nook, after France fail to launch the ball.
TRY! France 38-0 Italy (Jalibert 47′)
France bide their time deep within the Italy half, working by way of 12 phases and slowly unpicking the defence earlier than Jalibert, France’s chief creator tonight, shimmies by way of to attain himself. Ramos converts.
43 minutes: Galthié begins to make modifications, with Dorian Aldegheri and Romain Taofifenua changing Flament and Atonio. Two Italy replacements come on too – Manuel Zuliani and Alessandro Fusco are on for Stephen Varney and the captain, Michele Lamaro, who will get an early hook from Crowley.
Peep!
We are again below means, and Italy rapidly concede one other penalty. Capuozzo failed his head harm evaluation and gained’t be coming again on.
France being extraordinarily France tonight, so stylish & harmful each time with the ball @niallmcveigh. Italy have been dismal v ABs and so they’re higher tonight however this might nonetheless be 75 factors. Lucu completely milking that penalty and the group going baying we are able to do with out. Sigh.
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) October 6, 2023
Agreed on probably the most half, though I’m undecided Lucu milked it that a lot. The 10 replays have been extra of a problem in stirring issues up.
Half time! France 31-0 Italy
Another penalty conceded by Italy, this time on the midway line. Will Ramos attempt to pile on the ache? You guess he’ll … however this time, his long-range kick drifts broad proper. Nobody’s excellent, I assume.
France broke downfield however Jalibert seems to be to be remoted and below strain. He seems to be to his proper and lofts an ideal diagonal kick to Penaud, who collects the excessive ball and dives over the road! Ramos converts, and the bonus-point is wrapped up earlier than half-time.
TRY! France 31-0 Italy (Penaud 37′)
It’s a story as outdated as time – Italy pour vitality into making an attempt and narrowly failing to attain; their opponents go up the opposite finish and switch the screw. It’s Damian Penaud’s second of the sport, and sixth of the match!
36 minutes: Italy penalty, kicked for the nook however despatched lengthy, a lot to Kieran Crowley’s frustration up within the teaching sales space.
34 minutes: No strive! The examine is on a excessive deal with from Ferrari himself, clearing out Maxime Lucu in a earlier section of play. The strive is chalked off – it’s a borderline name – however Ferrari is spared a yellow card after quite a lot of replays, every slo-mo drawing louder boos from the group.
32 minutes: Italy win the lineout, Federico Ruzza climbing highest, and so begins a titanic battle to recover from the road. Simone Ferrari lastly muscle tissue his means over – however the TMO has noticed one thing …
31 minutes: The TMO intervenes to flag up a penalty towards Jalibert, so Italy, getting nowhere operating the ball, can kick for the nook.
30 minutes: A dealing with error sends Italy backwards, and France are fairly comfortable to carry their opponents close to the midway line. Capuozzo goes off for a head harm evaluation, so Lorenzo Pani comes on at full-back.
28 minutes: There’s a break in play whereas Capuozzo will get his left eye checked out. We’ll restart with a scrum, from which Italy retain possession …
@niallmcveigh good stretch of the legs for France this night preserving the machine oiled. Italy shall be fortunate to get double digits on the scoreboard. With each sport France are extra & extra scientific. When France hit the gasoline there shall be a straightforward 50-60 factors between them.
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) October 6, 2023
25 minutes: Italy lastly get a lineout proper and Capuozzo finds Tommaso Allan, who can see the strive line forward – however three darkish blue shirts get again and swallow him up, forcing a knock-on.
23 minutes: France have been completely superior to this point – brutal up entrance, their backs fast and ruthless, and in a position to improvise brilliantly when the set performs fall brief. Italy seem like they’d fairly be wherever else.
TRY! France 24-0 Italy (Ramos 21′)
Italy do a a lot better job of standing agency in defence right here – however they will’t maintain on endlessly. Jalibert darts to the appropriate and finds Penaud, whose move is flicked on by Fickou to Thomas Ramos. He rounds Capuozzo to the touch down, and converts his personal rating.
19 minutes: Italy get outmatched on the scrum, and now Lucu will put in. France break free however Karl Dickson calls play again. A former scrum-half, he has awarded extra scrums than another referee on this World Cup.
17 minutes: Another low-cost penalty arms France a lineout on the 22, as they take their whole possession above 80%. They work by way of 11 phases, Lucu conducting issues earlier than Jalibert will get fast ball broad to Bielle-Biarrey – who’s simply dragged into contact.
15 minutes: That’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s fifth strive in six Tests – and he’s solely 20. Another stat for you: France have carried over the gainline 19 occasions already; Italy have managed one.
TRY! France 17-0 Italy (Bielle-Biarrey 13′)
Penaud has the area to strive it once more and this time he lands it. The younger winger nonetheless has lots to do, however he twirls and sidesteps earlier than a last-ditch Italian deal with carries him over the road. Ramos converts.
10 minutes: Penaud glides ahead as if on curler skates, however his tried kick-through to Louis Bielle-Biarrey has an excessive amount of on it. He was virtually shifting too quick.
8 minutes: The noise across the floor has been completely relentless, with La Marseillaise now rippling across the stands. Italy can’t get their heads collectively; one other lineout is misplaced earlier than Simone Ferrari stalls and is caught offside.
6 minutes: France 10-0 Italy (Ramos pen) The kick sails comfortably by way of the posts. The message is obvious from France: any Italian errors shall be punished. And there have been a couple of already.
4 minutes: Italy get their first lineout all mistaken, handing France the ball again. A tentative trade of kicks follows, earlier than Tomasso Allan underhits one straight to Ramos. An Italy ahead is caught offside, and Ramos will attempt to kick this from on the midway line.
TRY! France 7-0 Italy (Penaud 2′)
That will settle any pre-match nerves. France begin like a freight practice and with Italy penned again, Jalibert juggles the ball to Thomas Ramos, who offloads to Damian Penaud within the nook. Ramos converts, curling his kick contained in the far submit.
Before kick-off, Italy’s Ange Capuozzo checked in on his Toulouse clubmate, Antoine Dupont.
Both groups are out, France in darkish blue, Italy in white. Time for the nationwide anthems, two classics of the style.
“Champagne, wine, beer, pastis – you name it – it was all flowing in the car parks at OL Stadium before kick-off,” writes Luke McLaughlin, our man in Lyon.
While we watch for kick-off, why not have a bash at our new and improved quiz of the week? Fifteen questions, no Googling.
Antoine Dupont isn’t within the France 23 however he’s right here in Lyon, suited up for a pre-pitch walkaround with Fabien Galthié, the pair of them trying like a critically acclaimed 90s digital duo.
An enormous weekend of rugby awaits – so rise up to hurry with our preview.
The groups
France: Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu; Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio, Cameron Woki, Thibaud Flament, Anthony Jelonch, Charles Ollivon (c), Grégory Alldritt.
Replacements: Pierre Bourgarit, Reda Wardi, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, François Cros, Baptiste Couilloud, Yoram Moefana, Melvyn Jaminet
Italy Ange Capuozzo, Pierre Bruno, Juan Ignacio Brex, Paolo Garbisi, Montanna Ioane, Tommaso Allan, Stephen Varney; Simone Ferrari, Hame Faiva, Pietro Ceccarelli, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (c), Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: Marco Manfredi, Federico Zani, Marco Riccioni, David Sisi, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Fusco, Luca Morisi, Lorenzo Pani.
Preamble
It’s been 15 days since France performed a match at their very own World Cup. Since that 96-0 mauling of Namibia, so much has occurred whereas Les Bleus have been kicking their heels. Ireland and Wales have constructed on the hosts’ win over the All Blacks to claim northern-hemisphere dominance; Australia have crashed and burned; and New Zealand have scored 240 factors in three matches.
For France followers, the main target has been off the sector – and extra particularly on Antoine Dupont. More particularly nonetheless, on Antoine Dupont’s face. The harm inflicted by Johan Deysel’s unhealthy problem regarded set to finish the star scrum-half’s World Cup – however he’s again with the squad and will return for the quarter-final.
But let’s not get forward of ourselves; France have had Pool A within the palm of their hand because the opening sport however they aren’t by way of but – and Italy may nonetheless crash the occasion in Lyon tonight with a win (and a little bit of bonus-point assist). And sure, we’re speaking about that Italy, who misplaced 96-17 to New Zealand and laboured to wins over Uruguay and Namibia.
In actuality, solely an unprecedented collective meltdown would see France fall brief right here. If they will shake off any pre-game nerves, there is a chance for the likes of Maxime Lucu, standing in for Dupont, to search out their groove as a quarter-final looms – most likely towards South Africa. The hosts are again and heading for the house straight.
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