Full-time: Italy 0-29 France
I’ve criticised games for being rubbish before but that was something else. An absurd number of mistakes by both sides and, Spedding’s break for the try aside, absolutely zero contribution by any of the backs. France’s monstrous forwards proved too much for Italy, whose pack found them a completely different beast to Scotland’s two weeks ago. A good effort from the visiting pack in the end blew Italy out of the game.
It’s a confidence-boosting win for France ahead of their trip to Twickenham next Saturday. The way England played yesterday, there’s every chance they could grab a win and sneak into the top half of the table, even if the likelihood of them taking the crown is next to nothing.
That’s all from me for this weekend, folks. Thanks for reading. Bye!
Converted try! Italy 0-29 France (Bastareaud 80)
The scrum marches towards the line and JP Doyle awards another penalty for not driving straight. Please, end this. If this match was a sick pet you would take it out back, shoot it and tell the kids they never had a pet. Another penalty and France tap and go. Bastareaud takes it on the crash ball, makes another metre and rolls out of the tackle and over the line.
79 min France win the lineout and Kayser rumbles towards the line. Penalty as Italy go in at the side and France will take the scrum under the posts.
78 min France have a scrum and once again demolish the Italian pack. Penalty on the 10m line. They should go for goal just to troll everyone. Instead, Plisson kicks to touch 10m out on the left. 18 handling errors by Italy, 19 by France according to the stats; that about one for every minute the ball is in play.
77 min Thierry Dusautoir is named man of the match, which is fair. Bastareaud makes his fourth carry of the match; he has made one metre in total. That’s not a joke.
76 min Italy win the lineout but Taofifenua stalls the maul’s momentum. Palazzani, the replacement scrum-half, sends it up and France claim, then send it right with Le Roux, who has been decent, carrying it on. There’s no real penetration from the away side though.
75 min A couple of times now, the commentators have pointed out France ignoring acres of space on the outside and it really is a damning indictment of Philippe Saint-Andre’s regime. Parisse hobbles off injured and Italy get a penalty at the scrum. McLean clears to touch.
74 min France take the scrum against the head and it goes left, where Bastareaud nearly slips through a gap. Somehow. Le Roux and then Dustautoir pick and drive, but the latter is held up off the floor by Vunisa and Italy will have another scrum. Not sure they’ll enjoy that, mind, the way things are going.
73 min The throw isn’t straight. Scrum Italy, 7m from their own line. Chouly comes on for Goujon.
72 min Now into the backs and Spedding hits the line at an angle. He’s tackled but it’s a penalty for hands in the ruck against Parisse. Plisson nudges his kick into the right-hand corner.
71 min Bastareaud on the crash ball takes it up to within 15m. France pick and go through the phases, looking to simply blast holes in the Italy defence, but they’re being repelled well.
70 min Bastareaud comes on for Fickou as France win the lineout 11m inside their own half. Plisson sends it up, Sarto knocks on and France go left with Goujon surging into the 22.
Since 2000, Italy have never failed to score at home. The last time they failed to score at all was in 2004, away to France. #ITAvFRA
— Accenture Rugby (@AccentureRugby) March 15, 2015
69 min This time it’s taken at the front and the maul is very well splintered by France. Infield it goes, the ball is spilled and France win a penalty as Italy go offside in their endeavours to reclaim it.
68 min Orquera declines the kick at goal and sticks it in the corner. Geldenhuys wins it at the back and Italy drive; the maul slides infield and Italy get another penalty for side entry. Orquera goes back to the corner.
67 min Italy win it, Gori chips and Kockott runs it into touch. Italy take a quick lineout and spread the ball left, whereupon Kayser doesn’t roll away and concedes a penalty.
66 min Italy bring it out of their 22 and switch play to the right, whereupon they get a penalty for France’s failure to roll away. McLean finds touch 4m beyond the French 10m line.
65 min The giant Taofifenua comes on for Maestri and wins the lineout. Kayser takes it and France pick and drive their way towards the line as play crabs infield towards the posts. Kockott fires it back to Plisson in the pocket and he kicks across for Huget, but Sarto claims. Poor decision making.
64 min Furno takes well under pressure and Italy swing it right. Whereupon they’re penalised for crossing. Sake. Plisson finds touch 10m out from the line on the left. He’s looked very good since coming on, Plisson, which pretty much nails him on for man of the match.
63 min Penalty to Italy though, not clear why as JP Doyle elects to inform them why in French. Orquera clears down the left and makes 40m.
62 min In fact it’s right on the 5m line, but no matter as Italy steal it. Gori fires it back to Orquera and he clears to touch, but doesn’t even get it beyond his own try line. 5m scrum to France.
61 min Manici is on for Italy and he’s turned over now. It’s moved left to Fickou and he’s tackled on the 10m line, then Furno takes a man out off the ball and concedes a penalty. Plisson opts for touch this time and finds a very good one on the right, 7m from the line.
60 min Apparently, France have a 100% tackling success rate. They’ve also just taken this scrum against the head, but Kayser at first receiver knocks on. Italy run it now, up to halfway, but France are slaughtering them in the gainline battle. Gori is scragged on the ball and more ground is lost.
59 min Italy win the lineout but take it into touch. It’s quick ball off the top and they go left; Spedding passes to Nakaitaci, who returns it to his full-back but with one that goes forward on the Italian 10m line.
58 min For France, Ben Arous is off and Vincent Debaty is on. Meanwhile a blank email lands in my inbox from, er, Noa Nakaitaci. Who is still playing.
Penalty (Plisson 58) Italy 0-22 France
From 43m, about 16m in from the right, Plisson is going to take a tough shot at goal. Not sure about that decision when you’re 19-0 up. Anyhow, up steps the Ricky Schroeder lookalike and slots a very good kick.
56 min Kayser is having a ball here at the scrum. Sadly for him, Italy retain the actual ball, but France’s defence is right up on the backline. Orquera kicks clear and France run back up to the 10m line, where Venditti fails to roll away and concedes a penalty.
55 min Knocked on at the lineout by France. My apologies, Cittadini replaced Chistolini earlier and Geldenhuys is on for Biagi.
54 min France’s scrum drives Italy back 10m and wins a penalty. Spedding puts it into touch halfway between the 10m line and the 22. Kayser is on for France at hooker.
53 min So another lineout on the 22, this time on the left for Italy. Geldenhuys takes it and they whip it quickly right. Vunisa then knocks on in the tackle and they’ve gone backwards as well as coughing up possession.
52 min This time Italy do win the lineout through Geldenhuys and they maul it, slowly, into the 22. Now they go through the backs and Orquera looks to kick through for Sarto, but it bounces off a French foot and into touch.
51 min Dusautoir nicks it and Tillous-Borde box-kicks clear, out of his 22. Italy are going to make a fourth change, bringing Cittadini on for Biagi. They have a lineout on the right, on the France 22. Geldenhuys is also on for Italy, while Slimani replaces Mas for France.
50 min Stuck in the corner, so a good chance for Italy here on the right.
49 min The scrum is a decent on and Gori peels off the back and passes to Venditti on the right wing. He spills it backwards and France gather the ball, but then Tillous-Borde holds on in the tackle.
48 min The try-scorer Maestri knocks on at the restart and Italy have possession on the France 10m line. Orquera plays an unconvincing chip over the top, but Fickou can’t gather it and knocks the ball forward.
Conversion (Plisson 47) Italy 0-19 France
Plisson kicks well from wide on the right.
Try! Italy 0-17 France (Maestri)
Finally some decent rugby! A great run by Spedding out of his 22, past Furno and he goes left to Goujon. Guirado takes it on and is dragged down short, but France recycle it, go right and Huget puts Maestri over on the right. That’s a fantastic try.
45 min Flanquart brings it down and Dusautoir takes it on. A wild pass out the back of the hand by Mermoz is taken by Fickou, but a couple of phases later it’s knocked on by Maestri. Orquera kicks straight to Nakaitaci. He sends Spedding away...
44 min Quick ball off the lineout, Ghiraldini loses it in contact and Minto plays it in an offside position. Spedding kicks the penalty to touch on the Italian 10m line on the France left.
43 min Orquera restarts and Flanquart drops it in his own 22. Vunisa takes it on and Italy go left, but McLean knocks it on. Plisson kicks ahead into space, but boots it out on the full so Italy have a lineout just outside France’s 22.
Penalty (Plisson 42) Italy 0-12 France
So, 36m or so from goal, straight in front, Plisson becomes goal-kicker number five of the day. He slices it a touch, but through the sticks it goes.
41 min Plisson restarts and Italy take it on their 22. McLean clears long to Spedding and his high return is taken by Parisse, who immediately holds on in the tackle. He’s done everything today, Parisse, but not especially well.
France substitution: Jules Plisson is on for Camille Lopez, who looked unfit by the end of the first half. Anyway, let’s do this.
Even the omens can’t be bothered:
In the last two matches in Rome, Italy have gone on to win despite being two points behind at HT on both occasions. #ITAvFRA
— Accenture Rugby (@AccentureRugby) March 15, 2015
Italy were 9 points behind at HT against France in the 2012 #rbs6nations. They went on to lose the game by 18 at Stade De France #ITAvFRA
— Accenture Rugby (@AccentureRugby) March 15, 2015
The BBC are now showing a montage of the greatest Six Nations moments. There won’t be any highlights from that horribly error-strewn half. The second 40 minutes of Wales v Ireland aside, this weekend has been a woeful advertisement for the northern hemisphere’s premiere competition.
Penalty and half-time: (Spedding 40) Italy 0-9 France
With the clock in the red and Lopez limping, Spedding steps up and slots the kick from the 22. That’s half-time and I for one just can’t wait to sit through another 40 minutes like that.
40 min Good strong scrum from France. It’s going forwards, Italy’s front row stands up and that’ll be another penalty.
39 min Morisi took a bang to the head and is replaced by Bacchin. France win the lineout but the maul goes down under its own volition and they have to move it infield. Up to within 10m they go before coughing up possession. Italy look to break, ignore the overlap, drop the ball and we go back for the scrum.
38 min With Lopez limping, Spedding kicks to touch just inside the 22 on the right. Morisi too is down having treatment. That impressive maul from France a few minutes ago suggests what’s coming here...
37 min McLean kicks long with the drop-out and Spedding surges back up to the 22 only to spill it forward in contact again. Italy go back up to halfway and then handle it on the floor.
36 min Orquera kicks short this time and Fickou gathers it. France maul up towards their own 10m line and beyond. A hell of a drive this as they make a good 25m. Now they go off the back to Lopez and he cuts a swath through the defence, up to within 5m but then Fickou drops it over the line.
Penalty (Lopez 35) Italy 0-6 France
France barely deserve this lead, but Italy only have themselves to blame for giving away penalties in relatively easy positions for Lopez.
34 min France pick and drive towards the Italian 10m line and they get a penalty as Minto enters the ruck at the side. From 40m, just off to the left, Camille Lopez will go for goal once again.
33 min Ghiraldini’s throw doesn’t find his man and France get scrappy ball in midfield. Aguero is off for Italy, De Marchi on.
32 min Orquera kicks towards the corner down the left and misses. Spedding returns the kick to touch, just inside his own half.
31 min Biagi takes it at the front and Gori box-kicks. A valiant attempt at the catch by Nakaitaci fails and Italy get the ball, but keeping it short results in Chistolini handing possession back. This doesn’t last long as France go up to halfway, turn it over again and then go off their feet to concede a penalty. This is dire.
30 min Orquera restarts to Nakaitaci in the French 22. The men in blue drive it out of the 22 then Tillous-Borde kicks up to McLean on halfway and Italy opt to throw it about a bit. Vunisa is wrapped up but it dribbles into touch via Mermoz’s boot.
Penalty (Lopez 29) Italy 0-3 France
Right in front from 40m out, we finally get some points!
28 min Penalty to France on the 10m line as Ghiraldini knocks it forward and Vunisa catches it in an off-side position. Lopez will kick for goal. He’s the fourth player to have a go so far.
27 min Italy engage too early and it’s a free-kick to France on their own 22.
26 min Aguero is having a bit of treatment to his ribs here. This has been like England v Scotland yesterday, only without the fun broken field running. France just about win the scrum but Tillous-Borde’s kick is charged down on his 22. He gets the rebound, then turns it over and Italy go left only for Orquera to knock-on trying to gather it on the loop.
25 min France knock on and Gori picks it up on his way through a gap. Vunisa carries it on, up towards the 22 and puts Venditti away on the right, but his pass is fractionally forward.
24 min Free-kick to Italy for a crooked feed into the scrum. Orquera kicks towards the corner but Nakaitaci catches it and flings the ball right for Huget to go on a run, up into Italian territory.
23 min Goujon picks up but is tackled and turned by Gori. The ball gets stuck in the ruck though and JP Doyle rules that France were going forward, so they get another scrum.
22 min Orquera’s high restart is knocked on off the fingertips of Furno. It’s a miserable day in Rome and we’re getting a match to suit.
21 min This is on the Italian 10m line and only about 10m in from the right. Spedding gives it a mighty huge whack, but misses to the right. 0/3 so far in this match.
20 min Penalty to France as the Italian front row collapse the scrum. Spedding will kick for goal.
Italy will rely on their set piece today but France are currently the only team with a scrum and lineout success rate over 90%. #ITAvFRA
— Accenture Rugby (@AccentureRugby) March 15, 2015
19 min McLean kicks the turnover ball deep into French territory, Nakaitaci clears to touch on halfway. Italy then win the lineout, tapping it down to Gori, but the number nine knocks it on on his own 10m line.
18 min France move it right and bundle their way up to the Italian 10m line. This is the first time they’ve been in Italian territory by my reckoning. Fickou offloads to Maestri, who offloads straight into Italian hands.
17 min It’s not a good lineout as Parisse taps it down and the ball bounces straight into touch. Flanquart wins it, Tillous-Borde kicks high and Parisse can’t claim the wet ball on halfway.
16 min This is a tough kick even for a decent kicker, and Orquera is not that. Actually it’s a decent effort, but it strikes the post and bounces out. Fickou secures the ball and Spedding thumps a clearance out, 35m from his own line on the Italian right.
14 min Tommy Allen is heading off to be replaced by Orquera, the third-choice 10. France win the lineout just outside their own 22 and Tillous-Borde kicks high. Mermoz goes up with Parisse and takes the Italian captain out, conceding a penalty. Orquera to go for goal from 45m, just to the left.
13 min Early engagement by Ben Arous and Italy get the free-kick. Another scrum, is the Italian choice. It’s a very good scrum and they move it left to Sarto, who kicks ahead and into touch just outside the 22.
12 min Italy win the lineout but it goes loose in midfield and, after some bobbling, France secure it. Tillous-Borde kicks high, Parisse can’t catch it on halfway and, though Le Roux does secure it, there’s another knock-on in midfield and we’ll go back for the scrum to France. The ball is more slippery than Saul Goodman out there.
10 min Quick ball off the top and Masi crashes over the gainline. Ghiraldini is then stripped of the ball and Lopez and Parisse exchange kicks. The French 10 then loses the ball in the tackle and Venditti chips into the 22. Mermoz gets back and boots it into touch on the France 22.
9 min This is a poor kick from 25m, just to the left, hooked wide by Allen. He looks to be struggling with that groin injury. An exchange of kicks, then Lopez boots one out on the full, so Italy will have a lineout around 8m outside the French 22.
8 min Left it goes, Morisi goes into contact and Le Roux is penalised for going off his feet at the ruck. Chance for 3-0 then.
7 min A good kick from McLean, finds touch on the right on the French 22. The Italian maul has been a real danger so far in this championship and Parisse wins the ball. It’s a great drive by the French though and Italy will go through the backs.
6 min Another penalty to Italy at the lineout, Flanquart again for entering the maul at the side.
5 min Guirado’s throw on the Italy 10m line and it’s stolen at the back by Parisse. Furno secures possession, Flanquart plays it on the ground and Italy get the penalty. McLean clears to touch on the 10m line.
4 min Furno wins the lineout on his own 22 and Allen completes the clearance, 40m upfield.
3 min Lopez kicks long and then Allen kicks high, whereupon Morisi reclaims it. The ball is recycled and Allen goes for the cross kick. Nakaitaci takes it on the full in his 22 but doesn’t claim the mark, instead surging 70m down the left touchline. Parisse tackles him into touch.
2 min Slow stuff so far as play crabs left along the 10m line. It’s back to Allen on halfway and he sends it high, but Spedding calls the mark. An exchange of kicks, but then Parisse puts his into the enormous in-goal area and it’s dotted down for a drop-out.
1 min Nakaitaci takes the kick-off in his 22 and France clear to Parisse on halfway. The Italians carry it up over the French 10m line.
Peep! Here we go then. Italy, in white, get us underway. JP Doyle is the referee, which is excellent news. If any referee is going to let the game take place it’s him.
“Come on Italy!” writes Roy Allen. “(So we can have a France backlash next week and Ireland can win the Championship).”
Is this in the spirit of the Six Nations?
We’re having a minute’s silence for the three French athletes killed in a helicopter crash over Argentina earlier this week.
Interesting...
Two reliable sources have told me in last couple of days Raphael Ibanez & Fabien Pelous being lined up to take the France reins post RWC
— gavin mortimer (@gavinmortimer7) March 15, 2015
Another prediction, courtesy of our rugby-loving man in the New York office:
@DanLucas86 France by 30-13.
— Martin Pengelly (@MartinPengelly) March 15, 2015
Time for these:
“Hi Dan,” writes Robin Hazlehurst. “I’ve gone with Italy by six, but my predictions have been awful so far this championship. Be great to see Italy win by a hatful, so that if Scotland and France win next week they only need to absolutely obliterate Wales to take their first Six Nations crown. That would be one in the eye for those who suggested they should be kicked out.”
This, genuinely, is the first email I’ve had from Robin all championship not sent from the pub. I don’t feel right.
The word from France is that Saint-Andre is under no pressure before the World Cup. This is the same country that tore into Marc Lievremont for delivering a grand slam and a World Cup final.
Also, BREAKING NEWS: Tomasso Allen has strained his groin in the warm-up. He’ll start, we think, but he is heavily strapped.
Weather watch: it’s as wet as a Coldplay fan’s bedsheets. Predictions? I’m going with Italy by a point.
Revised lineups then...
Italy
15-Luke McLean, 14-Leonardo Sarto, 13-Luca Morisi, 12-Andrea Masi, 11-Giovanbattista Venditti, 10-Tommaso Allen, 9-Edoardo Gori; 1-Matias Aguero, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3-Dario Chistolini, 4-George Biagi, 5-Josh Furno, 6-Francesco Minto, 7-Samuela Vunisa, 8-Sergio Parisse (capt).
Replacements: 16-Andrea Manici, 17-Alberto De Marchi, 18-Lorenzo Cittadini, 19-Quintin Geldenhuys, 20-Marco Barbini, 21-Guglielmo Palazzani, 22-Luciano Orquera, 23-Enrico Bacchin.
France
15-Scott Spedding, 14-Yoann Huget, 13-Gael Fickou, 12-Maxime Mermoz, 11-Noa Nakaitaci, 10-Camille Lopez, 9-Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1-Eddy Ben Arous, 2-Guilhem Guirado, 3-Nicolas Mas, 4-Alexandre Flanquart, 5-Yoann Maestri, 6-Thierry Dusautoir (capt), 7-Bernard Le Roux, 8-Loann Goujon.
Replacements: 16-Benjamin Kayser, 17-Rabah Slimani, 18-Vincent Debaty, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Damien Chouly, 21-Rory Kockott, 22-Jules Plisson, 23-Mathieu Bastareaud.
As expected, Tomasso Allen starts at 10 for Italy with Luciano Orquera called up to the replacements’ bench.
Change of plan. Italy are without Kelly Haimona, who has suffered a “genital trauma” in training. No word yet on who’s stepping in, but I’ll let you know.
Preamble
Afternoon folks. It’s been a hectic weekend of rugby, hasn’t it? So let’s talk something else. Let’s talk Manchester United. A once proud club with a highly decorated manager in charge, they have, in recent years, fallen on hard times. Muddled selections and the chopping and changing of personnel are unfathomable to outside observers. Results are mixed, the style of football is dull and turgid. Supporters are dissatisfied, the British media are laying into Louis van Gaal with relish and another mid-table finish is a distinct possibility.
Spot the obvious analogy. It’s not entirely clear what Philippe Saint-Andre is doing and today’s ridiculous team selection suggests he doesn’t actually have the first clue himself. There are eight changes from the team that lost to Wales in Paris; yes, four of them are injury-enforced, but you would think that with that much disruption a competent coach in charge of one of rugby’s world powerhouses would aim for as much consistency as possible. Not this maverick though.
Morgan Parra is the big miss and so Sebastien Tillous-Borde becomes Saint-Andre’s third scrum-half of the championship. Both of last week’s centres, Remi Lamerat and Wesley Fofana are injured, as is the winger Sofiane Guitoune. In their stead come the fleet-footed pair of Gael Fickou and Maxime Mermoz at 13 and 12 respectively – the barrelling Matieu Bastareaud left on the bench – and the powerful Fijian-born Noa Nakaitaci is on the wing. So, the power game or a quick running one? Beats me, because the battering ram that is Scott Spedding replaces Brice Dulin at full-back and the relatively lightweight Loann Goujon is at eight. Camille Lopez is one of the minority not to be changed, despite seeming stuck in two minds over what kind of fly-half he wants to be.
See what I mean? The once-mercurial French are a stodgy meat-and-potatoes mess; more England 2011 than THAT semi-final 1999. More than a few folk reckon they’ll struggle to win in Rome for the first time in six years. Technically they could still win the title, but there is a greater likelihood of me inventing a time machine and going on a date with Audrey Hepburn.
In a way, it’s a shame for Italy that there has been a two-week gap since their surprise win in Scotland as the momentum from that high may have stalled a little. Still, they look stronger today: Andrea Masi returns from injury to partner Luca Morisi at centre, and Leonardo Sarto is fit again to take his place on the wing. In the back-row, Simone Favaro is out and Samuela Vunisa in. There’s also the small matter of Sergio Parisse winning his 112th cap, an Italian record. Well done him.
Kick-off is at 3pm GMT, or 4pm local time. Here are your teams:
Italy
15-Luke McLean, 14-Leonardo Sarto, 13-Luca Morisi, 12-Andrea Masi, 11-Giovanbattista Venditti, 10-Kelly Haimona, 9-Edoardo Gori; 1-Matias Aguero, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3-Dario Chistolini, 4-George Biagi, 5-Josh Furno, 6-Francesco Minto, 7-Samuela Vunisa, 8-Sergio Parisse (capt).
Replacements: 16-Andrea Manici, 17-Alberto De Marchi, 18-Lorenzo Cittadini, 19-Quintin Geldenhuys, 20-Marco Barbini, 21-Guglielmo Palazzani, 22-Tommaso Allan, 23-Enrico Bacchin.
France
15-Scott Spedding, 14-Yoann Huget, 13-Gael Fickou, 12-Maxime Mermoz, 11-Noa Nakaitaci, 10-Camille Lopez, 9-Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1-Eddy Ben Arous, 2-Guilhem Guirado, 3-Nicolas Mas, 4-Alexandre Flanquart, 5-Yoann Maestri, 6-Thierry Dusautoir (capt), 7-Bernard Le Roux, 8-Loann Goujon.
Replacements: 16-Benjamin Kayser, 17-Rabah Slimani, 18-Vincent Debaty, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Damien Chouly, 21-Rory Kockott, 22-Jules Plisson, 23-Mathieu Bastareaud.
Before I came in today, my parents both gave their predictions. Italy by two, says dad, France by six says mum. Happy Mothers’ Day, mum. Here is some appropriately themed pre-match entertainment. HA HA, HAAAA
