Le Blue too good for Azzurri

With their forward in dominant form, Le Bleu outscored the Azzurri by two tries to one.

And the unerring boot of flyhalf Frederick Michalak helped put the French clear on the scoreboard.

Not only did Michalak set up the first try of the match for prop Rabah Slimani, but the veteran flyhalf kicked 19 points – with five penalties and two conversions.

Replacement prop Nicolas Mas scored France's only other try 11 minutes from time. That left them two tries short of a bonus point and already behind Pool D rivals Ireland.

Italy were without talismanic captain Sergio Parisse with the No.8, who plays for Paris-based Stade Francais, kept out by a leg injury sustained in a warm-up match against Wales.

Italy were thrashed 29-0 by France in this season's Six Nations.

However, there were few moments of inspiration from either side in a first half which ended with France 15-3 in front, all the points coming from penalties.

France's strong scrummage against a powerful Italian pack led to a fourth-minute penalty – awarded by South African referee Craig Joubert.

However, Michalak's 38-metre effort came back off the post before he made it 3-0 in the seventh minute.

France, in their change strip of red, appeared to have scored a try only, for the second day in a row at Twickenham, to be chalked off as a result of controversy involving the use of the television match official.

A loose pass rebounded off Italy's Leonardo Sarto and was gathered by France wing Noa Nakaitaci.

Joubert awarded the try and France were just about to take the conversion when the official looked at the giant screen to see that Nakaitaci had knocked on.

Michalak's ensuing penalty was some consolation for France and Italy flyhalf Tommasso Allan then pulled a kickable penalty wide.

Italy lost experienced centre Andrew Masi with an Achilles injury.

Despite boasting a front row including veteran prop Martin Castrogiovanni, an Italian scrum infringement led to a France penalty only for Michalak to again hit the left post.

A stray Italian hand in the ruck gave Michalak another penalty chance and, from 35 metres, this one sailed between the posts to make it 9-0, with French No 8 Louis Picamoles doing much good work in the loose.  

Allan eventually opened Italy's account with a 33rd-minute penalty

Another Italian scrum collapse gave France a penalty just inside their own half and fullback Scott Spedding, the long-range kick specialist, landed a superb effort to make it 12-3.

Michalak kicked his side into a 12-point lead and his fifth successful penalty nudged France 18-3 in front early in the second half.

France finally scored their first try in the 44th minute.

Nakaitaci's burst down the touchline saw him release Guilhem Guirado, with the hooker hauled down by the posts.

The ball was recycled and Michalak's kick from five metres out was regathered by Slimani for the front row's first Test try.

Michalak converted and France were well clear at 25-3.

Italy hit back with a 52nd-minute try when, after Sarto went close, a quick ball allowed Italy wing Giovanbattista Venditti to race over on the right.

Allan converted and France's lead had been cut to 25-10.

France then saw wing Yoann Huget, visibly in pain, limp off with what appeared to be a severe hamstring injury.

It needed a typically hard-charging run from powerful France centre Mathieu Bastareaud to set up the position from which Mas placed the ball at the base of the post for the second try.

Man of the match:  Scrumhalf Edoardo Gori was Italy's best player, by some distance. Scott Spedding was rock solid at the back for France and he kicked a long-range penalty from inside his own half. Mathieu Bastareaud bashed, Frederic Michalak kicked his goals and distributed well, while Rabah Slimani, Guilhem Guirado and Eddy Ben Arous were monsters in the scrum. However, our award goes to French lock Louis Picamoles – who was solid on defence and the go-to man to get them over the gainline. Has a keen eye for a gap as well.

Moment of the match: It was good to see Nicolas Mas get his first Test try, after 80 internationals, while Giovanbattista Venditti's five-pointer was also well created. However, we are going for the try by French prop Rabah Slimani in the 44th minute – a score that took the game away from Italy.

Villain of the match: No villains here!

The scorers:

For France:

Tries: Slimani, Mas

Cons: Michalak 2

Pens: Michalak 5, Spedding

For Italy:

Try: Venditti

Con: Allan

Pen: Allan

Teams:

France: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Alexandre Dumoulin, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Damien Chouly, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Pascal Pape, 4 Yoann Maestri, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Eddy Ben Arous.

Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Nicolas Mas, 19 Bernard Le Roux, 20 Alexandre Flanquart, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Gael Fickou.

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Hugo Campagnaro, 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Francesco Minto, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Josh Furno, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain), 1 Matias Aguero.

Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Michele Rizzo, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Valerio Bernabo, 20 Simone Favaro, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Enrico Bacchin.

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Stuart Berry (South Africa)

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

AFP & rugby365