France's Springbok tactic pays off against Italy
MATCH REPORT: France got their Six Nations campaign firmly back on track on Sunday by thrashing Italy 73-24 in Rome and staying in touch with tournament leaders Ireland.
Fabien Galthie made a big move following the defeat to England, opting for a 7-1 split on the bench with Maxime Lucu the only back
The 7-1 bench split is a tactic that the Springboks are known for using in big Test matches.
However, his gamble paid off, as his team scored 11 tries, a record for a Six Nations match, at the Stadio Olimpico to claim a thumping bonus-point victory which sets up a massive clash with the Irish in Dublin next month.
*To recap all the action CLICK HERE!!!
Star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont and fullback Leo Barre, in his first appearance of the tournament, both dotting down twice.
Les Bleus are three points behind Ireland after bouncing back convincingly from their narrow and painful defeat at the hands of England.
France paid for their profligacy at Twickenham but was irresistible going forward in front of a large and boisterous travelling support in the Italian capital.
Italy took a shock lead through a converted Tommaso Menoncello try in the 11th minute and were only trailing by four points when Juan Ignacio Brex finished off a wonderful team move under the posts in the 27th minute.
But France, who had already scored two tries through Mickael Guillard and Peato Mauvaka, then moved through the gears.
They steamrollered Italy with Dupont and Barre’s braces and further scores from Paul Boudehent, Gregory Alldritt, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Theo Attissogbe and Pierre-Louis Barassi.
Paolo Garbisi’s score on the hour was no more than a consolation for the Italians who stay three points ahead of Wales in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon.
Sunday’s rout was not Italy’s heaviest defeat in the tournament, with an 80-23 mauling at Twickenham in 2001 remaining their blackest day.
Six Nations
Player of the match: Ange Capuozzo was vital for Italy, making some lethal runs out on the wing, while Juan Ignacio Brex also deserves a mention. As expected captain Antoine Dupont called the shots for France, setting up a few tries and scoring a brace. However, our nod goes to Peato Mauvaka. The hooker was solid in set-piece but it was his performance in open play that made him the standout and showed why he is becoming one the best hookers in the world.
Moment of the match: It started as a very competitive match and the moment that stands out is certainly Juan Ignacio Brex’s try in the first half.
Villian of the match: The Italian’s defence in the second-half. The team was far from clinical, missing tackles and losing their shape.
The scorers:
For Italy:
Tries: Menoncello, Brex, Paolo Garbisi
Cons: Allan 2, P. Garbisi
Pens: Allan
For France:
Tries: Guillard, Mauvaka, Dupont 2, Boudehent, Bielle-Biarrey, Barre 2, Alldritt, Attissogbe, Barassi
Cons: Ramos 8, Lucu
Teams
Italy: 15 Tommaso Allan, 14 Ange Capuozzo, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Martin Page-Relo, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Repacements: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosue Zilocchi, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Ross Vintcent, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Jacopo Trulla.
France: 15 Leo Barre, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 François Cros, 5 Mickaël Guillard, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacement: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Anthony Jelonch, 23 Maxime Lucu.
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
