02/22/26 12:04:00
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02/22 12:02 CST Six Nations favorite France scores 5 tries in 33-8 win against
Italy despite some errors
Six Nations favorite France scores 5 tries in 33-8 win against Italy despite
some errors
LILLE, France (AP) --- France remained on course for the Six Nations title
after a scrappy 33-8 win against Italy on Sunday.
Fabien Galthi's side is favored to win back-to-back titles and is the only
team to have won all three matches. France grabbed five tries for a bonus point
and has 18 tries so far, having managed a tournament-record 30 last year.
Jet-heeled left winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, lock Emmanuel Meafou and makeshift
flyhalf Thomas Ramos scored first-half tries at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille,
two of them set up by star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont.
But after leading 19-0 inside 30 minutes, the French tried too much
entertaining as indiscipline allowed Italy back in.
An opportunist try from fullback Ange Capuozzo followed by Paolo Garbisi's
penalty pulled it back to 19-8.
The scoreboard stayed static until 31 minutes into the second half when the
ever-alert Ramos kicked into the right corner to give winger Gal Dran a try
on test debut.
That try came with down to 14 players after winger Louis Lynagh --- the son of
Australian flyhalf great Michael Lynagh --- was carelessly sinbinned for a
deliberate knock-on.
Italy's bench was angry at the try, which came with the Italians effectively
down to 13 because Capuozzo was not yet back on the field following treatment
for a shoulder injury.
Center Emilien Gailleton showed his strength when he broke a tackle to dive
over in the closing stages, and Ramos converted.
"It wasn't our most complete performance. But I can tell you Italy really
fought hard, we were not surprised by their intensity," Ramos said. "We have
two matches left to go and get the title."
?A few mistakes'
Galthi said his players were a bit tense at times.
"We made a few mistakes in terms of our positioning and our lineouts," he said,
pointing to late team changes as a factor.
Matthieu Jalibert pulled out on Saturday night with a minor calf injury and was
replaced at flyhalf by Ramos. This forced Galthi to improvise as Tho
Attisssogbe took Ramos' place at fullback and Dran replaced Attisssogbe on the
right wing.
Bielle-Biarrey scored France's first try in the fourth minute. Attisssogbe won
an aerial challenge and Dupont kicked quickly to the left corner, where
Bielle-Biarrey profited from a favorable bounce to grab the ball just before it
went out.
It was the 22-year-old's 24th try in 25 tests and his fourth of the tournament.
His eight tries in last year's tournament equaled the record of England's Cyril
Lowe in 1914, and Scotland's Ian Smith in 1925, when the tournament was the
Five Nations.
After France gained ground by spreading the play right, Italy could not prevent
Dupont setting up Meafou to bulldoze over in the 15th.
The galloping Gailleton broke free down the left and unselfishly passed inside
to Ramos for the third try, which he converted.
Italy pulled a try back when careless defending from Attisssogbe in the right
corner allowed Capuozzo to dart over.
More loose French play saw flanker Oscar Jegou trying a one-handed floated
pass, which led to an interception and forced Bielle-Biarrey to cover. When
France conceded a penalty at the scrum, Garbisi's kick gave Italy some hope at
19-8 down at the break.
Having impressed against Wales last weekend, center Fabien Brau-Boirie became
butter-fingered as he dropped Dupont's pass in front of the posts midway
through the second half.
But as Italy faded, France finally tightened up.
France is away to Scotland and Italy hosts a slumping England side, with both
matches on March 7.
France started by crushing Ireland 36-14 and routed Wales with eight tries in
Cardiff.
Italy beat Scotland and lost narrowly in Ireland. -__
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
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