France v Italy LIVE: Six Nations 2024 result and reaction after visitors come agonisingly close to victory
The Azzurri are searching for their first victory of the tournament while Les Bleus hope to build on their win over Scotland
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Paolo Garbisi struck the post with a potential match-winning penalty as Italy narrowly missed out on a famous Six Nations victory over France in Lille.
With the scores level and the clock dead, Garbisi lined up a shot at goal from the left that would have given Gonzalo Quesada his first win as Italy boss.
But having been rushed into his attempt with the shot clock running down after the ball fell off his tee, Garbisi’s flighted effort curled against the right-hand post, rebounding away to ensure France held on for a 13-13 draw.
The hosts had been profligate in a first half they dominated but the game tilted after Jonathan Danty’s dismissal just before the interval.
The France centre was initially shown a yellow card for his head-on-head collision with Juan Ignacio Brex, but an upgrade to red on review in the TMO bunker gave Italy confidence that they could fight back to secure a significant win over the pre-tournament favourites.
Ange Capuozzo’s score in the corner and a fine Garbisi touchline conversion set up a shot at glory, but the fly half was denied by the woodwork as Italy came agonisingly close.
Relive all the Six Nations action below, plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
France 13-3 Italy, 52 minutes
France plough up the middle, Nolann Le Garrec’s slimmer figure darting through the craters left by a couple of colossal carriers ahead of him. The scrum half is tackled on the edge of the Italian 22, but Federico Ruzza intervenes, stripping the next Frenchman of his groceries. Italy’s scrum, with Ruzza reef unspotted and a knock-on the call.
France 13-3 Italy, 51 minutes
Romain Taofifenua makes a more positive impact - the enormous veteran lock is an underrated breakdown operator, and forces a desperate Italian off their feet as he pokes his head in to contest.
France 13-3 Italy, 50 minutes
A few more changes - Manuel Zuliani is on in the Italy back row, while France swap in Nolann Le Garrec at scrum half, Julien Marchand at hooker and Alexandre Roumat on the flank.
Le Garrec’s first involvement isn’t ideal, slicing a box kick out on the full. The livewire young nine apologises to his teammates.
France 13-3 Italy, 48 minutes
Almost! Were the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in-goals Murrayfield-sized, Tommaso Menoncello might have got to his hack ahead, but the shallow area beyond the tryline works against the Italy wing, who runs out of room to reel his kick in.
A double change for France, and a lovely moment for the Taofifenua family - brothers Sebastien and Romain replace Cyril Baille and Posolo Tuilagi, who had some very encouraging moments on his first start.
France 13-3 Italy, 46 minutes
France do have Yoram Moefana to push into midfield, the Bordeaux comfortable operating alongside Gael Fickou. Italy look to attack the blindside wing, with France forced to leave it somewhat vacant, but a wide pass in the direction of Ricardo Favretto is too hot for the flanker to handle. It looked like Maxime Lucu had covered smartly, anyway.
PENALTY! FRANCE 13-3 Italy (Thomas Ramos penalty, 45 minutes)
Three more to Thomas Ramos’s tally. France have a ten-point buffer once more.
France 10-3 Italy, 44 minutes
Lively attacking play from France, Matthis Lebel cutting cleverly between the bodies. Slow ball allows Italy to regather, but Federico Ruzza is caught with his big paws in the cookie jar. Penalty France, and Thomas Ramos will surely extend their lead...
France 10-3 Italy, 42 minutes
Wow. How that will boost Italy’s spirits as they look to overturn this half-time deficit. A fine kick from Martin Page-Relo into the corner forces Peato Mauvaka to throw a pressure lineout, but a pull on the arm of a French jumper in the air gives away a soft penalty.
RED CARD! JONATHAN DANTY WILL NOT BE RETURNING!
France will play the remainder of the game with 14 men - Jonathan Danty has been sent off!
“High level of danger, no mitigation”, says referee Christophe Ridley after the review in the TMO bunker. Can Italy capitalise?
The second half has begun.
Jonathan Danty red card: Why was France centre sent off against Ireland?
Danty was shown red by referee Christophe Ridley in the Six Nations game in Lille
HT: France 10-3 Italy
France, by the way, are already operating with their full-back at ten (though Thomas Ramos is perfectly comfortable at fly half), a replacement centre on the wing and Matthis Lebel, who yesterday morning thought he was playing for Toulouse tonight, playing his first international minutes at full-back. Italy will feel right in this with a strong start to the second 40.
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