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 10-0 Italy, 19 minutes
Bish bash bosh! The mighty Uini Atonio is deployed as a midfield carrier and nearly knocks Paolo Garbisi over the Belgian border!
Fair play to Garbisi, who clings on to a shoulder and, after a gain of about five metres, does bring the prop down. France kick away possession, but their power game is working.
France 10-0 Italy, 17 minutes
Italy opt not to maul, a wide pass from Martin Page-Relo to Juan Ignacio Brex, and then Federico Mori on the charge. Tommaso Menoncello tries to keep the tempo up, picking and driving having gone in search of work off his wing, but he’s all on his lonesome, and France feast on the breakdown carrion.
Jonathan Danty the jackaler - good work from the centre, who is excellent over the ball. His centre partner Gael Fickou receives a bit of treatment but is ok to continue and joins the rest of the French backs up near the ten-metre line, where France will throw their lineout.
France 10-0 Italy, 16 minutes
Nice stuff from Italy, feigning a maul and then playing away through Giacomo Nicotera, the hooker niftily flicking back on the inside for Martin Page-Relo.
The French-born scrum half beats a couple of defenders and is then taken high. Penalty Italy - will they take the points? Nope, the corner is the call, Paolo Garbisi (who spent the fallow week moving to Toulon from Montpellier somewhat against his will) finding the five-metre line.
PENALTY! FRANCE 10-0 Italy (Thomas Ramos penalty, 15 minutes)
And Thomas Ramos knocks it over from wide on the left.
France 7-0 Italy, 14 minutes
Yikes. That’s the mismatch we feared, Uini Atonio and Posolo Tuilagi’s combined shove far too strong for the left side of an imploding Italian scrum. Penalty France...
France 7-0 Italy, 12 minutes
France cut Italy open! Lovely handling on halfway and Matthieu Jalibert cuts through, taking Posolo Tuilagi’s sharp pass at the line. Gael Fickou is there on the outside, can he connect with a teammate? Nope, a dummy from the centre, cut down ten metres out.
Wide to the left, with numbers waiting...but that’s a poor pass, too far in front of Peato Mauvaka who can’t gather on the stoop. A chance missed for France, but another reminder of their attacking threat.
France 7-0 Italy, 10 minutes
Good from Italy on the chase, Ross Vintcent stripping, Tommaso Menoncello collecting, and a chance to attack on halfway. Federico Mori takes the direct route, but the subsequent attempts to explore something more adventurous come to nought. A long kick through is grounded in-goal by Thomas Ramos.
France 7-0 Italy, 9 minutes
There was real purpose about the way France went at the Italian fringe defence there. Ireland got some joy playing tight to the ruck two weeks ago, and you do fear that the visitors are lacking a bit of close-in punch.
France turn Italian ball over about 40 metres out, and flip the field with a drilled grubber. Ange Capuozzo gets back to collect but is blanketed by the French chase. Martin Page-Relo hooks a clearance upfield.
TRY! FRANCE 7-0 Italy (Charles Ollivon try, 7 minutes)
No clear knock-on - the try is given!
Italy may feel aggrieved but there was no clear angle that showed Charles Ollivon losing complete control, and TMO Ian Tempest is happy to uphold the on-field decision. France’s stand-in captain gets them on the board, and it’s a simple start for Thomas Ramos from the tee.
Try? France 0-0 Italy, 7 minutes
Pace and power around the fringes from the French loose forwards, Paul Boudehent and Charles Ollivon prominent. And has the openside got the ball down as he darts from two metres out?
Christophe Ridley’s on-field decision is a try, but there’s a suspicion of a knock-on as he gathers...
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