France vs Italy LIVE: Six Nations rugby result and reaction from Stade de France
Follow latest reaction from Stade de France after Les Blues opened their campaign with a win on Sunday afternoon
France began their bid for a first Six Nations title since 2010 with a 37-10 bonus-point win over Italy at a rain-soaked Stade de France on Sunday, as winger Gabin Villiere ran in a hat-trick.
The Azzurri, looking for a first Championship win since 2015 and their first ever victory in Paris, took a surprise lead when teenage debutant Tommaso Menoncello gathered a kick to finish in the corner.
France struck back with Anthony Jelonch and Villiere tries to take an eight-point lead into halftime.
Villiere weaved a path through the Italian defence to cross again after the break before Damian Penaud added the bonus-point score, and Villiere dived over for his third with the clock in the red.
France are level with Ireland on five points at the top of the table after the opening round, ahead of their meeting in Paris next Saturday.
Italy face England in Rome on Sunday, where both sides will be looking to respond to opening-day defeats after the English lost their opener in Scotland.
Luke Cowan-Dickie apologises
You feel for Luke Cowan-Dickie, who looked entirely out-of-place contesting a high ball as the end man on the English defensive line. The England hooker has apologised after his transgression cost England at Murrayfield.
Luke Cowan-Dickie apologises to England fans over match-changing penalty try
The Exeter hooker was also yellow-carded for slapping a crossfield kick into touch to deny Scotland’s Darcy Graham a probable try
Scotland hold on to battling win against England
And then it was on to Murrayfield for the Calcutta Cup. Having been unable to make territorial dominance count, England ceded a late lead after Luke Cowan-Dickie’s deliberate knock-on saw the hooker sin-binned and Scotland awarded a penalty try - and Gregor Townsend’s side clung on through a succession of scrums at the death to hold firm for victory.
Scotland cling on to beat England and retain Calcutta Cup in tense Six Nations battle
Scotland 20-17 England: The visitors had victory in their grasp thanks to Marcus Smith’s second-half try but late mistakes opened the door for Gregor Townsend’s side to earn a memorable win
About yesterday
On the day that crowds were finally allowed back into Six Nations stadia for the first time in 23 months, action got underway in Dublin, where Ireland dismissed Wales:
Ireland see off depleted champions Wales to make winning start to Six Nations
Ireland 29-7 Wales: The hosts convincingly stretched their winning run to nine games with the Dublin success
France vs Italy
After an opening day on the British Isles, the Six Nations turns to the continent to conclude its opening weekend with Italy in Paris to face the fancied French. Having seen Ireland lay down a significant statement against Wales, France will be desperate to do similar against the perennial wooden spooners, whose young squad look set to endure another campaign at the bottom.
Kick-off at the Stade de France is about an hour and a half away...
France vs Italy
France’s build-up has been troubled by a series of Covid-related issues, and there was more bad news on Friday as Fabien Galthie tested positive. The French head coach will be watching on through his spectacles from isolation while Raphael Ibanez assumes temporary charge of a squad that, thankfully, got the all-clear after a final round of testing yesterday:
France head coach Fabien Galthie out of Italy clash after positive Covid test
Les Bleus boss will not attend Six Nations opener against Italy
France vs Italy
Follow live updates as France host Italy in the final Six Nations fixture of the opening weekend. Hopes will be high in Paris as Les Blues open their campaign as tournament favourites and with real belief that they can win the title for the first time since 2010. Victory over New Zealand during the Autumn Nations Series at a raucous Stade de France was the latest example that this team is ready to deliver a championship, with Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont playing starring roles in Fabien Galthie’s side.
The France head coach will be absent for his team’s opening fixture after testing positive for Covid, but the hosts remain overwhelming favourites as they welcome their continental rivals Italy. The Italians are odds-on to finish with the wooden spoon once again and have not won a Six Nations fixture since 2015. Anything other than France joining Scotland and Ireland at the top of the table would be a seismic shock, following wins over England and Wales respectively on the opening day of the tournament on Saturday.
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