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.
France 23-10 Italy, 64 minutes
Away go France! Melvyn Jaminet nearly misjudges a high kick but does just about cling on to it, allowing France a chance to counter against a disjointed Italian chase. Damian Penaud, who is built like a 200m specialist, runs the bend beautifully to get outside of it, and there are whistles from the crowd as he is knocked aside after toeing onwards.
Nothing doing, says the referee after a brief consultation with the TMO, but Italy were forced to kick the ball out anyway. France five-metre lineout.
France 23-10 Italy, 62 minutes
Once more into the Italian 22 go France as Peato Mauvaka heaves a long lineout throw for Gael Fickou to rush on to from inside centre. But this latest attempt to advance for the line is ended by another knock-on - Demba Bamba has deliciously deft hips for a man of considerable size but the tighthead’s shimmy is more precise than his handling.
Back to the day job for Bamba as France look to apply some pressure to the Italian scrum.
France 23-10 Italy, 60 minutes
Nearly a moment of majesty from Damian Penaud! France turn Italian ball over deep in opposition territory and there is acres and acres of space out wide as Romain Ntamack takes a pass. The fly-half drops a kick into it, Leonardo Marin sliding after it but getting there just after Penaud.
The wing has stayed on his feet, so tries to deftly lift the ball up into his hands with his boot. He is so, so close to getting it spot-on, but it just spills from soggy fingertips as he tries to complete the job and claim. The try chance goes begging - France do still need one more for a bonus point, of course.
France 23-10 Italy, 59 minutes
Gabin Villiere goes in search of a hat-trick, arriving late off his wing to offer a different, more diminutive threat after Romain Taofifenua had created a crater in midfield. Villiere doesn’t go unnoticed, and drops the ball in bracing himself for the crunching double tackle that awaits. He gets up a little tender, but waves away the medic as he staggers back over to his wing.
France 23-10 Italy, 57 minutes
And a French scrum penalty means another visit to the Italian 22. Jonathan Danty won’t be part of this trip, nor Julien Marchand - enter Yoram Moefana and Peato Mauvaka in their stead.
Debut try-scorer Tommaso Menoncello is done, too. Italy bring on another debutant in young fly-half Leonardo Marin.
France 23-10 Italy, 56 minutes
A few more changes: the massive Romain Taofifenua steps in for the enormous Paul Willemse as France make a second-row alteration. Italy call for Giovanni Pettinelli in the back row - it appears Toa Halafihi is the man withdrawn as France set a scrum just inside the Italy half.
France 23-10 Italy, 56 minutes
A few more changes: the massive Romain Taofifenua steps in for the enormous Paul Willemse as France make a second-row alteration. Italy call for Giovanni Pettinelli in the back row - it appears Toa Halafihi is the man withdrawn as France set a scrum just inside the Italy half.
France 23-10 Italy, 55 minutes
As has been the case on every occasion since Tommaso Menoncello’s try, Italy’s attack in the French red zone is loose and the ball spills free.
Front row replacements Giosue Zilocchi and Hame Faiva release their frustration by saving Julien Marchand a trip to the chiropractor.
France 23-10 Italy, 53 minutes
Italy lose possession just as Mike Adamson calls advantage over for a French knock-on, unfortunate timing but that was all a little bit ponderous from the visitors.
France clear, and Italy have a penalty advantage this time as the hosts rush up too quickly in midfield. Marco Zanon jinks right into the path of his captain Michele Lamaro to end any hope of further capitalisation.
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