Italy vs France LIVE rugby: Six Nations 2023 result and reaction as Italy narrowly miss out on famous win

Italy 24-29 France: Italy push the reigning grand slam champions all the way but Matthieu Jalibert’s try sees Les Bleus win

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Ethan Dumortier scored a try on his France debut as the Les Bleus kick-started their Six Nations title defence with a hard-fought 29-24 bonus-point victory over a fiesty Italy at the Stadio Olimpico.

Thibault Flament, Thomas Ramos and Matthieu Jalibert also got on the scoresheet for the Grand Slam champions, while Ange Capuozzo dotted down for Italy and Tommaso Allan added four penalties.

The visitors were dealt a second-half scare when Charles Ollivon was sent to the sin bin and Italy were awarded a penalty try, at one point taking a second-half lead through Allan.

Les Bleus fended off the threat and will look to extend their winning streak to 15 when they travel to Ireland next weekend.

Relive all the action from Italy vs France below:

Six Nations 2023: Italy vs France

• Italy narrowly miss out on famous win over France in the final match of Round 1 of the 2023 Six Nations
• Reigning grand slam champions Les Bleus pushed all the way but Jalibert’s try helps them win 29-24 in Rome
• Resurgent Italy continued to show imprvement after an impressive 2022
• FULL-TIME! ITALY 24-29 France
• 67’ - TRY! Jalibert goes over after great work to put France back on top (ITA 24-29 FRA)
• 62’ - PENALTY! Allan slots fourth penalty to give Italy the lead (ITA 24-22 FRA)
• 51’ - PENALTY TRY! Alldritt hauls down a rolling maul for a penalty try and is sent to the sin-bin (ITA 21-22)
• 32’ - TRY! Brilliant acrobatic finish down the blindside from Capuozzo (ITA 11-19 FRA)
• 27’ - TRY! Dupont’s pinpoint cross-field kick finds debutant Dumortier for the score (ITA 6-19 FRA)
• 19’ - TRY! Ramos dots down after Capuozzo outmuscled by Penaud in the air (ITA 3-12 FRA)
• 5’ - TRY! Flament charges down Varney’s box kick and canters over (ITA 0-7 FRA)

[5 February 2023 16:09 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 14-19 France, 45 minutes

Penalty advantage coming for France as Damian Penaud goes off on one of his meanders, like a country rambler with a faulty compass, hither and thither and eventually vaguely in the right direction. Anthony Jelonch and Charles Ollivon combine out wide but France run out of options, and a knock on means back for the penalty they’ll have to come.

Thomas Ramos will have a go at goal.

[5 February 2023 16:07 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 14-19 France, 44 minutes

Pierre Bruno this time provides useful occupation of the backfield after Romain Ntamack stabs a grubber towards the corner. But Italy can’t really get out - another shallow-ish kick and France can build from a lineout inside the Italy half.

[5 February 2023 16:06 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 14-19 France, 42 minutes

Good covering from Stephen Varney! It’s really smart from France, playing their game of close-in carriers and winning consistent collisions before spreading the ball wide when the chance appears. Antoine Dupont fizzes a delectable pass to Damian Penaud, who chips beyond Varney.

The scrum half turns as Penaud drops ball to boot and thus is already in hasty retreat as Penaud begins his sprint. Varney dots down in his own in-goal and Italy can clear from a goalline drop out.

[5 February 2023 16:04 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 14-19 France, 41 minutes

There’s no immediate tempering of the Italian strategy, exploring attacking opportunities from the kick off before deciding that a more conventional exit might, actually, be wise. It’s not the best clearance - France will have a lineout 25 metres out.

[5 February 2023 16:03 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Second half

Michele Lamaro gathers the Italian squad in a huddle as they wait for their opponents to re-emerge, a focussed look around the ring. Can they remain in touch?

France get things back underway.

[5 February 2023 16:00 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

H/T: Italy 14-19 France

France probably just need to stick to their processes slightly more, and perhaps be slightly more selective on which breakdowns to contest. Matthew Carley has been hot on French players off their feet at the ruck, and if Italy continue to play so extravagantly after the half-time oranges, the hosts’ errors will continue to grant opportunities without undue need to earn turnover ball.

[5 February 2023 15:51 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

H/T: Italy 14-19 France

A compelling, fascinating and slightly perplexing half of rugby. Italy’s plan has clearly been to play as much as possible, limiting France’s opportunities to counter-attack or build kick pressure - and it’s a strategy that has brought mixed returns. In the first 20 minutes, the hosts wouldn’t stop coughing up the ball, allowing France into the game rather easily. A charge down score from Thibaud Flament put the defending champions ahead before Romain Ntamack’s dainty dinks enabled two of his back three to go over in the corner.

But Italy have caused plenty of problems for the French defence with their varied attacking play, and Ange Capuozzo’s superb scamper into the corner was just reward for their efforts.

[5 February 2023 15:47 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

HALF TIME! ITALY 14-19 FRANCE

(Getty Images)

[5 February 2023 15:47 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! ITALY 14-19 France (Tommaso Allan penalty, 42 minutes)

Safely popped through by Tommaso Allan - the margin is five points at the half.

[5 February 2023 15:46 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 11-19 France, 40 minutes

But Italy regather and reload and earn a penalty right in front of the posts. Take the three, surely? Italian captain Michele Lamaro indicates as much as French counterpart Antoine Dupont is warned about his team’s discipline.