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

Six Nations: England must endure pain in order to grow, Borthwick says after Scotland loss

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 15:27 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! ITALY 6-12 France (Tommaso Allan penalty, 23 minutes)

Clean and true from the Italy fly-half. Three more points next to Tommaso Allan’s name.

[5 February 2023 15:26 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 3-12 France, 22 minutes

More like it from Italy. Their handling is superb as they work the phases in the French half, Sebastian Negri shipping on smartly under pressure with Federico Ruzza twice involved, the tall lock holding the ball firmly in one enormous paw. Eventually Italy are squeezed out, but there’s a penalty advantage bang in front and Tommaso Allan will surely double his tally.

[5 February 2023 15:24 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 3-12 France, 21 minutes

France haven’t had to do too much inside their own half in this game, such has been Italy’s generosity in granting them possession. Their restart drill is sound, though - taken down well and then thumped upfield by Antoine Dupont, who finds touch.

[5 February 2023 15:22 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! Italy 3-12 FRANCE (Thomas Ramos try, 19 minutes)

It’s lively attack from France, condensing the forwards with the maul, Gael Fickou then beating a couple of would-be tackles as he pirouettes in midfield.

Romain Ntamack opts for the kick-pass, floating his sand wedge slightly too much and allowing Ange Capuozzo to get to it first, but a hefty collision with Damian Penaud (competing entirely legally) sees the ball spring free.

Thomas Ramos grounds (just about cleanly) - the try is good! The full back’s conversion from the right fades away.

[5 February 2023 15:20 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Try? France think they have scored in the corner but has the crossfield kick been knocked on first?

It is an on field try...

[5 February 2023 15:20 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 3-7 France, 18 minutes

Italy get narrowed slightly in their next defensive set but hurry across in enough number to force a knock on after a looping Damian Penaud had strode free up the left.

But then the hosts infringe at the scrum! Uini Atonio drives right through the gap between Danilo Fischetti and Giacomo Nicotera, who stand up under pressure.

France prod into the corner.

[5 February 2023 15:18 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 3-7 France, 16 minutes

Ollivon’s fumble came after two moments of curious decision-making from Italy: first the ball was flung wildly wide before Pierre Bruno, who had done well to pick up the pieces, dropped the ball in attempting to make a hurried clearance.

Italy jackal strongly for a third time to turnover French possession.

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

No try! Italy 3-7 France, 15 minutes

Italy lose possession inside their own 22 again and France capitalise once more!

Or do they? This might need a check. It’s really poor from Italy but has Ollivon grounded cleanly?

He doesn’t. No try! The flanker was reaching between two Italian tacklers and appeared to get the ball to floor on first look, but the slow-motion replay shows that he has lost control, and Matthew Carley chalks off the score.

[5 February 2023 15:14 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! ITALY 3-7 France (Tommaso Allan penalty, 14 minutes)

Italy are on the board. The director cuts to a rather glum looking Kieran Crowley, but he’ll hope that might just compose his side a little.

[5 February 2023 15:14 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 0-7 France, 13 minutes

Italy have definitely come to dance. Ange Capuozzo fizzes about, benefitting from a deliciously deft pull back pass from renaissance prop Danilo Fischetti.

Luca Morisi ploughs a more direct furrow, and Uini Atonio’s fail to fully release before contesting results in an Italian penalty. It’s kickable, and Tommaso Allan beckons for the tee...