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 15:01 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

KICK OFF!

Right, here we go - Italy in white with navy shorts and shoulders, France in familiar royal blue. And we’re off!

[5 February 2023 15:00 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Match Officials

Matthew Carley of England has the whistle this afternoon, with Wales’ Ben Whitehouse his TMO. The pair worked together in London Irish’s win over Harlequins last week as a bit of a Six Nations tune-up - I thought the officials generally had a good day all round yesterday, with Paul Williams particularly impressive at Twickenham.

[5 February 2023 14:58 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Anthems

A slightly discordant rendition of “La Marseillaise”, though it does serve to highlight a good number of French fans full of throat and out in force to support their team.

“Il Canto degli Italiani” is sung more pleasantly. The Italian front rowers drape hands across hearts and roar out the final lines.

[5 February 2023 14:54 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy vs France

The players emerge from the Stadio Olimpico tunnel, up the steps and out into the Italian afternoon. Ah, perhaps optimism about the crowd was slightly misplaced - it looks like there are plenty of empty seats in Rome.

Still plenty of noise as Michele Lamaro strides out confidently.

[5 February 2023 14:45 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France defence coach Shaun Edwards also has a pre-match natter

“It’s been a very good two weeks down in the south of France,” Edwards tells ITV. “We’ve got a lot of work done. We are not underestimating our opponents - we know what they’ve done recently.”

[No team has ever defended achieved back-to-back Grand Slams?] “That’s the challenge. That’s what we like.

“[Italy have] threats all over the pitch and they have great team effort. They’ve got some very good jackalers at the ruck to slow down our ball and we are under no illusions of the challenge today. We want the attitude and desire of a challenger.”

(Getty Images)

[5 February 2023 14:42 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy vs France

Paolo Garbisi thinks the conditions will suit his side but I don’t France will mind a fast track given the number of outstanding offloaders in the team.

[5 February 2023 14:37 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

And injured fly half Garbisi has been grabbed for a chat by ITV

“I think and I hope the team are ready. I saw a team that was really positive this week, I think we’ve prepped well. It is a beautiful day here in Rome and I hope we can do it.

“France is a really unbelievable team, they’ve proven that in the last few years. Breakdowns are going to be key today. In defence, if they get quick ball it is very hard to stop them.

“We want to play more with the ball in hand, have more fun with the ball. The conditions are perfect for us today. [A win in Rome] would be amazing.”

[5 February 2023 14:35 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy vs France

And, just because we can, it’s probably worth another look back at Italy’s last involvement in this competition. Incidentally, with no Paolo Garbisi or Leonardo Marin, I think Edoardo Padovani is ostensibly Italy’s fly half cover behind Tommaso Allan this afternoon.

[5 February 2023 14:29 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy vs France

We are expecting a good turnout at the Stadio Olimpico this afternoon. The Italian rugby ecosystem is a slightly curious one, with the sport much more popular in the north of the country but the national stadium in the capital further south. The autumn saw a couple of very successful trips to outposts in Tuscany and Liguria but Kieran Crowley likes having these prestige Six Nations fixtures in Rome, with the hope that more success for his developing side can help energise more support for the sport throughout the country.

[5 February 2023 14:16 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France mean business

Suits and white trainers - it’s a familiar look for France’s strutters, who bring a certain style to proceedings on and off the pitch. It really is a massive year for this team, which remains remarkably young, but they wear the pressure rather well.