France 37-10 Italy rugby LIVE SCORE: Villiere hat-trick gives France comfortable opening win – Six Nations reaction
FRANCE have beaten Italy with a bonus point in their opening Six Nations fixture.
Les Bleus suffered an early scare when debutant Tommaso Menoncello scored the first try of the match to give the visitors the lead.
However, Anthony Jelonch responded by pouncing on a loose pass to put France a point ahead.
And Gabin Villiere rounded off a well worked move to move the French to beyond a try ahead of the visitors.
Villiere then scored a second try to extend the French lead after the break before Maxime Penaud manufactured a brilliant bonus point try.
The winger then claimed a hat-trick with the last play of the match to put the gloss on a comfortable win.
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FT: France 37 Italy 10
While France will be pleased with the result and performance, Ireland can take solace in how often Italy got themselves into good positions in the final third.
Five tries in their first Guinness Six Nations game will please Les Blues fans.
These games are completely different affairs with fans back in the grounds.
FT: France 37 Italy 10
It is all over here.
The result we all expected but maybe not the performance.
I think this Italy team deserve more credit than the scoreline suggests.
France 37 Italy 10
80+1. The ball is sweetly struck over the posts as the referees whistle brings us to a close at the same time.
Solid win for France against a spirited Italy team.
Try - France 35 Italy 10
80+1. Villiere goes over the line to get his hat-trick.
Italy tried to keep them out and stopped a lot of try saving plays but eventually with a three on two, Villiere went over the line.
Your man of the match no doubt.
France 30 Italy 10
78. Scrum to France just inside of the Italian half.
They get the ball cleanly and spread it out wide looking for one more play.
Italy stop the charge but are penalised.
France 30 Italy 10
77. Italy are still going.
Maybe Italian rugby has finally addressed the cardio issues of seasons gone by.
France still having a lot of possession but the Italians are by no means dead on their feet.
When the situation arises they look to counter.
France 30 Italy 10
74. You can see why this France team are fancied this year.
They have a good balance in the team and some big hitters.
Ireland will offer a much tougher test next week.
Italy, to their credit, have been in this game and no gulf in class has shown.
In previous seasons they have looked way out of their depth.
France 30 Italy 10
72. Italy show they are not finished in this game as they drive towards the French line.
The defence is firm and manages to keep them out.
As the Italians spread the ball out wide it seems to open up but they cannot find a way through.
Italy awarded a penalty and they kick into touch.
France 30 Italy 10
69. Jaminet aims for the red, white and blue at the top of the uprights.
The ball sails through passed the tricolore.
Try - France 28 Italy 10
68. What a try!
I think we may have seen the try of the Guinness Six Nations so far.
Penaud passes to Dupont who then returns it to him and he runs in to score.
France 23 Italy 10
67. Garbisi tries to get Italy going with a punt along the ground.
The ball bounces and spins awkwardly making it difficult for France to defend it.
France manage to sort themselves out and are back on the counter.
France 23 Italy 10
65. Some great handling by France creating space and it is booted down the touchline.
It is a race to the ball in the corner but Italy manage to kick the loose ball into touch.
TMO is checking nothing needs addressing there.
France 23 Italy 10
62. France keep driving forward into the Italy half as the crowd he sing at the top of their voices.
Les Bleus will see a bonus-point victory as the bare minimum requirement they will have set themselves today.
Italy will need to find something in the reserve tank to keep France out for the remainder of the match.
France 23 Italy 10
60. Italy are taking some big hits from these huge French players in their attempts to keep Les Bleus at bay.
A replay show the Italian's jaw being rattled by a French shoulder.
Resolute defending by Italy.
France 23 Italy 10
57. Menoncello is youngest ever try scorer in the Guinness Six Nations.
Take a bow son!
France find touch for a lineout as they make some replacements to bring fresh legs on.
The young Italian try-scorer is replaced, a day he will never forget is over for him.
France 23 Italy 10
54. Italy are starting to lose lineouts and gift possession all too easily back to the French.
France look to drive through the Italy defence through brute force looking to force openings.
Italy manage to turnover the ball.
France 23 Italy 10
52. It is an important ten minutes for Italy now.
To be competitive, they need an immediate reply.
With half an hour left, if France start to dominate, Italy could be on the end of a hiding.
France 23 Italy 10
50. Jaminet's kick sails wide of the posts.
Breathing space for France now, all be it not as much as they would like.
Try - France 23 Italy 10
48. Dupont sees nothing on and takes it and gets the ball away and they set Villiere away.
He sidesteps an Italian player goes over the line flamboyantly.
France 18 Italy 10
46. France utilise a penalty to find touch near the Italy line.
The French win their own lineout and drive forward.
Phase after phase until the referee awards a penalty to Italy.