France delivered a ruthless attacking display, demolishing Italy 73-24 in an 11-try blitz that reaffirmed their status as one of the most dangerous teams in the Six Nations. After struggling to convert chances against England two weeks ago, this performance put any doubts to rest. A combination of power and precision ensured that Italy, despite occasional moments of resistance, were completely overwhelmed.
Head coach Fabien Galthié made bold selection calls, notably leaving out winger Damian Penaud and fly-half Matthieu Jalibert. The seven-one bench split signaled a clear intent to dominate physically, and that strategy paid off handsomely. France bulldozed over the gainline with relentless force, and when six fresh forwards were introduced at the 48-minute mark, Italy had no answer.
The 73-point tally stands as the second-highest in Six Nations history, with the result propelling France above England into second place in the standings. A win against Ireland in Dublin could still see them crowned champions, a prospect that seemed distant after their opening-round struggles.
France nearly struck early when Louis Bielle-Biarrey finished off a flowing move, only for the score to be disallowed due to a forward pass from Thomas Ramos. Instead, it was Italy who opened the scoring, as Tommaso Menoncello sliced through the French defense with a well-timed run. However, this was little more than a brief moment of promise before the visitors took full control.
Mickaël Guillard powered through three defenders to score his first Test try, setting the tone for France’s dominance. Italy responded with a Tommaso Allan penalty, but their resistance was short-lived. Peato Mauvaka crashed over from a well-executed lineout maul before Antoine Dupont, orchestrating play with his trademark dynamism, finished off a move initiated by Léo Barré’s dazzling footwork.
Though Dupont was officially named player of the match, Barré was instrumental in much of France’s best attacking play. His influence was felt again when Paul Boudehent and Barré himself crossed for tries before half-time, securing the bonus point and giving France a commanding 35-17 lead at the break.
The second half started in much the same vein, with Grégory Alldritt storming over the line just five minutes after the restart. The try came from a well-rehearsed move off a lineout, as the No. 8 took a direct line through Italy’s defensive weak spot.
France’s combination of brute force and attacking flair was on full display. Then came a pivotal moment: a near-complete forward pack substitution, mirroring the strategy used by South Africa in the 2023 World Cup. With a fresh set of forwards injecting even more physicality into the contest, France’s dominance became even more pronounced.
Italy continued to show glimpses of quality, with the Garbisi brothers combining for a well-taken try. Scrum-half Alessandro Garbisi straightened the line before feeding fly-half Paolo, whose finish provided a brief moment of cheer for the home fans. However, by then, the contest was effectively over, and even the Italian supporters in the stands had accepted their fate, launching Mexican waves around the stadium.
Bielle-Biarrey added to his growing reputation with his sixth try in as many Tests, while Dupont grabbed his second of the match, showcasing his strength with a powerful fend on Allan before diving over.
In the final stages, Dupont moved to fly-half following the introduction of Maxime Lucu. The tactical switch seemed to disrupt France’s fluidity, reinforcing the notion that while Dupont can influence the game from any position, he is at his best pulling the strings from scrum-half.
Nonetheless, France continued to exploit Italy’s stretched defense, with Théo Attissogbé and Pierre-Louis Barassi both crossing the whitewash before the final whistle. The result not only kept France’s title hopes alive but sent a clear message to the rest of the competition. With their physicality, depth, and attacking brilliance, they remain one of the most formidable teams in the tournament.
