Luke McLaughlin’s piece is in and with that I’ll sign off. What an effort from Luke to get something cohesive on the whistle. I promise you, cracking last minute nail-biters are brilliant, unless you have to file a report. So well done him.
And well done Italy. They’ll rue the missed opportunity but there’s no question they’d have taken a draw before kick-off. A remarkable performance from their backline and loose forwards and credit to their tight five for growing in the game.
Lots to ponder for France who have looked disjointed, bereft of ideas and low on confidence. Can they turn it around? We’ll find out in two weeks’ time when they head to Cardiff.
Loads of concerns for France. Good point being made here. Even when they changed most of the pack in the second half they faded as the match went on.
The biggest concern for France is that they lost a backline player, not a forward, but their pack looked completely cooked at the end there. Bossed in the scrums. Slow around the park. Big boys but are they flat track bullies from 0-45mins?
I was just thinking about trusting my process. I take full responsibility for that. I’m sorry for the team because they were amazing today. And to all the Italian supporters. That’s my bad.
The performance was good overall. If you get to 13-13 in the last minute against France it means you did well. The extra man helped. But we spend too much time in our half in the first half. We had more space in the second half. It all comes down to the last kick.
This is only the third match with the new coaching staff. We’re still learning what they want from us. We’re learning new things.
Obviously [it’s better getting a draw]. We overplayed. Fortunately the guy missed the kick. But we’re disappointed with the draw. We expected to beat Italy. We had all the ball in the first half. The second half was the total opposite. To concede 13 points with 14 players [isn’t so bad].
Obviously you want your team to score tries. We had a lot of pressure. You have to give credit to Italy’s defence. They had the same intensity to what we do. Credit to them, they were fantastic.
[No complaints about the red card. Nor should there be].
[Why isn’t it clicking?] I’ve been pretty happy with defence. First game we weren’t great against Ireland but they’re a fantastic team. Offensively, we need quicker ball at the base of the ruck [if only there was a scrumhalf who was the master at quick ball]
Ourreader Tomas Thronicker points out the laws of the game weren’t followed:
“Law 8.22, If the kicker indicates to the referee the intent to kick at goal, the opposing team must stand still with their hands by their sides from the time the kicker starts to approach to kick until the ball is kicked.”
That never happened. Sadly the officials got that wrong I feel.
How did the ball fall off the tee? That was under a closed roof. There was no wind. Have you got your tinfoil hats ready? Red strings prepped for a criss-crossing conspiracy board? Something ain’t right.
France were their own worst enemeies and Danty will have a lot of explaining to do.
Reader Andy Flintoff has a question I’m sure we’d all like an answer to:
“I don’t get why so many professional players are being pinged (and carded) for high tackles and head-to-head (or shoulder-to-head) contact - it’s almost the first thing that a rugby playing kid gets taught when contact is introduced. Are professionals forgetting or are they being deliberately coached to hit higher?”
No excuse, Andy. Which is why referees and TMOs are coming down hard on those who get it wrong and put others at risk.
Tell you what, now that I think back I think they did send players to rush forward. Should the referee have restarted the shot clock even after the ball fell off the tee? To be honest I’m at a loss. Any refs out there?
Jeez what a miss for Italy. They really, really should have won that. Garbisi rushed. But the referee should've handled France's cynical play there better. You can't charge down a penalty. France tried it twice to run down the clock. Should've reset the clock.
I’m reeling. I just can’t imagine what Garbisi is going through. What any of those Italian players are going through. The one saving grace is that Garbisi didn’t just miss. He missed largely as a result of the ball falling off the tee. Still, that was a major opportunity to create history and become the first Italian team to win in France. It does, though, end a 14-game losing streak against their neighbours.
How cruel is that? If the ball hadn’t fallen off the tee I have almost no doubt that Garbisi would have slotted that. How unfortunate. Italy deserved a win. Menoncello gets the player of the match but it could have gone to one of several Italians. Oh my goodness. What a finish.
Garbisi hits the post! The ball fell off the tee which meant he had to dash to put it back on and then rush his kick. He never looked set and hooked it as it struck the post. I can’t believe it!!!
It’s about 25 metres out just on the angle. France had no choice but to run it and that gave Italy the chance to step in and steal the ball on the ground. We’re on the edge of history…
80 min: France win the line-out and will have one more shot. Down the line. Lebel smothered as he carries. France set again. Meaty carries through the midfield. A floated ball from Ramos to the right wing. Varney does well to wrap up Penaud. Last chance saloon now.
78 min: Italy steal it back. They’re deep in their own half and consider running it. Garbisi chooses to kick and gets a great bounce that puts the ball out 20 metres into French territory. France – again – gave away the ball on the attack. Two years ago this was the best team on the planet. What has happened to them?
75 min: France knock-on in the tackle as an aimless attack meanders down the line. Italy think about running from deep but Ioane kicks. France run from deep with Lebel getting the ball. Italy’s defence floods forward and they force a spilled ball. They have the feed on the left with a huge gap in France’s midfield. Never mind that. They’ve won a scrum penalty! Outstanding shove. Do they take a shot at goal? Nope, they’ve kicked it out and will take the line-out inside French territory.
72 min: France need to catch a wake-up real fast. Ramos dinks a cross-kick to the left wing and he finds his man. France build around halfway but Italy’s defence is keeping them there. Ramos floats a lovely pass to Penaud who steps a man, chips and forces Capuozzo to catch under pressure. Garbisi has it and is tackled as he tries to kick so knocks on. French scrum just outside Italy’s 22 on the right flank.
They’ve got it! It started with a scrum in their own 22 and they rampaged forward from first phase and breezed past Ramos at 10. recycling, click hands, swift passing and the final off-load after the last defender from Marin found his fullback who dived over to score. Garbisi converts from the touchline and we’re level!
Ange Capuozzo goes over in the corner for Italy. We have a game in Lille! Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images
70 min: In a flash Italy have gone fron their own 22 to France’s. Varney is everywhere but the entire backline has sparked into life. Brex, Ioane, Garbisi. They’re close. Their forwards are charging. There’s space out to the left…
68 min: France win the line-out from their penalty and set a rumbling maul. It makes good ground but the ball stays with the heavies up front and Italy manage to make it unplayable so win the scrum. Great maul defence there after being marched backwards.
67 min: AAAAAAAH! Anyone got any good swear words in Italian? They give away a scrum penalty just as they’d set what looked like a promising attacking platform. Flatman isn’t sure that was the right call.
66 min: All Italy right now with Varney and Garbisi keeping the ball moving. Menoncello again carries well. As does Ioane who stepped off his left foot and unfurled an off-load in the tackle. Le Garrec rushed up to intercept after Italy strung together a neat wraparound move down the line, but he couldn’t gather so Italy will have the scrum 10 metres into French territory and bang in front of the poles. Pods of two men stationed on either side of the scrum. This could be interesting if they get clean ball.
64 min: Italy go short at the line-out and Capuozzo steps Fickou and finds Ioane in his inside. Italy are trucking forward. Menoncello comes off his wing and finds space but there’s a soft knock-on at the back of the ruck so France have the scrum inside their 22.
63 min: France give away another penalty on the ground. “Poor concentration and poor discipline” says Flatman. He’s right. They’ve beeb dreadful in that department.
60 min: Penalty against Marchand for losing his body weight at the ruck. It’s on France’s 22 and bang in front so Garbisi will take the easy three. More control with the ball from Italy. There was a bit of innovation as an Italian pretended to grab the ball from the back of a maul and charge to the line. Except he didn’t have it. It was still with the back. Once it came loose Brex cantered forward before Marchand erred.
58 min: Italy, like France, are struggling to find a way through the stiff defensive wall. Garbisi looks up and can’t see a gap so he kicks low down the blindside. Another waste of possession. France kick into Italy’s 22 and the visitors launch a counter down the line. This is better. A spiralled pass from Capuozzo finds a teammate in space near the right flank but it drifts forward. No bother though. Italy win a scrum penalty and now have a line-out on France’s 22.
56 min: France again though Fickou is shunted back by a hefty tackle from Mononcello. France have it back after a dinked chip up field forces Italy to scramble. A poor kick from Varney hands the initiative back to France who charge forward. But they can’t make it count as another penalty sucks out the air from that attack. If I were a French fan I’d be tearing my hair out.
52 min: Another maddening error from France as they lose possession on the attack. Although maybe there was a crafty rip in contact from Ruzza. Either way, a promising move from France once again comes to nothing.
50 min: France kick it straight out from just outside their own 22 so Italy have the feed. But Romain Taofifenua gets his large frame down low to seal the ball and win a penalty on the deck.
47 min: Ruzza shows strength to hold the ball up under pressure. Italy keep the ball moving. Seven phases now. Then eight. A pass wide and then a chip out of nowhere almost lands favourably. The onrushing Italian wing (I think that was Menoncello) couldn’t get there with an outstretched dive.
Soft from Italy and France’s 10 point lead is restored. A minute ago Page-Relo pinned France in their own 22. But two penalties resulted in a 60 metre swing and three points on the board.
Thomas Ramos goes over the posts to restore the ten point gap for France. Photograph: Teresa Suárez/EPA
44 min: Lucu breaks down the blindside, kicks and Capuozzo returns a relatively inept clearance. That gives France the chance to counter and they bust through several collisions thanks largely to Cros – who is having a great game. Italy are scrambling and they stick out an unnecessary hand to give away a penalty on the floor.
42 min: Italy look so much sharper. Much better ball retention as they carry, they’re targeting that midfield. Page-Relo boxes a low raking kick and it’s superbly palced. It’s not a 50-22, but he forces France to throw to the line deep in their own 22.
The last act of the half comes from Garbisi who drills a mighty kick from distance to notch Italy’s first points.
They’ll be buzzing to head into the shed at 10-3 down. France could have scored five tries at least but only managed the one. Italy’s defence held and eventually held their own in the scrum. No question France dominated but they’ll start the second a man down after Danty was shown a yellow card for a high hit.
No question. This could be upgraded to red. he never got low enough and had plenty of time to adjust. It was a good read as he burst up to make the hit. But that looked pretty bad on review.
40+ min: After the half time hooter Italy keep attacking. Garbisi and then Brex charge through gaps in the line. It’s messy and a little hectic. Loads of wild passes and players straightening from static positions. The move fizzles to nothing but they’re looking at a potential head on hit hit from Danty.
40 min: Two consecutive penalties for Italy in their own 22 means they can clear up field. Vintcent is having a great game at the base of Italy’s pack. His dynamism as he picks and goes is proving productive.
39 min: It’s just not happening for France. Woki wins another line-out. They maul then splinter. Lucu shifts it. Ramos spirals a skip pass for Penaud but it’s above his head. The winger leaps and tries to off-load back in field. It’s behind the run of Lebel and there’s a knock-on. Another visit to Italy’s 22 ends with no score.
37 min: Held up! Tuilagi gets over the line with a pick and go but can’t ground it. The move started with some delicious skills from the big teenager. He charged onto a short pass and gave a little dummy and then a quick step to burst through a tackler and canter up field. France recycled well but couldn’t get that killer move to land. Lucu had a go as di Mauvaka. Tuilagi had the last shot but was held up. They had the advantage so kicked to the corner to set a maul.
Jalibert can’t shake his injury and is replaced by Moefana. Ramos will shift to 10.
35 min: Lamaro walks into a breakdown and simply picks up a loose ball. France seemingly forgot to seal that off. Italy clear away but there’s concern for Jalibert who is clutching his right knee and is an apparent world of pain. Yup, he copped a mighty low shot as he passed the ball.
France have been below par. Yet again. French fans look frustrated in the stands.
33 min: Italy go short at the line-out. That’s been a clear tactic to keep the ball away from France’s big units. It works again and they carry without much punch until Fischetti wriggles past a couple of tacklers. Ramos fields a kick, carries into contact and France nick a penalty on the deck around halfway as Jalibert punts to the 22.
31 min: Italy just can’t string two consecutive moves together. Once again they win the line-out, make metres with slick hands but spill the ball in contact. France give it back to them with a nothing kick but have it back as Italy hoof an aimless punt of their own. This is getting a little stodgy. Penaud has it down the right flank and attempts a chip and chase. It skews off the side of his boot and straight into touch.
30 min: Italy win a scrum penalty this time. Baille penalised for going to deck. That silenced the crowd. Garbisi can now hoof the ball away from danger about 10 metres short of halfway.
28 min: Italy’s scrum holds and they set their exit well. But an inexplicable off-load is snaffled by Cros and now France have a shot in the red zone. The ball goes wide and Jalibert has a dart himself instead of passing. Again I question that decision from the French 10. Fickou cuts back against the grain and Tuilagi shows lovely hands to keep it moving. A wild pass lands on the turf and Penaud picks up and makes several metres. France are struggling with continuity as Italy’s tenacious defence turns this phase into a scrap. France knock-on so Italy will get another opportunity to set an exit with a scrum.
26 min: Italy win the line-out and Vintcent makes good yardage with a busting carry. France win it back after Italy cough it up in contact. A kick gives possession back to Italy who respond in kind with an awful mistake from Brex who takes an age to clear from the boot. The ball is charged down and France have a chance in the corner. Lebel can’t gather the loose ball off the floor so Italy have a scrum.
