France Keep Grand Slam Hopes Alive with Five-Try Bonus Point Win Over Italy

France maintained their relentless pursuit of back-to-back Six Nations titles and a potential Grand Slam with a clinical 33-8 bonus-point victory over Italy in Lille.

Despite a spirited Italian effort that kept the scoreline respectable for long stretches, the sheer firepower of Les Bleus proved too much, as they secured their third consecutive win of the championship.

Ramos Steps Up as Les Bleus Race Away

The pre-match withdrawal of star fly-half Matthieu Jalibert did little to dampen the French attack. Thomas Ramos, shifting seamlessly to the number 10 role, orchestrated a devastating opening quarter.

Within minutes, Antoine Dupont’s tactical vision allowed Louis Bielle-Biarrey to score in a record eighth successive Six Nations game. Power soon followed pace as Emmanuel Meafou crashed over from close range, before Ramos himself benefited from an Emilien Gailleton break to make it 19-0.

Italy, however, refused to fold. Drawing on the confidence of their opening-round win over Scotland, the Azzurri fought back through the talismanic Ange Capuozzo, who finished a well-worked move to give the visitors hope. A Paolo Garbisi penalty further narrowed the gap, ensuring Italy remained within touching distance as the teams headed into the break.

Bonus Point Secured in the Final Quarter

The second half was a more attritional affair as Italy’s scrum, led by Michele Lamaro, forced several penalties to disrupt the French rhythm. The visitors’ defense held firm until the 70th minute when a yellow card for winger Louis Lynagh finally broke their resistance. France immediately exploited the man advantage, with debutant Gael Drean crossing for the all-important fourth try to secure the bonus point.

Emilien Gailleton added a fifth try in the closing stages to put gloss on the scoreline, but the match was as much a testament to Italy’s growing resilience as it was to French dominance. While the Azzurri eventually ran out of steam, their performance suggests they will be a significant threat when they host a struggling England side in the next round.

Grand Slam Ambitions Move to Edinburgh

For Fabien Galthié, the mission remains simple: win in Edinburgh and the title is likely theirs. France’s ability to find “flash tries” out of nothing has become the hallmark of this campaign. “We always believed we would get the bonus point,” noted Meafou post-match, signaling the immense confidence flowing through a side that looks increasingly like the favorites for the 2027 World Cup.

Line-ups

FRANCE

15-Attissogbe; 14-Drean, 13-Gailleton, 12-Brau-Boirie, 11-Bielle-Biarrey; 10-Ramos, 9-Dupont (capt); 1-Gros, 2-Marchand, 3-Aldegheri; 4-Flament, 5-Meafou; 6-Cros, 7-Jegou, 8-Jelonch.

Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Colombe, Ollivon, Guillard, Nouchi, Serin, Barassi.

ITALY

15-Fischetti; 14-Lynagh, 13-Menoncello, 12-Marin, 11-Ioane; 10-P. Garbisi, 9-Fusco; 1-Fischetti, 2-Nicotera, 3-Ferrari; 4-N. Cannone, 5-Zambonin; 6-Lamaro (capt), 7-Zuliani, 8-L. Cannone.

Replacements: Dimcheff, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Ruzza, Favretto, Odiase, Garbisi, Odogwu.