Rugby World Cup 2023 | Match Centre | France 60:7 Italy

In a dominant display, France secured the top spot in Pool A at the World Cup by convincingly defeating Italy with a score of 60-7 in Lyon. Facing potential elimination, France quickly dispelled any nerves by amassing 31 unanswered points in the first half, eventually notching up eight tries for a bonus-point victory.

This commanding performance allowed France to advance to the quarter-finals unbeaten, surpassing New Zealand in the group stage rankings. Their next challenge will be the runners-up from Pool B, with South Africa, Ireland, or Scotland as potential opponents in a match scheduled for October 15.

From the outset, France established their dominance, with Damian Penaud scoring the first of his two tries within two minutes. Thomas Ramos, the full-back, showcased his kicking prowess by converting the try and slotting a penalty from halfway. Louis Bielle-Biarrey added to the tally with an impressive try, and Ramos contributed another try from deep in the field. Matthieu Jalibert’s brilliant kick set up Penaud for his second try, securing the bonus point before halftime.

The scoring continued in the second half, with Jalibert and Peato Mauvaka adding tries. Yoram Moefana sealed the victory with two more tries. Italy managed to avoid a shutout with Manuel Zuliani crossing for a consolation try.

Despite missing injured captain Antoine Dupont, Maxime Lucu stepped up as scrum-half and performed admirably. Italy’s frustrations were evident when a disallowed try resulted from a dangerous tackle on Lucu.

With Penaud’s impressive performance, he solidified his place as France’s second-highest try scorer. Italy, on the other hand, faced disappointment once again, finishing third in their World Cup pool for the sixth consecutive time.

Match Summary

Pool A | France 60:7 Italy

France Scores:

TRIES Damian Penaud (2′, 38′), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (13′), Thomas Ramos (22′), Matthieu Jalibert (47′), Peato Mauvaka (54′), Yoram Moefana (63′, 75′)
CONV Thomas Ramos (4′, 14′, 23′, 39′, 48′, 55′), Melvyn Jaminet (65′)
PENS Thomas Ramos (7′), Melvyn Jaminet (81′)