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Hello and welcome to ESPN's live commentary of the Six Nations clash between France and Italy!
Well, history suggests we're in for a bit of one sided affair this afternoon.
France dominated the Azzurri in 2015, beating them 29-0 in the Six Nations before romping to another 32-10 win in the World Cup.
However, Italy welcome back talisman Sergio Parisse from injury, and as we saw in the World Cup when he battled Ireland, they're a much bigger beast when he's in the side.
FRANCE XV: Medard, Bonneval, Fickou, Danty, Vakatawa, Plisson, Bezy; Ben Arous, Guirado (c), Slimani, Jedrasiak, Maestri, Chouly, Lauret, Picamoles
Replacements: Chat, Atonio, Poirot, Flanquart, Camara, Machenaud, Doussain, Mermoz
ITALY XV: Odiete, L Sarto, Campagnaro, Garcia, Bellini, Canna, Gori; Lovotti, Gega, Cittadini, Biagi, Fuser, Minto, Zanni, Parisse (c)
Replacements: Giazzon, Zanusso, Castrogiovanni, Bernarbo, van Schalkwyk, Palazzani, Haimona, McLean
You can follow our man on the ground, Tristan Barclay (@tbarclayESPN), who'll be giving us his live updates straight from the Stade de France. His preview can be read HERE.
And, if you're still thirsty for more rugby...
Owen Farrell rallies England ahead of their Scotland clash
Scotland vs. England preview
Mark Cueto on how Dylan Harley can push England to glory
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Italy have kicked us off and we're underway here at the Stade de France!
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| 2 |
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And Italy -- in particular Parisse -- lead the first charge towards their opponents try line. They've tried the right flank, before switching it to the left in search of an opening. Nice play, but we're eventually left with a France lineout inside their half.
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| 4 |
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First scrum of the day, with Italy feed after a French knock on. Just along the half way mark.
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| 5 |
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Great jump from Medard to pinch it from Odiete in the air. Unfortunately, the Italian 15 knocks on and we've got another scrum, this time in the hands of the French.
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| 6 |
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Great play from the Italian's inside the French 22 as they win the turnover.
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| 7 |
0 - 3 |
Scrum -- alongside the France 22 -- is maneuvered well by the Italian's and they've switched it to the left flank. Some poor handling loses them a few yards, but the Azzurri are still on the charge. Looking the better side so far.
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| 8 |
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Drop goal - 3 points to Italy!
Well, I can't remember exactly how long it took for the first drop goal in the World Cup, but it was several games! This time out, it's taken just eight minutes for Canna to find the first three points.
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| 10 |
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France are quickly on the attack to try and repair the damage Canna just inflicted. They've worked along the ball along their line well and have found themselves in Italy's 22. Lineout now, though...
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| 11 |
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Well taken! Italy claim the ball from the lineout and have begun another assault on the French line.
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| 12 |
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First penalty awarded, and it's France's kicker Bezy to punt towards the sticks...
...and he's missed it. To be fair, it was quite a way out, probably 40 yards.
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| 13 |
5 - 3 |
Italy's forwards have been working well up until this point where a brief lapse in concentration has opened the path for Bellini down the left. Some better decision making would've opened the door for a try their if he decided to pass it left just once more.
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| 14 |
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FRANCE TRY!
Yep, Italy only have themselves to blame as they switched off for a moment and were punished. Vakatawa's finishes nicely after a swift little side step left opened the pathway for the first try. Bezy misses the kick, however. 0/2 for him.
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| 15 |
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France's principal ball carrier Picamoles has been subbed off. Unlucky Fantasy Rugby players, I know a lot of you had him in your team.
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| 18 |
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Vakatawa oozing confidence as France very nearly have a second. The winger offloads to the supporting Medard, but he's forced off field and the lineout is in the hands of the Italians.
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| 20 |
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Ruck after ruck after ruck... Stalemate has hit the two sides as they're battling it out along the half-way for control of the ball.
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| 23 |
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Up-and-over from Italy forces the lineout inside the French 22, let's see if they force anything from it...
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| 24 |
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The rolling maul results but France has done superbly to break that down. However, Italy claim the ball back, a little chip over lands in the path incoming David Odiete but it bounces out of play. Could have been Italy's first try.
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| 25 |
5 - 8 |
ITALY TRY
Another Italian lineout, but this time it results in their first try, and to be fair, it's been coming. Sergio Parisse places down the try from the subsequent rolling maul. Kick is missed, however.
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| 27 |
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Italy aren't committing too many men to the breakdown, which is helping them have more bodies on their feet and ready to absorb the wide play that France are trying to impose. This is good stuff from the Azzurri.
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| 29 |
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Another lineout, this time along the halfway and it the hands of the Azzurri.
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| 30 |
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Scrappy lineout, Gori nudges the ball forward and we've got a France scrum.
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| 32 |
10 - 8 |
FRANCE TRY!
Another slip in concentration has cost Italy. Chouly is found wide on the right flank and it's a fairly easy try as he navigates just the one incoming tackler. Sergio Parisse's digging into his teammates for that. It's also worth noting that Bezy has missed his third kick -- this could cost them.
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| 34 |
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Italy on the pounce again but a knock on gifts the possession back to French inside their own 22.
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| 35 |
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Lineout! Inbetween the France 22 and halfway...
...which is won by Parisse again and they're looking to get this driving maul going.
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| 36 |
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Brief break in play for a scuffle. Not much. But Italy have the penalty kick!
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| 37 |
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Missed. Kicking has been absolutely abysmal so far. Five kicks and none have been converted.
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| 38 |
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Penalty to Italy, again, and they've kicked for the corner to have another go and a driving maul, the weapon which proved successful 15 minutes ago when Parisse nailed it down for five points.
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| 39 |
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A different tactics's been employed and the Italian's have worked it well along the line. Parisse is carrying to ball well and they're pushing for the opening down the left flank. You feel, if the Italian's remain patient and persevere, they could be onto something here.
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| 40 |
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Great offload by Canna finds his teammate Gonzalo Garcia, he jumps for the try line but unfortunately his attempt is a few yards short. So close!
That's it for the first half, though -- HALF TIME!
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| 40+1 |
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ESPN's Tristan Barclay -- who is at the Stade de France -- had this to say:
"The Stade de France is probably a fifth empty and, to be honest, the fans that have stayed away haven't missed a classic so far. Both sides feature four debutants each, so both are forgiven for a few nerves in this Six Nations opener, but the quality has been poor. Italy could have had an extra brace of tries via Leonardo Sarto had the ball bounced more kindly, but they've left points out there after some wayward kicking by fly-half Carlo Canna. France have followed suit, with scrum-half Sebastian Bezy off target from the tee, but 7s newboy Virimi Vakatawa looks lively on the wing and was deserving of his first international try at the XV-a-side game."
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| 40 |
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We're back underway here!
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| 41 |
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And we're already back into the throw and catch manoeuvre. Italy's to take...
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| 42 |
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France stolen, switched it to the other flank, but are penalised for a knock on from the handling error. Italy have the scrum.
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| 43 |
10 - 11 |
Penalty to Italy! France penalised for collapsing, and Canna is teeing it up for another shot at the sticks.
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| 44 |
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At last! Canna makes it from 36 metres and Italy are in the lead.
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| 45 |
10 - 16 |
Parisse once again involved in the mix and his offload has carried on being passed down the line. Italy are looking confident here.
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| 46 |
10 - 18 |
ITALY TRY!
Parisse very nearly makes the try line but a great tackle from Guirado keeps him out. However, Canna is there to ensure the ball goes over. Parisse and Canna dominating with the ball in hand, and the latter has the kick again.
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| 47 |
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Got it! Confidence is up and he's made that kick so now his record for today is 2 from 4. France have a bit of an uphill task on their hands now.
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| 48 |
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Deliberate knock on and we have the scrum which in Italian hands...
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| 49 |
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France's first drive from a lineout and maul in their own 22 is a good one. Bezy kicks clear.
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| 52 |
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We're stuck in a bit of a stalemate in the centre of the park here. France on the attack, but the Italian forwards are doing well to hold firm.
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| 53 |
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France continuing to look very flat footed and Italy are playing well. Good kick from Gori lands in the corner to the French 22 and they've got the lineout. Dangerous area, no mistakes here otherwise the French could find themselves even further behind.
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| 55 |
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Not much has changed from five minutes ago as both sides are stuck on the half-way. However, they're resorting to their fullbacks to kick long and release pressure, and perhaps open a path for attack.
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| 56 |
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Parisse dominant again as he poaches the ball from the French lineout.
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| 57 |
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Another France lineout in their own 22. They're really struggling to gain any sort of ground on the Italian's.
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| 58 |
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A switch up in play now, as we've got a French scrum rather than lineout. Besides from that, not much else to report.
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| 59 |
17 - 18 |
FRANCE TRY!
Commentator's curse! Poor communication from Italy, and once again their lapse in concentration has cost them. Vakatawa's superb break and ball carry is finished off excellently by Bonneval.
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| 62 |
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A dip in play as both sides set up the scrum...
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| 63 |
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Vakatawa once again at the fore of France's attacking play as he rams into several Italian tacklers before being forced to offload.
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| 64 |
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Scrum to Italy along half way...
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| 65 |
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Parisse digs in and collects the ball, pumps it to his teammate Garcia to his right but the pair can't force much in terms of attacking movement as France's forwards latch on.
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| 66 |
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Nice kick from Atonio, he's gained his team few yards and will contest the lineout inside the Italian 22.
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| 67 |
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France continuing their attacking movements, but they've been pushed back to the half way from a robust Italian line.
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| 68 |
20 - 18 |
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| 69 |
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France are in the lead after Plisson nails the kick from the penalty.
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| 70 |
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Kicking is the name of the game as both sides are punting it back and forth in a desperate attempt to find some luck. Fatigue is setting in, it seems...
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| 71 |
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Yep, not a lot has changed. Medard this time the one kicking for territory.
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| 72 |
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Italian lineout results in the driving maul along half way, and they've been given the penalty as France as a penalised for tackling off their feet! Canna has a chance to put Italy back in the lead!
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| 73 |
20 - 21 |
A change in kicker as Haimoni comes in for Canna, and it pays dividends as he sends the kick over from 38m.
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| 74 |
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Penalty to France...
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| 75 |
23 - 21 |
Absolute monster of a kick from Plisson as he puts his country back in the lead. That Haimoni kick means very little now! The Azzurri have a matter of minutes to save this game.
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| 77 |
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Scrum to Italy! Less than three minutes to go...
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| 78 |
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And it needs resetting, much to France's delight. Time is ticking...
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| 79 |
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And again! Another scrum reset is required after France are penalised for collapsing.
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| 80 |
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Italy on the desperate prowl for an opportunity to break through or set up a drop goal. They're too far out for a kick, though, and they've being forced to run.
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| 80+1 |
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Italy really struggling to make any ground at all! France holding firm. Seconds remaining...
Now, a break for the Italian's who have worked it into drop goal range but they can find their kicker? They've -- quite bizarrely -- opted to go to the right flank.
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| 80+2 |
23 - 21 |
And the Italian's have flown it back to captain Parisse who's takes it upon himself to go for the kick...!
But he's missed and it's all over! You can't help but feel sorry for him as he longs on bleakly as the whistle is blown. Italy have been great, but the lack of communication and concentration at times has cost them.
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| 80+3 |
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ESPN's Tristan Barclay -- who is at the Stade de France -- had this to say:
Jules Plisson will be the toast of Paris tonight. After a second-half as erratic as the first, it looked as though Italy might snatch a famous victory and ruin new France coach Guy Noves' day, but then up stepped the Stade Francais fly-half to boot a monster penalty from the right touchline. That sealed the win for France, but it will have done little to mask a drab performance from Les Bleus. They looked detached all afternoon, with debutant wing Virimi Vakatawa their only real bright spark. Italy held their discipline after the break and probably deserved victory, but it wasn't a great spectacle in the French capital.
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