France power past Italy to stay on course for Six Nations Grand Slam

Tries from Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Emmanuel Meafou, Thomas Ramos, Gael Drean and Emilien Gailleton saw Les Bleus to a maximum haul as they continue their title push.

It wasn't a simple task though, far from it, as Italy made life tough for the Six Nations leaders for most of the match, crossing for a try of their own through Ange Capuozzo.

But the result was never seriously in doubt as there is an inevitability about this France outfit in 2026, who will go into the Six Nations break delighted with their showings.

France shot out of the blocks in Lille and established a 12-point buffer with just 15 minutes on the clock, this after Bielle-Biarrey and Meafou had gone over for their scores.

Bielle-Biarrey's try came on four minutes when a smart kick ahead from Antoine Dupont led to a foot race that had one inevitable winner as the wing dotted down in time.

11 minutes later, Meafou had his name on the scoresheet as a clinical France hit their straps. Fabien Brau-Boirie fired them over the gainline before recycled ball saw Dupont pick out his giant second-row, who crashed through two backs for the score. Unlike the first crossing, Ramos could not convert the extra two points, so it was a 12-0 lead.

The momentum would turn thereafter, though, as Italy, to their credit, got a foothold in Lille. However, despite exerting pressure, they could not make it count on the board.

That backfired on 29 minutes when an overthrown Italy lineout near their 22 led to Gailleton racing upfield before finding fly-half for the day Ramos, who made it 19-0.

Italy did have something to show for their first-half efforts, though, when the hosts made a Horlicks of Tommaso Menoncello's grubber down the line, with the ball spilling out of a subsequent ruck and Capuozzo reacting quickest to make it 19-5. Garbisi would later make it 19-8 off the tee after a scrum penalty was won by the Italy forwards.

While the scrum was proving solid for the Azzurri, the lineout was an ongoing problem and another error hurt their cause early in the second half, gifting territory to France.

But France were struggling to break down a stoic Italian defence, and as the game approached 55 minutes, reinforcements were made by both sides to try and spark matters.

The hosts were benefitting most from the changes as they flexed their carrying muscle, with the likes of Thibaud Flament, Lenni Nouchi and Peato Mauvaka keen for work.

However, the French continued their second-half struggles on the scoreboard in their quest for the bonus point, with Italy finally managing to repel them back to halfway.

It was welcome territory and possession for the Azzurri, furthered by a scrum penalty that saw Garbisi kick to touch, but yet again the lineout misfired at an imperative time.

That was compounded by Louis Lynagh receiving a yellow card on 70 minutes for a deliberate knock-on, which handed France field position to go and hunt that fourth try.

And it ultimately came through Ramos showing intelligence to pick out Drean on the right wing with a cross-field kick on 71 minutes to wrap up the five points before Gailleton slipped a tackle to claim his and France's sixth try five minutes later to add the gloss on a job well done for Fabien Galthie's men, who move one step closer to the Grand Slam.

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