France delivered a stunning performance against Italy, dominating the match with a record-setting 73-24 victory during the Six Nations rugby tournament held at the Stadio Olimpico on February 23, 2025. With this emphatic win, Les Bleus not only bounced back from their disappointing loss to England but also rekindled their title ambitions.
The highlight of the match was France captain Antoine Dupont, who orchestrated the play with his usual flair and skill, scoring two tries and earning the man-of-the-match honors. He was supported ably by fullback Leo Barre, who also found the try line twice. Together, they helped France achieve their highest-ever score in the Six Nations, with a jaw-dropping eleven tries contributing to the total.
Italy opened the scoring early on with Tommaso Menoncello registering the first try less than 12 minutes after kickoff. The home side's momentary lead sparked excitement among their fans, especially as they only trailed 35-17 at halftime, driven by another try from Juan Ignacio Brex.
France, determined to assert their dominance, responded quickly. Lock Mickael Guillard and hooker Peato Mauvaka both breached the Italian defense within the first half hour. Dupont soon followed with his first score - showcasing his sharp instincts - pushing the visitors to regain control of the game.
Dupont's ability to create space was instrumental throughout the match, leading to scores from others, such as Paul Boudehent, who scored to secure the bonus point.
Despite enduring some resistance from the Italians, who also had Paolo Garbisi finding the try line midway through the second half, France's relentless pressure was evident. The French forward pack's power took over, as Gregory Alldritt made his mark, and the forward reserves brought energetic play to the pitch.
The scoreboard continued to tick upwards for France after the break, with Dupont orchestrated three more tries, including additional scores from Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Theo Attissogbe. The game went from being competitive to utterly one-sided as the match wore on.
Dupont distilled the mood of the match perfectly post-game: "It was tough at the start but we were able to keep up the intensity for the 80 minutes which is not easy against this Italian team, so we can be proud." His sentiments reflected the massive step up from the previous game against England, where they faltered at key moments. "Today, it was much more effective; we scored on each occasion," he stated, highlighting the team's ability to execute their attack with precision.
This record victory achieved by 11 tries broke the previous championship record of 12 tries scored during one match. With France now sitting three points behind table-toppers Ireland, the team now looks toward the next challenge; they will face the unbeaten Irish side on March 8, 2025, in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
For Italy, the loss was another bitter pill to swallow as they struggled to find any sort of rhythm against the powerful and agile French side. Although they opened the game strongly, the lack of consistency led to breakdowns and errors which France capitalized on ruthlessly.
With the upcoming matches looming, attention turns to both sides as France aims to maintain momentum with aspirations of lifting the Six Nations trophy again, and Italy desperately aims to secure their position and avoid the wooden spoon against England on March 9, 2025.