France's national rugby team delivered one of the most impressive performances of this year’s Six Nations by defeating Italy 73-24 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on February 23, 2025. This commanding victory marks not only France's largest margin of victory against the Azzurri but also serves as the perfect remedy to shake off the disappointment of their previous match against England.
Under the direction of head coach Fabien Galthié, the French squad came out with fresh determination to enforce their dominance on the field. Galthié had devised a strategy focusing on wearing down the Italian players, and the French forwards executed it flawlessly. Mickaël Guillard, making his first start, stole the spotlight with his powerful play, contributing significantly to the French offense and scoring one of eleven tries.
The match started with Italy’s early lead as they scored the first try, but France quickly responded, demonstrating their scoring prowess. By the end of the first half, France had opened up a significant lead at 35-17, showcasing their tactical superiority and ruthlessness.
The French side continued to capitalize on their momentum, scoring three tries within the first half-hour, with notable contributions from players like Julien Dupont and Peato Mauvaka, among others. Each try exemplified their ability to command the game using both strength and skill. The team displayed remarkable cohesion and offensive creativity, which had eluded them just two weeks earlier.
Galthié expressed satisfaction with the overall team performance, remarking, “On sent depuis un moment qu’on est en capacité de réaliser des choses de grande qualité,” which translates to, “We feel for some time now we are capable of delivering high-quality performances.” His strategy to allow fresh legs off the bench proved effective as the physical exhaustion of the Italian players became evident as the game progressed beyond the 49th minute.
France’s offensive onslaught continued relentless through the second half, with another set of tries coming from players like Grégory Alldritt and Bielle-Biarrey. That commitment to attack culminated with the final score of 73-24, representing eleven tries, the most any team has scored against Italy to date within the tournament.
Despite the score line, Italy's coach Gonzalo Quesada underscored the lessons to be learned from this defeat. He stated, “Quand la France joue comme ça, c’est magnifique la façon ils jouent,” meaning, “When France plays like this, it’s magnificent how they play.” His reflection showcased the respect he held for the French team’s performance, even as the score did not reflect the full potential of the Italian squad, who showed glimpses of solid play during certain phases of the game.
Antoine Dupont, the French captain, highlighted the importance of teamwork, stating, “Toute l’équipe (avait) pris beaucoup de plaisir aujourd’hui parce qu’aussi on a mis les choses dans l’ordre,” meaning “the whole team had a lot of fun today because we also put things right.” This sentiment echoed the importance of unity and strategy which propelled the triumph over Italy.
With this noteworthy win, France positioned themselves as serious contenders within the competition, now focused on their upcoming clash against Ireland, scheduled for March 8, 2025. Galthié emphasized, “Le Tournoi, c’est une compétition qui est difficile. La gagner, c’est toujours réaliser des prouesses,” which translates to, “The Tournament is a difficult competition. Winning it is always about achieving feats.”
This victory not only serves to uplift the spirits of the team and its supporters but also sets the tone for what could be their pathway to taking the Six Nations title from their formidable upcoming opponents. The anticipation mounts around whether France can sustain this form and deliver another standout performance against Ireland next week.