France secured the top spot of the Rugby World Cup Pool A with a convincing and disciplined seven-try, 60-07 win against Italy on Friday evening. This was the biggest win for France against Italy.
It took France under two minutes to score the first try of the match. Damian Penaud scored in the corner following some slick handling and interplay by France. Four minutes later, Thomas Ramos converted a penalty for France to lead 10-00.
Thereafter, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Thomas Ramos added their name to the try-scorers sheet for France. France led 24-00 after thirty minutes of play in the first half.
Following a great period of play, Simone Ferrari scored a "try" for Italy, which was cancelled, due to foul play by Simone Ferrari seconds earlier.
Thereafter, the French dominance continued. Damian Penaud added the French bonus point try with two minutes still to play in the first half. France led 31-00 at the halftime break.
France added three tries by Matthieu Jalibert, Peato Mauvaka and Yoram Moefana to lead 52-00 with ten minutes still to play in the second half.
Italy attacked from the kickoff and after several waves of attacks, Manuel Zuliani bulldozed his way over the French tryline to reduce France's lead to 52-07 and seven minutes to play.
France was relentless until the final seconds of the match as Yoram Moefana crashed over for his second try and France's eighth try to lead 57-07, whereafter a Melvyn Jaminet penalty ended Italy's misery to secure a brilliant 60-07 win for France.
Scorers:
France: Tries: Damian Penaud (2), Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Thomas Ramos, Matthieu Jalibert, Peato Mauvaka, Yoram Moefana (2). Conversions: Thomas Ramos (6), Melvyn Jaminet. Penalty: Thomas Ramos, Melvyn Jaminet.
Italy: Try: Manuel Zuliani. Conversion: Tommaso Allan.
Teams:
France: 1 Cyril Baille, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Cameron Woki, 5 Thibaud Flament, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Charles Ollivon (c), 8 Grégory Alldritt, 9 Maxime Lucu, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Jonathan Danty, 13 Gael Fickou, 14 Damian Penaud, 15 Thomas Ramos. Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Francois Cros, 21 Baptiste Couilloud, 22 Yoram Moefana, 23 Melvyn Jaminet.
Italy: 1 Simone Ferrari, 2 Hame Faiva, 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 5 Federico Ruzza, 6 Sebastian Negri, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 9 Stephen Varney, 10 Tommaso Allan, 11 Montanna Ioane, 12 Paolo Garbisi, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 14 Pierre Bruno, 15 Ange Capuozzo. Replacements: 16 Marco Manfredi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 David Sisi, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Luca Morisi, 23 Lorenzo Pani.