France are under way as the defending champions with a 14th win in a row, but Italy made good on reports that they have turned a corner. There was enough here to worry anyone who is far from their best when they come up against Kieran Crowley’s side.
A penalty against France — the 18th of the match — gave Italy a lineout in the opposition 22 with time up, in the knowledge that a try would give them a draw at least. From ten metres out, they set up their maul, a tactic which had led to a penalty try previously in the game. This time though, France took it down legally. It was Italy’s first losing bonus point in the Six Nations since