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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Katie Sands

France 37-10 Italy: Les Bleus see off spirited visitors in five-try Paris Six Nations win

France recorded a 37-10 victory against Italy in their 2022 Six Nations opener in Paris to make it a 33rd consecutive tournament defeat for the Azzurri.

A youthful Italy side, under new head coach Kieran Crowley, started well with an early try from debutant Tommaso Menoncello as France suffered a sloppy start amid early ill-discipline.

But the hosts ultimately powered to a bonus-point victory in wet conditions at the Stade de France

It was 18-10 to Les Bleus at the break thanks to tries from Gabin Villiere and Anthony Jelonch.

Villiere then scored two second-half tries to finish with a hat-trick while Damian Penaud scored a brilliant bonus-point fourth try.

Italy's performance was better than the final score suggested, and captain Michele Lamaro said there was plenty to build on ahead of next week's match against England in Rome.

The final score perhaps flattered the French, and Antoine Dupont admitted a repeat performance would not be good enough when Ireland, who opened with a 29-7 rout of Wales on Saturday, head to Paris next weekend.

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