Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the
Rugby World Cup clash between
France and
Italy.
Japan have just given every minor nation competing the tournament hope of producing a major shock following their stunning victory over South Africa at the Amex Stadium. The Springboks were 43-point favourites to win the match, so if the Japanese can win that match anything is possible in this tournament. Click
here to read our report of the match.
Incredible scenes! It build the anticipation for the next match which takes place as Twickenham as two European rivals face for the second time this year as France take on Italy.
France came so close to winning the competition four years ago at Eden Park when they fell to a 8-7 defeat at the hands of New Zealand. It was the third time Les Bleus had reached the final of the tournament and the third team they had failed to lift the Web Ellis Trophy, which will make them even hungrier to lay their hands on the cup this time around.
Italy have never progressed out of the group stage of the competition, despite competing in all seven tournaments. Coach
Jacques Brunel will be determined to make his mark in the tournament to rebuild Italian rugby following their poor showing in the Six Nations earlier this year.
France coach
Philippe Saint-Andre believes that his side will need to embrace the physical battle against the Italians this evening.
"As for physical commitment, we will need to be there in the contact zone," Dusautoir told reporters. "We are Latins and this is what makes us strong. Same for the Italians."
Liam Apicella reports from Twickenham for Sports Mole, here's what he has had to say about the French this evening:"After events down in Brighton, there is a danger that this game might have a whiff of 'after the Lord Mayor's show' about it. But, try telling that to fans of France, who majorly outnumber their Italian counterparts here at Twickenham. The French national anthem has been sung here since around 5pm!
"Truth be told, supporting France has not been a happy past time for followers of Les Bleus over the last few years. They've struggled in the Six Nations, finishing no higher than fourth place in the last four editions of the tournament.
This is the World Cup, though, and with it comes fresh optimism. Twickenham is packed to the rafters this evening with expectant French fans - can they deliver? Time will tell."
Now to confirm the team news for this evening, and we'll start with Les Bleus.
FRANCE: Ben Arous, Guiarado, Slimani, Pape, Maestri, Dusautoir, Chouly, Picamoles, Tillous-Borde, Michalak, Nakaitaci, Dumoulin, Bastareaud, Huget, Spedding
Replacements: Kayser, Debaty, Mas, Le Roux, Flanquart, Parra, Tales, Fickou
ITALY: Aguero, Ghiraldini, Castrogiovanni, Geldenhuys, Furno, Zanni, Minto, Vunisa, Gori, Allan, Venditti, Masi, Campagnaro, Sarto, McLean
Replacements: Manici, Rizzo, Cittadini, Bernabo, Favaro, Palazzini, Canna, Bacchin
France's play flows through the boot of
Frederic Michalak and expect him to play an important role today with the accuracy of his kicking and his dynamic passing and movement on the pitch. Tillous-Borde will also have a major part to play for Les Bleus this evening in and around the breakdown. Meanwhile, the power of Louis Picamoles in the backrow will be the driving force for the pack, along with Mathieu Bastareaud in the middle of the field.
Liam Apicella reports from Twickenham on a major absence for Italy tonight:"No Sergio Parisse, no party! Italy really are a different team without their influential captain, who is still now quite 100% fit and misses out. Without him, you'd have to say that their chances of claiming anything from this encounter are slim."
Jacques Brunel will be coaching Italy in his last major competition as he will leave his role at the end of the tournament after three years in charge. However, reports have suggested that there is friction in the camp, which could hinder their prospects. Suppose we will find out tonight whether those rumours are true.
The two sides last met earlier this year in the Six Nations and the game could not have gone much worse for the Azzurri as they fell to a 29-0 defeat in Rome. Yoann Maestri and Bastareaud notched the tries on that day and they will be hungry for further scores this evening.
Italy's last win over France came in the Six Nations two years ago in Rome when tries from Parisse and Martin Castrogiovanni guided them to a 23-18 victory. A repeat of that display would delight Brunel today.
Liam Apicella is in position ahead of kickoff at Twickenham, with just 10 minutes to go before we're underway. In the absence of Parisse for the Azzurri, Leonardo Ghiraldini assumes the captaincy while Samuela Vunisa takes the vacant spot at number eight opposite Picamoles.
The players are out on the pitch and we're ready for the anthems.
France win the singing contest, let us see if their rugby game is as strong as their vocals.
We're ready for the off at Twickenham..
KICKOFF! Italy get us underway in this Pool D match.
France win an early penalty as Italy are guilty of holding on to the ball at the breakdown under pressure from Les Bleus.
France win a penalty and earn the chance to take the lead as France bring the scrum down 30 metres from the posts, and Michalak will have the opportunity to put them ahead with his right boot.
MISS! Michalak gets a good connection on the ball, but his effort curls into the post and bounces clear to allow the Azzurri to have 22-metre dropout.
Not to worry for France and Michalak as they get another chance to take the lead as Pape is guilty of kicking the ball away in the ruck. Michalak will try his luck from 30 metres once again, and he is more or less straight in front of the posts.
PENALTY! France 3-0 Italy (Michalak)
No mistake from Michalak this time around as he sends his kick through the posts.
Liam Apicella reports from Twickenham:"Second time lucky for Michalak! The unpredictable number 10 sent his first penalty against the post, but he made no such mistake from an almost identical position a couple of minutes later. A big roar goes up from the large French contingent inside Twickenham - 'Allez Les Bleus' they chant.
"As for Italy, they've conceded three penalties in the first five minutes..Not a good start from the men in blue."
France power forward through the middle as Dumoulin races through a gap in the line and they spread the ball quickly across the pitch for Picamoles. The number eight drives forward and takes two defenders with him before offloading to Nakaitaci, who gets the ball with the aid of a deflection and touches down. The referee checks the replay on the knock forward and appears to signal the try, but just before the conversion attempt he stops Michalak as the TV screen shows that the winger lost control of the ball before he touched down.
France still get a penalty out of the situation right in front of the posts for Michalak to take.
PENALTY! France 6-0 Italy (Michalak)
Another simple kick for Michalak to extend his side's lead.
Ghiraldini powers through the gain line and the France defence scramble back to bring him down. Les Bleus commit a penalty in their haste to slow down the attack from the Azzurri and Allan will have a chance to reduce the deficit.
MISS! A horrible miss from the fly-half as he sends his kick from close range wide of the posts. That kick did not have much going for it, and an opportunity spurned by the Italians to get back into the match.
Italy continue to miss opportunities to put the French under pressure as Zanni held the ball under pressure inside the 22, allowing Michalak a penalty to clear the danger for his side.
Liam Apicella reports on a busy opening 19 minutes at Twickenham."Video technology - the one thing designed to take away controversy - causes problems!
"Nakaitaci goes over and after initially being awarded a try by the TMO, another angle shows that the Frenchman had in fact lost control of the ball. It's no try and although Michalak soon adds another penalty, the French fans jeer - they wanted the five points! Yet, not as much as the Italians after Allan skews his penalty hopelessly wide!"
Italy's struggles in the scrum continue as Aguero gets overwhelmed on his side and he is forced to bring it down under pressure from Slimani. Michalak will attempt his fourth kick of the night.
MISS! Michalak sends another effort off the post from close range, as the poor kicking from both sides continues.
Bad injury news for Italy and centre Andrea Masi has sustained an Achilles injury, which may have ruled him out for the rest of the game.
The Azzurri continue to waste decent platforms to attack the French defence as Allan and Bacchin fail to win control of the ruck without support from the forwards, which allows Les Bleus to break down the left.
A costly mistake from Italy as Zanni fails to keep his balance at the breakdown and lands over the top of the French side of the ruck, conceding a penalty right in front of the post, giving Michalak yet another chance to extend his side's lead.
PENALTY! France 9-0 Italy (Michalak)
Better from Michalak this time as he sends his kick right through the middle of the posts to give his side a two-score cushion in their advantage.
Italy get the chance to get back on the board again as they patiently try to build from the scrum, but when Tillous-Borde sticks his boot out at Gori's atttempted pass the official blows his whistle for the infringement and Allan will have an opportunity to go for the posts.
PENALTY! France 9-3 Italy (Allan)
Allan nails his kick from 40 metres and his effort has the right line, and just has the legs to clear the bar to get his side on the scoreboard. A vital score for the Azzurri.
The stop-start nature of this game continues as Castrogiovanni commits an error at the ruck and France opt to go for goal right at the halfway line. Spedding decides to take it upon himself to fire the kick at goal rather than Michalak.
PENALTY! France 12-3 Italy (Spedding)
Spedding's kick has the power and the accuracy to sails between the posts and over the crossbar from 50 metres to put France well in control of the match.
Picamoles makes a burst through the line and opts the kick the ball onwards for the run of Huget. Allan is in a desperate race with the winger to reach the ball and he manages to get their first, but he is forced out of bounds on the left wing, giving the French a lineout in a dangerous area of the pitch.
A needless penalty is conceded by the Azzurri at the lineout and Michalak will have the chance to notch another score just before the break.
PENALTY! France 15-3 Italy (Michalak)
No problem for Michalak as he has settled into a rhythm by sending his kick through the posts.
HALF-TIME: France 15-3 Italy
France are in complete on control of the match at the break thanks to the boot of Frederic Michalak and Scott Spedding, while Tomasso Allan has notched Italy's only score of the half. The Azzurri committed far too many penalties in front of their own posts to have a realistic chance of keeping Les Bleus within striking distance. France have been far from their best the handling error from Noa Nakaitaci, which cost them five points. You get the feeling that Saint-Andre's team have another gear to find in the second period.
Liam Apicella give us his views on the first half at Twickenham:"Well, that was one for the purists! In a half with very few try-scoring opportunities, it's been a story of the two number 10s. In all honesty, I'm not sure you'd trust either of them! You certainly wouldn't put your house on them finding the target!
"Michalak has hit the post with two very routine-looking chances, while the less said about Allan's first effort of the evening, the better!
"Looking ahead to the second half, there's plenty of experience on that France bench and as the game goes on and players start to tire, it wouldn't be a surprise if they were to stretch their lead a bit further."
The players have emerged for the second half so we should be underway shortly.
RESTART! Michalak gets us back underway.
Another mistake from Italy and another chance for Michalak to add to his points tally this evening.
PENALTY! France 18-3 Italy (Michalak)
Michalak has found his range now, although this kick is pretty much straight in front of the posts and he sends it through with ease.
TRY! France 25-3 Italy (Slimani)
France extend their lead as Bastareaud breaks down the left and passes the ball inside to Guiarado, who manages to throw off the desperate tackle of McLean to get to the line, but the buffers at the posts stop him from recording the try. France recycle the ball and Michalak slides a grubber kick through the defensive line of the Azzurri and Slimani reacts first to collect and tap the ball under the posts. A superb team move from Les Bleus.
Les Blues win another penalty from a mistake from Castrogiovanni, but this time they kick for the corner and Michalak sends the ball into touch inside the 22.
Furno steals the ball at the lineout and the from the resulting maul, Italy win a penalty and kick for touch inside the France 22. A response is needed from Brunel's men.
Liam Apicella reports on the try from Slimani:"A try, at last! It's little more than France deserve for the way that they have started this second half. Moments after they go agonisingly close, Slimani goes over the line.
"The Italian supporters all around me have slumped back into their seats - it's as if they're admitting that it's now game over, despite plenty of time being left on the clock. Time for the floodgates to open?"
Italy spurn a great chance to respond with a try of their own right on the line after Gori raced towards the line from a penalty, but the French fought back on the ground wiht a counterruck and forced the knock on from the Italian scrum-half, to give Les Bleus a five-metre scrum.
TRY! France 25-10 Italy (Venditti)
France clear their lines from the scrum, but Italy come back at them with powering runs from their fowards to get to the line once again. Gori offloaded the ball to Sarto to crash over the line, but he was denied. However, the scrum-half then found Venditti who raced over untouched and touched down near the posts to make the kick easier on Allan, who put his kick through with ease.
Worrying signs for France as Huget goes down with an apparent knee injury after falling to the ground awkwardly. France have got a penalty though as they look to hit back following Venditti's score.
Liam Apicella on the try for the Azzurri:"Now we have a game on our hands! Since that France try, Italy have been in command of proceedings at Twickenham. Their try shows a mixture of a patience and skill, which brings them to within two converted tries of the French.
"Remember those Italians fans I told you about? Well, they've perked up a little now."
Guiarado commits a sloppy error as he grabs the neck of Aguero with his side right on the tryline and allows Italy to escape with a penalty to clear their lines.
Italy are slowly grinding their way back into the game here as they've won three penalties on the spin to work their way in the France's 22, and have set their sights on the tryline once again.
Gori collects the ball from the maul, but gets isolated when he tries to break the gain line by himself and Les Bleus converge over him to force the penalty and alleviate the presure on their line.
Back-to-back penalties on Brunel's ease reverse territory and put Les Bleus right back into the Italian 22, but the Azzurri display their resilience with a determined series of tackles to force France backwards before eventually turning the ball over.
France have lost their rhythm since Guiarado committed the penalty on the goalline as Michalak and Bastareaud exchange passes down the right and the latter tries to release the run of Dumoulin, but he knocks the bal forward. Fortunately for France the official Craig Joubet comes back for an infringment against the Azzurri.
Saint-Andre's side's passing has been lacklustre over the past 15 minutes as Bastareaud loses the ball, then Parra throws the ball forward to try to find the run of Guiarado, stopping their attacking momentum in and around the 22.
Liam Apicella reports from Twickenham:"With 10 minutes to go, it looks like France have this one in the bag. The threatened onslaught after the Italy try has not arrived.
"In truth, France deserve the credit for that. They have managed the situation well and do not appear to be in any trouble whatsoever. If anything, it looks like they have another gear or two should they require it."
TRY! France 32-10 Italy (Mas)
France secure the game with a fine drive for the posts which is started by Bastareaud, and Parra maintains the momentum with a quick pass to Debaty who carries near the line, while Mas finishes the move off when he dives at the posts to touch the ball at the base to confirm the try. Michalak notches the extras with ease.
Italy waste a promising position inside the 22 as the French defence proves to be resilient on the goalline. The Azzurri have worked the ball into promising positions, but have failed to capitalise on their territory this evening.
Les Bleus are also trying their best to notch another score in their attempts to get the bonus point, but there appears to be few tired legs out there for the team in red at the moment.
Italy go for the score, but another handling error right at the death costs them at the line and they will fall to a 22-point defeat at Twickenham in their opening match.
FULL-TIME: France 32-10 Italy
Liam Apicella reports at full time from Twickenham:"Scrappy it may have been for most parts, but France won't care too much. In any tournament such as the World Cup, the most important thing at this stage is to win the opening match and Les Bleus have done that with relative ease tonight.
"Granted it was not the free flowing rugby that their supporters yearn for (they haven't produced that for some time) but they, along with Ireland, lead the way in Pool D. Better teams than Italy will beat France you feel once they reach the last eight, but for now, there are reasons to be cheerful.
"Italy, meanwhile, have it all to do. There was a brief period in the second half when they were on top, but apart from that, it was not an evening to remember. They will have to win their remaining games and also probably beat the Irish to stand any chance of reaching the quarter-finals. On this evidence, it looks a tall order."
France get off to a strong start in the competition thanks to tries from
Rabah Slimani and
Nicolas Mas, although they miss out on the bonus point, which could have ramifications for them later in Pool D. Phillipe Saint-Andre will be pleased with their display, although he will hope there is more to come from his team for the latter stages of the tournament. Italy made far too many errors to seriously challenge Les Bleus this evening, especially in the 22. Jacques Brunel will need to gather his players as they face a major challenge to avoid crashing out of the tournament at the group stage for the eighth time in a row.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
