France 25-13 Italy
Sun 9 March, 2008
Stade de France, Paris

France beat Italy to win the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy, and in doing so kept their Six Nations title hopes very much alive.

France came into the game with a side full of changes, in an attempt to transform the team that lost to England in Paris the week before. The changes proved fruitful, despite an early Lionel Nallet score inside the first five minutes being chalked off for a penalty executed before the referee was ready.

Quarter of an hour gone, though, and the French stamped their authority on the match through a 25 yard maul that worked its way into the heart of the Italian 22. The play resulted in deft chip to the corner, which was flicked across beautifully by Malzieu allowing Floch to score his first international Try.

Yachvili converted, but Italy fought back quickly through a Marcato penalty, giving the home side something to think about. But things went downhill quickly for the Azzuri, when Canale was penalised for cynically taking out Frenchmen Jauzion, while he ran through to chase the ball.

Yachvili scored easily from the kick, and a further two penalties from Marcato and Yachvili respectively, made the score 13-6 to France at half time.

Both sides took time to settle in the second half, but France were first to find their feet through a Yauzion Try, giving the French a comfortable lead at 18-6. Yet again, though, Italy fought back with determination and guts, when Castrogiovanni drove over the line after bravely kicking a penalty kick into touch. The conversion was made by Marcato, and suddenly Italy were only five behind at 18-13 with 20 minutes remaining.

Bergamasco brilliantly denied France a certain Try with a tackle on the line, to give Italy real hope of pulling something amazing out of the bag, but France flexed their ample muscles one last time just when it was needed, and Rougerie scored what was an easy Try in the end. Yachvili converted, and the game was all but over.

The win has put France into second position in the table, giving them an outside chance of retaining the title. They have to beat Wales in Cardiff next weekend to do so, and need to do it with a margin of 20 points. But given the history of recent final weekends in this championship, the only thing guaranteed next weekend is another nail-biting finish to the 2008 Six Nations Championship.

Teams

France
Floch; Rougerie, David, Jauzion, Malzieu, Trinh-Duc; Yachvili, Barcella, Szarzewski, Mas, Nallet, Thion, Diarra, Ouedraogo, Picamoles.

Replacements: Traille for David (60), Tomas for Yachvili (71), Guirado for Szarzewski (63), Poux for Mas (62), Mela for Thion (68), Bonnaire for Diarra (50).
Not Used: Clerc.

Italy
Marcato; Robertson, Canale, Bergamasco, Galon; Masi, Picone; Lo Cicero, Ghiraldini, Castrogiovanni, Del Fava, Bortolami, Sole, Zanni, Parisse.

Replacements: Patrizio for Canale (75), Travagli for Picone (69), Perugini for Lo Cicero (56), Ongaro for Ghiraldini (56), Nieto for Castrogiovanni (59).
Not Used: Erasmus, Sgarbi.

Statistics and Info

France
Tries: 3
Cons: 2
Pens: 2

Italy
Tries: 1
Con: 1
Pens: 2

Man of the Match: Aurleen Rougerie (FRA)
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRE)