Rugby, Italy puts France in difficulty and loses by a narrow margin (24-29)
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A much more balanced match than expected and an Italy that was about to give the Olimpico a big surprise. In the first round of the Six Nations, reigning champions France – returning from a 2022 made up of only victories – struggled until the last second to get the better of an Italy that confirmed the progress shown in recent times.
Ultimately, if we wanted to look at two episodes that influenced the match more than the others, we could start from the beginning (the try given away by Varney to the French after only five minutes, for a forward kick intercepted by Flament) and go straight to the end, when with time expired – only five points down – the Azzurri played a throw-in a few meters from the opponent’s goal line. The conquest of the ball has arrived, but there hasn’t been any progress: the transalpines have shattered our grouping and our hopes in one fell swoop.
In any case, a good Italy
But in the Roman afternoon there was also a lot of Italy. The start was decidedly by the guests, good at punishing us when opportunities presented themselves. Before the half hour the scoreboard said 6-19, because Les Bleus didn’t stop at the initial try but replied first with Ramos, first to squeeze a ball disputed in the air between Capuozzo and Penaud, and then with newcomer winger Dumortier, who he sprinted down the left out before scoring into the goalposts.
Despite everything, when Italy managed to cross the halfway line, they showed that they “know how to do it” and “know what to do”. Therefore, once at least territorial parity had been re-established, dividends were collected. The first try was beautiful, the result of an initial act of courage (he gave up a kick to attack after the lineout), a good advance and the new prowess of Ange Capuozzo, who reached his sixth goal in eight games: a number to acrobat to stay in the field and dive to target.
Nervous French
The first half ended with three more Azzurri points, scored by Allan with a place that highlighted constant nervousness and indiscipline on the part of the French champions, who in the end totaled almost 20 free-kicks against (less than 10 against the Azzurri) .
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