Destroyer Bastareaud waiting for England
MATHIEU Bastareaud returned to spearhead an improved France performance as Les Bleus claimed their first win in a nearly a year to regain a little confidence ahead of England’s visit – but this was hardly a game worthy of the setting at Stade Velodrome in Marseilles.
For long periods, France spluttered against a generous Italy team that fed them endless pieces of prized possession with a badly flawed box kicking game while the Italian lineout also badly malfunctioned at times.
France could, and should, have scored another three or four tries but found a variety of ways to butcher golden opportunities.
In an otherwise disappointing performance Italy defended strongly – that is the one positive they can take out of the game – but once France finish celebrating their first victory since they defeated Wales last Match they should ask themselves how they failed to garner a try bonus at the end.
France started full of good intent and had a try on the board in five minutes, turning down a kick at goal to go for the corner with lock Paul Gabrillagues rumbling over from the lineout.
The Marseilles crowd settled down for what they assumed would be a romp, but Italy hit straight back with a try of their own, Wayne Barnes awarding them a penalty try when France collapsed an Italian rolling maul that had try written all over it.
France picked up the pace again but in quick succession Wenceslas Lauret ignored a two-man overlap to the left after he had made a dangerous break and then Bastareaud, who had been charging to good effect and earning valuable turnovers, spilled the ball over the line.
France were getting frusthey trated and they blew a third gilt-edged chance when Lionel Beauxis threw out a horrible pass.
In the end a brace of Maxime Machenaud penalties were their only other scores before the break. Tomasso Allen clawed one back to leave Italy well in contention at just 14-10 at the break.
The third quarter was painful viewing for the neutral with France failing to build a head of steam and Italy rarely threatening although the powerful running of Seb Negri deserved more support.
The former Hartpury College skipper has been their find of the season and need to quickly promote another Hartpury old boy, Jake Polledri, to offer a twin running threat in the back row.
Just before the hour mark France did finally click and belatedly produced some rugby to give their long suffering fans some hope.
Bastareaud launched another strong run and then, as he often does, produced a delicate piece of skill to off-load to his Toulon colleague Hugo Bonneval.
Machenaud converted and then quickly added another brace of penalties to effectively take the game out of Italy’s reach before MOM Bastareaud bulldozed his way over for the try his overall performance demanded.
With nearly ten minutes left and France dominant, the try bonus point seemed inevitable but Italy’s defence didn’t slacken and they were rewarded with two minutes left when they broke down the left touchline for Matteo Miozzi, their other stand out on the night, to score a welldeserved try.
As France searched in vain for a fourth try, Italy’s replacement hooker Luca Bigi received a late yellow card for a deliberate knock on.