France hold on as Italy send out a message

ANDREA Bruniera’s 84th minute conversion flew wide as Italian hearts were broken in Treviso.

Trailing 28-22 in the 83rd minute, a sensational pass found Italy winger Matthias Douglas in space and he touched down to give the Azzurri a shot of victory from the resulting conversion.

It was not to be though as Bruniera’s effort sailed wide on an evening in which Italy missed four of their five conversion attempts.

Player of the match, Italy flanker David Odiase, said: “We are sending a big message to the rugby world that we are coming for all of you. We’ve been working hard and now the rewards are starting to come.”

France spent much of the game under pressure, with their forwards in particular being largely dominated, but their backline always seemed to have something up their sleeves.

It was a moment of class from Zacharie Affane who found winger Mael Moustin in space on the left who duly powered over and thanks to Tarel’s conversion, France had the lead for the first time.

Italy once again established dominance in the scrum and from great field position scored their third try through Matteo Rubinato from the back of the driving maul.

Destiny Aminu was penalised for collapsing the maul – resulting in a yellow card and penalty try to send them Italy in 20-17 to the good at the break.

The home side came firing out of the blocks in the second half and remained totally dominant in the forwards, which quickly landed Les Bleuets in trouble when first Castro Ferreira and then Lenni Nouchi were yellow-carded.

With France down to 13, François Carlo Mey powered through to secure Italy’s bonus-point try and put them back in front 22-17.

However France fought back, and Tarel’s boot and Castro Ferreira’s try – when stealing an Italian lineout inside their own 22 – regained France’s lead.

Italy scored again in the corner through Douglas but Bruniera’s effort sailed wide of the uprights.