The Italians have been reminded of what a hell of a thorn in their side they can be. As accustomed to setbacks and subscribers to wooden spoons as they are, no one knocks them down without a fight and impeccable discipline. The XV of France scrapped for a while, Sunday February 6, to get rid of Italian resistance and win a precious success (37-10). The fault at the beginning of the meeting where they were very penalized.
The proteges of Fabien Galthié, absent from the stands after his positive test for Covid-19, nevertheless provided the essentials by winning this first home match for their start in the Tournament. And with the offensive bonus, always valuable in the standings. What to approach more calmly the preparation of the reception of Ireland (February 12), which imposed itself as a boss against the Welsh defending champion, Saturday.
We cannot say that the Blues were not at the forefront of the fight. If the binder of their possession game suffered from rainy weather and numb fingers, the Habs set the tone from the first Italian action by stealing the ball from them in the ruck. By his precious tackles, under the kicks to put pressure on the Italians, the ASM winger, Damian Penaud, author of a test (68th), perfectly illustrated the good intentions of his partners.
It is also from him that come the two sparks that finally allowed the Blues to lay their hands on this match, confirming the trickster Anthony Jelonch scorer a little earlier on an interception (8-7, 26th ). Despite the opening of the score (3-0, 4th) by the leg of Melvyn Jaminet – little successful as rarely with two failures in front of the posts – it was indeed the players of Kieran Crowley who struck first. After an aerial ball poorly controlled by Jaminet, Montpellier opener Paolo Garbisi offered Tommaso Menoncello the first try of the match with a superb foot pass (3-7, 16th).
All has not been perfect for these Blues. Forward and bad choice – of a hinge less in sight than usual – came to annihilate a good number of occasions. Above all, the Blues were penalized enormously, six times in the first half hour alone, fourteen in total. To win the teams try to limit their total to a maximum of ten per match.
But the XV of France never seemed to panic. He continued his work of undermining and exhausted the Italian corps by sinking their melee several times. Little by little, it took a sock for the French arrows – Penaud, Alldritt, Villière in the lead – to slip away on trial. A job that made the other winger of the Blues, Gabin Villière, happy. The Toulonnais scored the try for his hat-trick in added time, synonymous with an offensive bonus (37-10). The essence of the contract is fulfilled.