Six Nations 2013: Italy beats France by 23 to 18

Italy vs. France

Okay, now, I had reports from the Six Nations 2013 match and it's a report that says that F.I.R from Italy trounced FFR from France at Stadio Olimpico with the score of 23 to 18. Thanks to Luciano Orquera, the Italian rugby team propelled to a head start of the Six Nations 2013 match, much as England and Ireland got a head start.

PRESS RELEASE:


Orquera leads Italy to stunning success in Rome

Luciano Orquera's virtuoso performance led a superb Italy side to a deserved 23-18 win over France - their second in succession on home soil against Les Bleus in the RBS 6 Nations.

France came into the game on the back of three wins in the autumn internationals, including an impressive dismantling of Australia in Paris.
However the Italians had shown a lot of promise as well, going toe-to-toe with the All Blacks for an hour and coming within two points of the Wallabies and lived up to coach Jacques Brunel's attacking ambitions.

Despite trailing at half-time, they produced a fantastic second-half comeback as Les Bleus faded. And when Martin Castrogiovanni went over with 20 minutes to go, and Orquera put Italy back in front, it looked like the spirit had gone out of the French.

Frederic Michalak, who had been so impressive in the autumn, did not get off to the best of starts when his kick-off went out on the full, setting up the first scrum of the game for the Italians.

In a frenetic opening it was the Italians who dominated the possession early on, and showing their new-found attacking intentions with Sergio Parisse's early score.

An initial break from Luke McLean looked to have stalled but Orquera spotted a hole in the French defence and scythed his way through before finding Parisse for the try, Orquera added the extras from wide on the left.

Having barely touched the ball, the French then began to put the pressure on the Italians, with an exquisite Michalak up-and-under causing problems in the Azzurri 22.

After spreading the ball right and then left, it was Louis Picamoles who showed his strength, holding off a couple of Italian defenders to stretch over.

However the Italians weren't about to let the initiative get away from them, and an Orquera drop goal on the quarter-hour, followed by a penalty two minutes later, helped them into a 13-5 lead.

In an entertaining encounter it was the French who threatened next, and after some powerful running full-back Yoann Huget was held up over the line after consultation with the TMO.

From the resulting five-metre scrum the Italians were a little over-eager in defence, giving Michalak an easy opportunity to open his account with a penalty from in front. The Azzurri still led 13-8 just before the half-hour.

Les Bleus looked to be getting into the game, and some fantastic offloading set up their second try to put them into the lead for the first time.

Huget made the initial break as Michalak spread the ball, before Fritz's quick hands released Fall to stroll over. Michalak's conversion put his side up 15-13.

The French made the early running in the second half, and after the Italian scrum and Andrea Lo Cicero, in particular, was penalised for lack of binding, Michalak added a penalty to make it 18-13.

With a five-point lead the French looked like they were taking control, and they should have extended their lead when Maxime Machenaud made a searing break through the Itailan defence.

However the scrum-half forced the pass deep in Italian territory, and the Italians produced a stunning counter-attack which finished with a delightful Orquera offload to Castrogiovanni who fell over the line for the try. Orquera's conversion put his side back in front with just over a quarter of the game to go.

Philippe Saint-Andre then made the decision to bring on Morgan Parra and Mathieu Bastareaud, with the game appearing to slip away from Les Bleus.

The feeling only increased with 12 minutes remaining when Kris Burton, having replaced the impressive Orquera, slotted a drop goal, to stretch the lead to five points.

With a minute to go France started to put the pressure on the Italians, and with the Azzurri forced to infringe, it was Davide Giazzon who was sent to the sin bin.

Les Bleus took the scrum but after the home pack was penalised at the first attempt, they held strong at the second, and when the ball was spread wide, Fall was forced into touch to Italian jubilation.

Source: http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/21998.php

Next week, it's Scotland vs. Italy on February 9, 2013 at 14:30 GMT, France vs. Wales on the same date at 17:00 GMT, and Ireland vs. England on February 10, 2013 at 15:00 GMT.