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France leave it late to claim win over Italy in Six Nations opener
By Lucy Lomax
In an evenly matched affair, France left it late to claim victory over Italy by 12-22 in Parma in the first round of the 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations.
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The hosts produced an impressive performance before the weather closed in, and with the roar of their home crowd, had the bit firmly between their teeth to score the opening try of both halves, against World Cup bronze medallists France.
In the end, the experience of the France players Gabrielle Vernier, Jessy Trémoulière and Pauline Bourdon guided Les Bleus home to deny Italy a losing bonus point from round 1.
In the opening ten minutes France got on the scoreboard through a Bourdon penalty, but the Italian crowd were not subdued for long after a score from Giada Franco on 21 minutes, which saw the back row power over after a brilliant break down the middle of the field from teammate Francesca Sgorbini.
Down the other end of the field France’s Vernier continued her form from the World Cup and quickly replied for France after a steady scrum from the French forwards in the Italian 22, provided her with go forward ball to crash over.
As half time came into view, seven points were added to the score board for France with a try from Carla Arbez and conversion from Bourdon, ensuring France headed into the changing rooms ahead 7-15.
In the second half Italy’s Alyssa D’Inca reduced the deficit to three, with a well taken score out wide on 47 minutes.
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The scoreboard stayed at 12-15 for a further 25 minutes despite a brilliant break heading into the final quarter from Trémoulière led to Vernier once again darting for the try line, with it taking three Italians to bring her in to touch.
The ensuing Italian line out survived a scare when a mix up led to France gaining possession but the ball was deemed to have been held up over the line.
The weather soon deteriorated and with conditions worsening, the game lost momentum seeing plenty of knock ons and stoppages with neither side able to establish much of a platform.
However, the French pressure eventually told up front when with six minutes remaining, having worked their way upfield, winger Caroline Boujard held her width to score a crucial try for the visitors, with Trémoulière calmly knocking over the extras.
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