Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: France outclass Italy in Rome

Sunday, March 22, 2009

France outclass Italy in Rome

France pumped Italy 50-8 in Rome on Saturday as they bounced back from their emphatic loss to England last weekend. Their resolute performance saw them end their Six Nations on a high, but it is Italy who now face an uphill battle going forward.

The hosts were dire for the most part, and way too easily outgunned and outmuscled by the far more professional French outfit.

Coach Nick Mallet’s future now hangs in the balance after Italy’s whitewash of five losses from five matches, the first time that’s happened since 2005.

"I think that the score was 6-3 at 20 minutes," Italy’s coach Nick Mallett said. "Then there was an up and under on Paul Griffen, who missed it and they moved the ball quickly and Chabal scored. Six minutes later it was 21-3. If you give away so many points in such a short space of time, it is a long way back."

The next few weeks will be nervous for Mallett to hear if he will be kept on for Italy's tour to New Zealand and Australia.

"There are lots and lots of things (that need to be worked on). I have spoken to the president about how to improve Italian rugby, not only the national team, but also how to produce better players," Mallett said.

"It is too easy to blame the coach or the players when we lose. We need to look at what we can do to improve the level so that we are always ready for this level and not only now and then."

French coach Marc Lievremont was satisfied with the result from their side though.

"The main thing was to close the tournament with a win," Lievremont said. "The first half was good, the second less so. It doesn't make up for the loss at Twickenham, but it is good to win nonetheless.

Time: 05:05

the chabal try was "lomu" style

first comment!!

By Anonymous, at March 22, 2009 2:38 pm
Have italy progressed atall? i dont think so

By Anonymous, at March 22, 2009 3:37 pm
the ELVs are exposing the italian backs

By Anonymous, at March 22, 2009 4:39 pm
How huge are chabals hands? any normal man would've dropped that ball, he looks a lot taller than his 6" 2" and to forget the 1/2, think its his extremly long monkey arms lol french destroyed italy but still lack that bit of magic they use to have. Parisse should've played for argentina fair play to him for being a proud italian.

By Anonymous, at March 22, 2009 5:24 pm
Look at that moment at 3.18-3.22 where Parisse knocks Fritz into touch to prevent the try. The smile and friendly handshake by the italian captain and frenchmen after it is what rugby is truly about. Sportsmanship.

By Anonymous, at March 22, 2009 5:34 pm
i'm italian and i think that our match was really bad, 50 points are too much and for me italy must exit from 6 nations for return at the 5 nations..

By Anonymous, at March 22, 2009 6:04 pm
chabal is the most ugly person i've never seen..

By Anonymous, at March 22, 2009 6:07 pm
Good come back for the French, but can't help but feel for the Italians... Parisse is class tho!

By Anonymous, at March 22, 2009 9:45 pm
out of all the tries to be scored for italy, parisse got it which for me made the scoreline pretty much irrelvant.
a reward for all the hard work he has put into the team this championship, despite the poor performances.
it would be wrong if he didn't get player of the tournament, he was unfairly robbed of the irb player of the year too.

By Anonymous, at March 22, 2009 10:16 pm
Parisse is, at least in my opinion, the best eight in the world. Andy Powell was bigged up before the tournament and delivered nothing. Parisse has incredible fitness, makes the brakes and hes a demon at the brakedown. Its a shame to see Italy take such a backward step after several improvments over the last few years, but what can you expect when their power game has been effectively neutred by the ELVs?

By Anonymous, at March 22, 2009 10:56 pm
CHABAL, big wild caveman, his hands must be huge

By Anonymous, at March 23, 2009 1:30 am
Chabal is incredibly over rated. He makes a few big runs against minnows, hammers a standing still All Black forward waiting for a pass and grows his hair long and everyone thinks he is a cromagnic lomu? Lomu destroyed the best sides in the world and needed no gimmick to get attention. I am more impressed with class players whose play attracts attention, such as Parisse, dusatoir, oconnell, williams and odriscoll.

Canadian Content

By Anonymous, at March 23, 2009 1:44 am
yeah italy are a really frustrating team to watch, it must be horrible for the supporters. whenever they get into good positions one of their backs stupidly kicks away possession wit terrible little grubber kicks that rarely if ever work.totally undoing the good work of the forwards.they need to find a good out half though.mclean offers less than bergamasco did at 9!

By Anonymous, at March 23, 2009 7:47 am
At last we made a good try... Hope to see the Parisse's tackle on tsrb and i really hope that Sergio will be the player of the tournament, he deserved it!

By Anonymous, at March 23, 2009 2:54 pm
Nice soccer-style pass by medard to dusatoir !

By Anonymous, at March 23, 2009 11:32 pm
Chabal is OVER RATED. Just a regular player in my opinion. And what can you say about his fight with Castrogiovanni? The long haired one isn´t more stupid becouse he wasn´t born before.

By Anonymous, at March 24, 2009 2:40 am
How popular is rugby in Italy?? I know Campo and Lynagh made millions playing over there but is it the no 2 sport (after football)? Surely they need more pro players or something.. they don't ever seem to challenge the top 10 sides... good no8 try though

just asking by the way

By Anonymous, at March 24, 2009 5:33 am
Chabal IS over rated. But he's a character and an image, and that's what rugby needs.

People should be greatful Chabal grew his hair and beard out. You wouldn't believe the number of non-rugby fans, in England of all places, who know him.

That's unheard of for a rugby player in England, outside of Jonny Wilkinson.

By Jennifer, at March 24, 2009 12:54 pm