Bonneval try helps France end 343-day wait for Test win with 34-17 victory over Italy

France 34 - 17 Italy, Orange Velodrome
Scorecard

Hugo Bonneval scored France's second try in Marseille on Friday night as they ended their 343-day wait for a Test win with 34-17 victory over Italy in Six Nations clash.

A vital win for Sergio Parisse and his men, but a far from faultless one with attacking line-outs misfiring and dropped scoring passes. However, second-half tries by Bonneval (59) and Mathieu Bastareaud (72) along with Maxime Machenaud’s 17-point haul with the foot paved the way for victory.

Paul Gabrillagues (4) scored the first try of the match for the hosts.

Match referee Wayne Barnes awarded a penalty try to the visitors on the ninth minute after a maul collapse which turned out to be the topic of controversy for quite a while.

A fine break in the concluding stages from Matteo Minozzi (78) gave the visitors their second try of the match but the result of the match was quite evident at that point.

If not for the shabby performance, the hosts could have ended up with quite a few more tries and a bonus-point. With Eddie Jones and his side coming to Paris in a fortnight, a more dominating win would have certainly built a better platform leading into the contest.

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