France avoid embarrassment with narrow victory over Italy

A late Jules Plisson penalty spared France and new head coach Guy Noves an early embarrassment as France rebounded from an eight-point deficit to beat Italy 23-21 in the opening match of the RBS 6 Nations.

France had won all eight of the previous Six Nations matches between themselves and Italty at the Stade de France, but for long periods that unblemished record was in doubt, despite an outstanding try-scoring debut from Fiji-born wing and Sevens convert Virimi Vakatawa.

Italy's two previous away wins in the championship they’ve participated in since 2000 have both came at Scotland's expense, but with less than five minutes remaining in Paris on Saturday the Italians looked set to add a French scalp to their short list of conquests.

However Plisson's long-range penalty on 76 minutes ultimately broke their hearts and denied Jacques Brunel's side a famous victory and launchpad for this campaign, with Italy captain Sergio Parisse missing a last-gasp drop-goal attempt.

France's tries came from Vakatawa, Damien Chouly and Hugo Bonneval, with Italy's responses coming from Parisse, winning his 115th cap, and debutant Carlo Canna.

It was far from a convincing French performance. Guy Noves, who previously spent 22 years at the helm of Toulouse winning 10 French league titles and four European crowns before taking the international job, will need to pep up the French performance significantly if they are to trouble Ireland on the same pitch next Saturday.

France rode their luck in the first half and might have gone to the dressing room behind, rather than 10-8 ahead. Italy centre Michele Campagnaro was tackled barely a yard from the line in the 40th minute following a scything run.

A warning shot from Italy came in the eighth minute when Canna slotted a 30-metre drop goal, but the fly-half later missed a pair of seemingly routine kicks.

On his debut for France, Toulouse scrum-half Sebastien Bezy also failed to drape himself in glory as he squandered three first-half shots at goal. He was later relieved, and Plisson took the glory.

France's wild-card winger Vakatawa made his first big impact in the 15th minute.

Promoted unconventionally from the Sevens ranks by an impressed Noves, without a Top 14 club and lacking 15-a-side experience, Vakatawa looked right at home.

He darted over in the left corner for an eye-catching try after a spell of French pressure. Fed by Maxime Medard, he sold Leonardo Sato a perfect dummy to dot down unimpeded.

Parisse hit back for Italy when he led a driving maul over the French line and grounded the ball, but Canna fluffed the conversion.

Impressive in spurts, France regained the lead with Gael Fickou orchestrating a tap-penalty move that saw Wenceslas Lauret send Chouly surging over in the right corner.

There was no letting up from Italy after the break however, Canna finally bisecting the posts after an infringement by Eddy Ben Arous to put the buoyant visitors in front, and they thrillingly led 18-10 after a converted try two minutes later.

Parisse was inches away, but could not get the ball down. Italy kept possession and Canna steamed in before converting his own score.

A French lifeline arrived when Bonneval buried in at the left corner after a charging run from Vakatawa carried the hosts deep into Italian territory. Plisson converted.

Plisson booted a 69th-minute penalty to inch France ahead at 20-18, but Kelly Haimona responded five minutes later after Uini Atonio was penalised.

It was then Parisse's turn to be penalised, and from 50 metres Plisson nailed the match-winning kick.