Paris (AFP)

Wales corrected weak Italy (48-7) in the Six Nations Tournament on Saturday in Rome and will aim for the Grand Slam in their final match next week in France, beaten by England (23-20).

With this fourth success in four matches, the third improved in a row, the XV of Le Poireau prances at the top of the standings with 19 points, nine ahead of his first pursuer, the Blues, before his trip to the Stade de France next Saturday.

After their success against Ireland (21-16), against Ireland, Scotland (25-24) and against England (40-24), the Welsh had little to fear from the " Nazionale, "which inevitably heads for a sixth wooden spoon in a row.

Wayne Pivac's men closed the game in less than half an hour, with four tries already registered including a brace from hooker Ken Owens.

They added three in the second half.

Their new nugget, winger Louis Rees-Zammit (20) took advantage of Italian defensive largesse to flatten a fourth time since the start of the competition.

Italy conceded a 31st consecutive defeat in the Tournament.

She will play one last match next Saturday in Scotland with the hope of avoiding another drop.

- Cruel to the Blues -

No Grand Slam for the Blues on the other hand.

Once again, the XV of France got its feet in the carpet at Twickenham (23-20).

A cruel defeat which deprives the men of Fabien Galthié of a 100% after which they have been chasing since 2010.

They have two home matches left, against the Welsh and then against Scotland (on a date still unknown), to hope to win the Tournament.

But it will take a little more realism, even pragmatism, to get there.

Faced with a XV de la Rose not quite found, the French failed with a breath, letting the victory slip a few minutes from the end, on a test from the second row Maro Itoje.

Before that, Romain Taofifenua's 17 tackles, the presence of Gaël Fickou, the activity of Cyril Baille and the ten points of Matthieu Jalibert had brought the XV of France to a breath of achievement.

Still missed!

The last match of this 4th day opposes Scotland to Ireland on Sunday (4 p.m. French) in Edinburgh.

© 2021 AFP