Highlights: For the first time in the history of the Six Nations Tournament, the French XV conceded a draw at home against Italy 13-13, Sunday February 25 in Lille. The French, reduced to fourteen after the exclusion of Jonathan Danty just before the break, could even have lost if the Italian fly-half Paolo Garbisi had not missed an easy penalty at the last second. “What's missing is the finishing, there are lots of rough things, we have to finish the shots and we don't finish them, it's quite frustrating,” said hooker Julien Marchand.

For the first time in the history of the Six Nations Tournament, the French XV conceded a draw at home against Italy 13-13, Sunday February 25 in Lille. 

Rugby/Six Nations: poor performance of France which concedes a draw against Italy 13-13

For the first time in the history of the Six Nations Tournament, the French XV conceded a draw at home against Italy 13-13, Sunday February 25 in Lille.

Frenchman Charles Ollivon during the match against Italy, February 25, 2024. AFP - SAMEER AL-DOUMY

By: Farid Achache Follow

“

It’s very hard because we had a lot of chances, we weren’t necessarily rewarded

,” commented Gaël Fickou, center of the France team, at the microphone of France 2.

In the first half , we have the opportunity to score three or four tries, we can't do it.
Afterwards, they stick to the score, we take this card, unfortunately.
It's involuntary, like against Ireland, we want to engage, we touch the head, it can happen.
It’s frustrating because we had what it took to play a good match, we got into this match well, and little by little it slipped through our hands

.”

And added: “

What's missing is the finishing, there are lots of rough things, we have to finish the shots and we don't finish them.
We make mistakes, a lot of ball losses, a lot of forwards, it's quite frustrating.

Go back to work

The French, reduced to fourteen after the exclusion of Jonathan Danty just before the break, could even have lost if the Italian fly-half Paolo Garbisi had not missed an easy penalty at the last second, a failure which deprived his team's first victory against France since 2013. We even have to go back to 1997 and a test match lost 40-32 to find the trace of a defeat by France at home against Italy.

“

We’re going to go back to work.
Above all, we're going to talk to each other.
It's not normal to have done this today, especially for all the people who came, who support us.
We’re not going to give up, we’re not going to lower our heads

,” said hooker Julien Marchand.

The coach of the XV of France Fabien Galthié spoke of a “ difficult

” and “

painful ”

moment

regarding this historic draw conceded against Italy.

After their inaugural rout against Ireland (38-17) and the narrow success in Scotland (20-16) two weeks ago, Fabien Galthié's men put together another worrying performance.

The Blues now have fifteen days to rectify the situation before challenging Wales in Cardiff.

Rugby/Six Nations: poor performance of France which concedes a draw against Italy 13-13

Rugby/Six Nations: poor performance of France which concedes a draw against Italy 13-13

Go back to work

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