The Azzurri try to stay in the game until the end showing a different attitude compared to the defeat against New Zealand. A generous defense is not enough in front of the very strong hosts. The Blues widen the gap thanks to a surgical defense, skill in counterattacks and precise foot from Thomas Ramos.
The match which was supposed to decide the second team in the group to qualify for the quarter-finals, smiles at the France. Despite the absence of Antoine Dupont, the French created chances and scored eight tries. For Michele Lamaro and his companions only the satisfaction of a goal. Thus ends Italy’s World Cup who does not pass Pool A and bids coach Kieran Crowley farewell.
Les Bleus lead the way in the first half
The France he immediately breaks through with a series of percussions and then manages to free Damien Penaud who finishes the job in the 2nd minute of his team and broke the deadlock with a goal. Ramos’ foot is precise and Lyon immediately goes 7-0. The French goalkeeper responds in the seventh minute and does so with a ballistic feat. The free kick from midfield ends up between the posts and Blues lead 10-0. The Les Bleus wave doesn’t stop. Thanks to a somewhat careless defense by Italy, winger Bielle Biarry manages to collect a pass-kick, escape the defense and score the second try of the match. Crowley’s men try to get back on top, but they are constantly hounded by the French who recover many balls and counterattack in a lethal manner. From one possession in the twenty-two opponents Thomas Ramos receives an inviting oval from a precarious control by Fickou and in the 22nd minute he crushes the third try, then converted by Ramos himself. Italy is on the pitch and shows it in the 33rd minute Simone Ferrari goes over the line at the end of a sustained action in the opponent’s half of the field. The referee, however, recognizes a high cleanup intervention by Ferrari and cancels everything. The first half ends with a magic shot from Jalibert. The French fly-half feeds Penaud and does so by kicking precisely on the hands of the wing-back, allowing him to score a brace and lead the hosts (together with Ramos’ conversion) at 31-0.
Italy’s shock in the second half
The Italian national team starts again with a series of decisive tackles, but indiscipline costs the Azzurri dearly. Jalibert takes advantage of this and after prolonged possession manages to wedge himself into the Italian defense and score the fifth try. Mauvaka scores yet another goal in the 54th minute and Ramos confirmed his qualities from the pitch by converting both goals within seven minutes. France doesn’t give up and it passes again in the 63rd minute with the substitute Moefana, well freed on the right by an unmarked pass from the inspired Jalibert. In the 71st minute Italy’s bell rings. Morisi remains standing for the time needed to maintain the oval and on the following action Manuel Zuliani can free his power and scoring the first Italian try, then converted by Tommaso Allan. France’s substitutes are still giving gas. In the 75th minute Yorem Moefana brought his goal tally to 8. Melvyn Jaminet shortly afterwards ended Lyon’s contest with a free kick at the end of time which brought the final score 60 to 7.
The lineups and scorers
France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11
Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles
Ollivon (c), 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille Substitutions: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Francois Cros, 21 Baptiste Couilloud, 22 Yoram Moefana, 23 Melvyn Jaminet
Mete: 2′ Penaud, 12′ Bielle-Biarry, 21′ Ramos, 38′ Penaud, 47′ Jalibert, 54′ Mauvaka, 63′,
75′ Moefana
Transformations: 3′, 13′, 22′, 39′, 48′, 55′ Ramos, 64′, 80′ Jaminet
Free kicks: 6’ c.p. Ramos
Italia: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Pierre Bruno, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Paolo Garbisi,
Montanna Ioane, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele
Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 2 Hame Faiva, 1 Simone Ferrari. Substitutions: 16 Marco Manfredi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 David Sisi, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Luca Morisi, 23 Lorenzo Pani
Mete: 71′ Zuliani
Transformations: 72’ Allan
2023-10-06 21:33:25
#Nightmare #Italy #France #wins #quarterfinals #Sky #Sport
