Six Nations 2026: France 33-8 Italy - hosts maintain Grand Slam bid
BBC World
February 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
France secured a commanding bonus-point win against Italy in their Six Nations clash in Lille, maintaining their strong bid for a Grand Slam title. The hosts dominated early with tries by Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Emmanuel Meafou, and Thomas Ramos, who stepped in at fly-half after Matthieu Jalibert’s injury absence. Despite France’s early lead, Italy showed resilience, scoring through Ange Capuozzo and securing a penalty from Paolo Garbisi. However, France’s second half saw them extend their advantage further with tries by Gael Drean and Emilien Gailleton, ensuring the bonus point and solidifying their position in the tournament.
The match highlighted France’s clinical attacking play and ability to capitalize on opportunities, despite Italy’s spirited efforts. Italy’s performance, particularly their powerful scrum and composed defense, kept them in contention throughout. However, key moments—such as Louis Lynagh’s sin-bin spell—hampered their momentum, allowing France to pull away. This victory marks France’s third win in the tournament so far, following dominant displays against Ireland and Wales.
For Italy, the defeat continues a challenging run of form under coach Gonzalo Quesada. While they showed improvement, particularly in set pieces, their inability to sustain pressure in the second half proved
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/22/2026