Winning start for France

Julien Malzieu: Scored an impressive solo effort in France win

France made a solid start to their RBS Six Nations campaign as a brave effort from Italy could not prevent them from slipping to a 30-12 defeat at the Stade de France.

The visitors dominated possession for much of the first half but their lack of a cutting edge, combined with Les Bleus' incisiveness in attack, ensured that the result was never realistically in doubt.

Aurelien Rougerie and Julien Malzieu crossed the try-line in the first-half, while Vincent Clerc and debutant centre Wesley Fofana both ran in scores after the break.

Italy's points all came via the boot of Kris Burton or Tobias Botes but they could not penetrate the stern defence of the World Cup finalists, who made a winning start to life under new boss Philippe Saint-Andre.

France predictably had all of the early possession and territory from the kick-off, but a penalty for incorrect binding at a scrum then allowed the visitors a spell with the ball inside the opposition half.

Pressure

The pressure continued for several minutes until Malzieu collected a bouncing kick and raced upfield, with Dimitri Yachvili nailing a tough kick from out wide after the scrambling Italy defence had conceded a penalty.

But Italy, playing in blue despite being the away side, dominated possession in the following minutes and drew level when fly-half Kris Burton slotted over an impressive drop goal.

France's timid opening lasted until the 20-minute mark, when Rougerie scythed through a gap in the midfield before comfortably rounding the last man to score the first try of this year's competition. Yachvili was successful with the conversion.

Italy again got back on top from the restart, though, and were awarded a penalty when Lionel Nallet did not roll away after a tackle. Burton made no mistake from the tee, trimming the hosts' advantage to four points.

However, France opened up clear daylight in the scoreline when Malzieu cantered through a string of missed tackles to touch down, with Yachvili being just off target with a tough conversion to leave it 15-6 at the half-time break.

Italy had chances to reduce the gap right after the interval but Burton was just short with a long-range penalty, before France brought Luke McLean down just in time after the wing had broken free through the middle.

Penalties

Burton was on target with an easier penalty in the 47th minute but Yachvili hit back with three points of his own soon afterwards.

And the hosts effectively killed the game off in the 54th minute as Francois Trinh-Duc chipped the ball through, with Rougerie prodding it on again to Clerc, who sauntered in under the posts.

Yachvili's simple conversion made it 25-9 before Tobias Botes came off the bench to add another three points to Italy's tally as he slotted over a penalty from the right.

Italy showed some promising glimpses with ball in hand as the match entered the final quarter but were forced to play the last 10 minutes a man short, after lock Quintin Geldenhuys was sin-binned for collapsing a rolling maul that was heading for the try-line.

France capitalised by sending Fofana over for a try on debut, before Italy surged forward to no avail in the closing stages.