MY ACCOUNT
Gabin Villiere scored a hat-trick as France recovered from a slow start to kick off their 2022 Six Nations campaign with a 37-10 bonus-point win over Italy at the Stade de France.
The pre-tournament favourites trailed to Tommaso Menoncello’s try and were again behind with half an hour played after Anthony Jelonch had temporarily put them ahead.
But Villiere crossed over either side of half-time and Damian Penaud added a fourth, before Villiere completed his treble to confirm a 33rd successive loss in the competition for Italy.
Les Blues have now won 15 successive home Tests against Italy and join next opponents Ireland on five points after the first round of fixtures.
Italy responded superbly to falling behind to Melvyn Jaminet’s fourth-minute penalty as Menoncello gathered Paolo Garbisi’s cross-field kick and raced through for a debut try.
Garbisi added the extras but all of Italy’s hard work was undone when Stephen Varney’s offload was intercepted by Jelonch, who had a simple task in splashing over.
France did not initially push on, with Garbisi and Jaminet sharing a penalty apiece, though a Villiere try following a well-worked lineout ensured Les Blues led at the break.
Jonathan Danty had a try ruled out by TMO but there was no denying Villiere five minutes later, the Toulon wing darting for the line after France turned the ball over in the maul.
Penaud broke down the right, exchanged passes with Antoine Dupont and sealed a bonus point for France, with star man Villiere adding further gloss with a free run on the back of some sustained pressure.
Menoncello makes his mark
Kieran Crowley was taking charge of his first Six Nations match as Italy boss and his decision to hand Menoncello a debut on the wing paid almost instant dividends.
At 19 years and 170 days, Menoncello is the youngest try-scorer in Six Nations history, surpassing the record previously held by France’s Gael Fickou (19y, 317d).
Hat-trick hero Villiere
Penaud tried to steal the limelight by crossing over for the third Test running in France colours, but this day undoubtedly belonged to Villiere.
Not only did he score three times, the 26-year-old also led the way for metres made (121) and was second only to Gregory Alldritt (21) with his 13 carries.
Key Opta Facts:
– France have won 24 of their 25 home games against Italy in Test rugby, including their last 15 in a row, while they’ve won 21 of their 23 meetings in the Six Nations, including the last nine on the bounce.
– France led 18-10 at half-time in this match, meaning they have not trailed at the break in any of their last 20 home games in Test rugby (ahead 18 times, level twice), while they have led at half-time in each of their last 19 meetings with Italy, last going in behind at the break against the Azzurri in 2006.
– Villiere scored three tries against Italy, just the second hat-trick by a France player in the Six Nations, with Vincent Clerc the only other player to manage that for Les Bleus back in 2008 against Ireland.
– Alldritt made 21 carries for France against Italy, just the third time a France player has made more than 20 carries in a Six Nations match, after Maxime Medard in 2019 (22 v Wales) and Alldritt himself against Italy in 2020 (21).
What’s next?
France host Ireland in a huge showdown at the Stade de France next Saturday, while Italy are at home to England the following day.
