France stay in Six Nations charge with win over Italy

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Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - France v Italy - Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France - February 22, 2026 France's Thibaud Flament in action with Italy's Niccolo Cannone REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - France v Italy - Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France - February 22, 2026 Italy's Monty Ioane in action REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - France v Italy - Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France - February 22, 2026 Italy's Paolo Garbisi in action REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - France v Italy - Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France - February 22, 2026 Italy's Alessandro Fusco in action REUTERS/Manon Cruz

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VILLENEUVE-D'ASCQ, France, Feb 22 : France scored three tries in the opening 30 minutes before going on to record a comfortable 33-8 victory over Italy on Sunday and keep up their winning run in this year’s Six Nations.

France lead the standings with 15 points from second-placed Scotland on 11 and are in a strong position to retain the title. Italy remained in fifth place on five points.

France burst into a 19-0 lead at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy with tries from Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Emmanuel Meafou and Tomas Ramos to put them comfortably ahead before Ange Capuozzo dotted down for Italy to make it 19-8 at halftime.

Debutant winger Gael Drean and centre Emilien Gailleton added two more French tries in the second half.

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ed Osmond)

Source: Reuters

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