Italy 24-73 France: Rampant France rack up 11 tries in crushing Roman win

We are going to go and have a nice lie down in a dark room after all that excitement.

A superb 11-try performance from France - which appears to be a Six Nations record - means they will head to Dublin in two weeks' time brimming with confidence. See you then for that one.

"We needed to score tries. We missed a lot at Twickenham but we also wanted to be present in the line-outs, the scrums and in defence. We knew Italy are strong in those areas but we wanted to be strong there to allow our backs to score some tries," Alldritt told ITV.

"We have a massive bench so we knew we had to give everything in the first half. The tank was quite empty after half-time so the bench brought a lot of energy.

"It was important to keep going and to play for 80 minutes. The Six Nations is still long so we have two weeks ahead of us before a big game in Ireland."

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"It was a tough game, especially at the start. We were able to keep the intensity for 80 minutes which is not easy against this Italy team, so we can be proud," the France captain told ITV.

"There were a lot of good things against England [in the last match] but when we had to score the tries we made mistakes. Today, it was better.

"We know it will be a huge game in Dublin. We have two weeks to prepare for that but it will be tough for sure."

Ireland v France always jumped out as a fixture likely to have a big say in this Championship battle, and so it has proven.

The Irish are the only team still harbouring Grand Slam ambitions, but their clash with France in Dublin in two weeks’ time will certainly be the biggest threat to that – and a third consecutive Six Nations title too.

A French win would blow things right open, leaving both sides on three wins heading into Super Saturday, and England will also be in that position should they dispatch Italy.

It feels like we could be heading towards an epic conclusion to the 2025 Six Nations. The penultimate weekend will be unmissable.

Next up? Just the small matter of a trip to Dublin...

Score of the day? Quite possibly, although there were plenty to choose from.

France kept themselves in Six Nations title contention with a crushing 73-24 win over Italy in Rome, running in 11 tries in a glittering display of relentless attacking flair and power.

Fabien Galthie’s side arrived in the Eternal City determined to make a statement of intent after their heartbreaking last-gasp defeat to England in week two, and they quickly set about doing just that.

Les Bleus had a bonus point wrapped up within half an hour after an extraordinarily fast-paced start, responding to a superb Tommaso Menoncello score with Mickael Guillard, Peato Mauvaka, Antoine Dupont and Paul Boudehent efforts in the space of 16 minutes.

The latter score came just after Juan Ignacio Brex had pulled one back for The Azzurri, but the unflappable Thomas Ramos’ kicking from the tee and a late Leo Barre score ensured that the French went in at the break with a commanding lead of 18 points.

If the home fans hoped France would take their foot off the accelerator for the second half, they were out of luck. The relentless visitors continued to rip holes in the Italian defence, with Gregory Alldritt, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Dupont’s second taking them past the 50-point mark without any response from the hosts.

Barre piled on the misery with his second before Paolo Garbisi pulled one back, but Theo Attissogbe and Pierre-Louis Barassi crossed in the final five minutes to put a suitably emphatic full stop on a dominant display.

What a show of strength that was from France. If anyone was in doubt about their title credentials after that defeat at Twickenham, they might change their mind after seeing that rampant display. An outstanding, glittering, 11-try masterclass.

France aren't done. They go wide, side to side, edging ever closer to the Italian try line in search of an 11th score.

And there it is! Some more super handling as Barassi is set over in the corner from a fine spin pass out to the wing. Unstoppable.

Just as we say that...

It's a great finish from Attissogbe in the corner, but again Italian defenders are falling off tackles a little too easily. Lucu converts, and France are utterly relentless today. That is try No. 10.

A big 'ooft' from the crowd there as Dupont takes a big wallop from Zilocchi after he has released the ball, then Lucu is melted by Nicotera. Italy are wanting to go out with a punch, but France still look the likelier to get the next score...

Just think of the stress on the poor live-bloggers' fingers...

When he's not ripping your defence apart creating or finishing tries, there he is with his head stuck in a ruck winning a turnover penalty in his own 22. Superb defensive work from the French skipper.

Lucu is on for Ramos, who is given a big reception from the French fans. Roumat replaces Flament, too. Dupont will likely move to fly-half for the final 10 minutes.

Dearie me France, that is just. So. Good. A sweeping, coast-to-coast attack starts in their own half, and some of the handling on display along the way is staggering. It's finished off by Barre, who grabs his second score of the day. Even the Italians will just have to applaud that one!

That's more like it from Italy! They get their first points of the second half as Paolo Garbisi dummies himself a path to the try line from a quick attack. Good stuff from Italy, who are now one try away from a bonus point that would at least give them some solace from a difficult afternoon.

Trulla, Alessandro Garbisi and Vintcent are on for Allan, Page-Relo and Lorenzo Cannone.