Romain Ntamack inspired France to a 25-14 win over Italy in Rome.
The young fly-half pulled the strings as his side ran in three tries on their way to victory with scores from Antoine Dupont, Yoann Huget and Damian Penaud.
Italy had been right in the match until the closing minutes, with Tommaso Allan registering nine points with the boot while his half-back partner Tito Tebaldi touched down to bring the hosts within three points in the second period.
After a strong start Italy had taken an early lead thanks to a pair of slotted penalties from Allan.
But it was Les Bleus who grabbed the first try through scrum-half Dupont, who touched down after 15 minutes.
He was set away after some classy handling from full-back Maxime Medard to release Penaud who stepped around Tebaldi before releasing the French No.9 to run in unopposed.
But Italy fought back despite France extending their advantage to 10-6 after an Ntamack penalty.
Allan’s precise grubber kick while the Azzurri were deep in the France 22 looked to have released outside centre Marco Zanon but the ball evaded him as it ricocheted off the post before French centre Geoffrey Doumayrou gathered.
The hosts finished the half strongly, with Luca Morisi’s powerful carry splitting the French defence with a perfect line break off a lineout.
He got through into the French 22 before offloading Angelo Esposito but the Italian wing was stopped just metres from the line.
After the break the Italy No.10 added another penalty but France extended their advantage through wing Huget – who grabbed his fourth try of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations.
France set the score up with some powerful carrying in the middle of the field before Ntamack’s precision pass found Penaud who released Huget to fly in on the left flank.
Italy finally grabbed a deserved first try as Tebaldi went over on 54 minutes.
Powerful carrying deep in the French half eventually saw the Italian No.9 with enough space at the breakdown to throw a dummy before darting over the line to bring the game within three points at 17-14.
But the visitors came straight back through Ntamack, as he kicked a drop goal to extend the French lead.
Italy ramped up the pressure as the second period wound down and almost touched down through Zanon, but the ball was dislodged by Penaud’s despairing tackle as the Italian dived over.
And the French wing completed a stellar afternoon as he touched down just minutes before the end to complete France’s triumph.
Ntamack gathered a contested high ball with Azzurri full-back Jayden Hayward before offloading out the back of his hand to release his teammate who won a footrace to the corner.
