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Lamaro eyeing Italy consistency after promising signs during France defeat

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Consistency is the name of the game for Italy, according to captain Michele Lamaro, after his side fought hard before slipping to a 37-10 defeat at the hands of France to begin their 2022 Guinness Six Nations campaign.

Consistency is the name of the game for Italy, according to captain Michele Lamaro, after his side fought hard before slipping to a 37-10 defeat at the hands of France to begin their 2022 Guinness Six Nations campaign.

Italy showed plenty of heart in Paris and led midway through the first half when 19-year-old Tommaso Menoncello brilliantly touched down from a cross-field kick to become the youngest scorer in the Championship for 55 years.

Les Bleus ultimately hit back to lead 18-10 at half-time and pulled away after the interval as Gabin Villière helped himself to a hat-trick but the passion and grit shown by the Azzurri bodes well for the rest of the Championship.

READ: Report – Villière hat-trick fires France past Italy

However, skipper Lamaro is keen for his side to put together an all-round, 80-minute performance – believing that is the only way they can challenge a world-class team such as Les Bleus.

“Consistency is what changes such games like that against France, who are an awesome team,” explained Lamaro.

“They’ve created a lot, yet we were pretty good in defence, we were pretty good physically but we have to get consistency in the whole game.

“The forwards did a pretty good performance, especially on the physical side. We faced them with all we had and that’s all I can ask of the boys.

“I’m happy for that but there’s still lots of things to work on.”

Italy’s next assignment is a home match against England, a side they have never beaten and who will be a wounded animal after their own agonising 20-17 defeat to Scotland in Round 1.

READ: France target improved discipline and finishing after Italy win

Lamaro knows England will provide a tough challenge, even at the Stadio Olimpico, and says the Azzurri must learn from their build-up to the France contest.

“Obviously what we did last week to prepare for France wasn’t enough, otherwise we would have had a different result,” he added.

“Now it’s important to keep creating something where we can prepare better than last week and perform better on the field at the end.”