The new head coach of the French women's national team, François Ratier, had warned everyone during the week: "Are we the finished article? Of course not. But we are in sync with the players and the staff regarding the brand of rugby we want to implement. Saturday is what matters."

Consequently, this match was highly anticipated, featuring a rebuilding French side against an Italian team frustrated by a poor Rugby World Cup showing where they managed only a single victory (over Brazil).

What unfolded at the Stade des Alpes for this Guinness Women's Six Nations opening clash certainly did not disappoint. It was a fierce contest where young recruits - including six debutantes for France - held their own, resulting in a clinical French victory. Tentative in the first half (scoring only one try), but liberated in the second (adding five more), Les Bleues left Italy with no chance of a comeback.

Italy take France by the throat

Fabio Roselli had promised his side would not let the French breathe in the opening period, and he was true to his word. With a combined 513 caps for France and 807 for Italy (including the bench), a titanic physical battle was expected. It delivered.

From the opening whistle, the Azzurre applied maximum pressure, threatening the French five-meter line by the second minute. For nearly three minutes of non-stop action, Italy held the momentum, relentlessly pounding a resilient French defense.

Only a knock-on ended the intense sequence, which also saw centre Gabrielle Vernier forced off for an HIA (Head Injury Assessment) after being sandwiched by scrum-half Alia Bitonci and tighthead Alessia Pilani. The incident resulted in a yellow card and a bunker review for Vernier for an upright tackle - though no further sanction followed - after a brief communication delay between the off-field officials and referee Aimee Barrett-Theron.

Finding room to breathe

The Italian work at the breakdown was so fierce that Madoussou Fall-Raclot's boot was sent flying clear of a ruck. By the ten-minute mark, Italy had occupied French territory for 83% of the match. France's first real foray into the Italian half didn't occur until the 12th minute, and even then, it lasted only seconds. However, Italy's brilliant resistance during their period of numerical superiority eventually began to wane.

Everything changed for France in the 20th minute during their first visit to the Italian 22. A catch by Mathilde Lazarko led to a sequence involving Joanna Grisez and Pauline Barrat - who enjoyed an excellent debut with her tactical kicking and breakdown work - to send winger Anaïs Grando over for a try on her international debut (5-0). By this point, an under-pressure France had already been forced to make 66 tackles (14 from Lazarko alone) compared to Italy's 39.

Regaining control

After the initial teething problems of implementing coach Ratier's new game plan, the French gradually found their rhythm. Joanna Grisez had a try ruled out for obstruction at the half-hour mark, but Les Bleues were now successfully pinning Italy in their own half, levelling the possession stats (51%-49%).

However, too many errors prevented them from extending the lead before the break - a fact Gabrielle Vernier was well aware of. "Giving away penalties five metres from their line is unacceptable," she remarked before heading to the locker room. "We have to score more when we are in their half. We're making silly mistakes in the set-piece. It's a shame because we are dominant up front. We need to keep pressing that in the second half and keep trying to establish our game."

François Ratier sought to reassure his troops: "I told them above all to be more relaxed," he confided before the second half began. "We have issues with our passing even when our positioning is good. We also need to be much faster at the rucks because we are losing too many balls. We are perfectly capable of doing that."

The bonus point hour

The return from the break immediately favored France, with Carla Arbez scoring under the posts in the 44th minute after a slick collective offensive (12-0). Three minutes later, a successful counter-ruck by Ambre Mwayembe was moved through Pauline Bourdon-Sansus and Axelle Berthomieu into the hands of Joanna Grisez. A certain try was denied by a desperate Alyssa d'Incà tackle, but a hush fell over the stadium as Grisez clutched her knee in pain. Taken off on a stretcher, the injury appeared serious.

Reassurance came ten minutes later with a magnificent try from the French forwards. Following a break by tighthead Assia Khalfaoui - who was everywhere and deservedly named Guinness Player of the Match - replacement prop Yllana Brosseau crossed for her first international try in 27 caps. At 19-0, France had broken the game open. The bonus-point try arrived at the hour mark, courtesy of Khalfaoui herself (the second of her career) after a monstrous rolling maul.

From then on, the XV de France played with total freedom, multiplying the offloads that were missing in the first half and utilizing their props in wide channels. Winger Léa Murie scored in the corner for her team's fifth try (her sixth in seven caps) with ten minutes remaining.

The sixth try was the result of another team attack finished by the impressive Pauline Barrat—her first try in her first cap (40-0). Italy managed a consolation score at the very end through winger Gaia Buso, following a beautiful cross-field kick, to seal the final score at 40-7.