Nelson Epee scored an incredible first-half try and France produced a heroic, backs-to-the-wall defensive display to edge past Italy 13-11 and secure their first win of the 2021 Six Nations Under-20s.
Two moments of the highest quality lit up the encounter at Cardiff Arms Park as Simone Gesi went over for a brilliant individual try to momentarily put Italy on top, only for Epee to finish off a 50-metre score almost immediately in response.
France then struggled to get out of their own 22 for most of the second half, as the Azzurrini consistently banged at the door, only to be denied by dogged defence.
They did bring the score within two points on 71 minutes but when replacement Manfredi Albanese put a potential go-ahead wide with two minutes left, the game was up.
The fact that France were forced to make twice as many tackles as Italy over 80 minutes speaks to the dominance enjoyed by Massimo Brunello’s troops but they couldn’t make it count and Les Bleuets bounced back from defeat to England in Round 1 in the perfect way.
MOMENTS OF MAGIC LIGHT UP FIRST HALF
With raucous support coming from the benches and coaching groups for every hard hit, both teams seemed inspired to demonstrate their physicality in a bruising first half.
Numerous runners were repeatedly stopped dead in their tracks as defences were on top, with only penalties to show from the first 25 minutes.
It was younger siblings of senior internationals doing the damage from the tee as Edgar Retiere – brother of Arthur – kicked two penalties for France to Paolo Garbisi’s brother Alessandro’s one.
It would take a moment of brilliance to break through the resilient defences and both sides provided exactly that within two minutes of each other.
Firstly, Gesi produced a remarkable solo try as he collected the ball in his own half, skipped round one man with a hand-off, tiptoed down the sideline before surging past two other would-be tacklers for a dynamic 50-metre score.
Yet Les Bleuets responded immediately as full-back Matteo Garcia started the move on halfway by breaking down the left, Jean-Baptiste Lachaise cut inside before neatly offloading to Maxime Baudonne, who drew two defenders and flicked a perfectly-timed pass for Epee to slide over.
Retiere’s conversion gave France a 13-8 lead that they would successfully nurse until half-time despite the Azzurrini making some threatening-looking forays into opposition territory.
ITALIAN BARRAGE
France brought on scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, who has earned playing time at senior level for Racing 92 this season, at half-time and the No.9 immediately added some dynamism to Les Bleuets attack.
His sniping and speed of ball from the breakdown increased the urgency but Italy remained steadfast in defence, while Retiere also put a kickable penalty wide.
Then the game turned, as Italy took complete control of the final 25 minutes, barely leaving the French 22.
The Azzurrini had numerous chances to close the gap on the scoreboard but a scrum penalty when they were just metres away scuppered one attack and when they eventually tried to settle for three points, Albanese missed from the tee just outside the French 22.
Yet the Italians came again, getting within metres of the French line, earning another penalty and this time Albanese slotted it to narrow the gap to 13-11 with nine minutes remaining.
As France struggled to exit from their own half, Italy sensed an opportunity to claim a memorable win and a 78th-minute penalty when Les Bleuets were caught offside would be their golden opportunity.
Albanese had the distance from over 40 metres but not the accuracy as the attempt drifted wide and France were able to see out the final 90 seconds for the hardest-fought of wins.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Lorenzo Cannone was unable to lead his side to victory but the Italy captain did earn Player of the Match honours.
The No.8 made tough, powerful carries throughout the 80 minutes as he consistently made the hard yards, while also being solid in defence.
Cannone was often the first man over the ball at the breakdown as Italy dominated possession but were ultimately unable to turn it into the points they needed.
