Paris, France – Italy came agonizingly close to securing their first Six Nations victory in France as they faced off in a thrilling match at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille. The game ended in a dramatic draw, with Italy’s Paolo Garbisi missing a crucial penalty kick in injury time that would have sealed the historic win for the Azzurri.
The match took a dramatic turn when French center Jonathan Danty received a red card for a high tackle during a half-time review, leaving the hosts with only 14 men for the remainder of the game. Despite this advantage, Italy struggled to capitalize until the closing stages when Capuozzo’s late try and Garbisi’s conversion leveled the score against the 14-man French team.
France, who had dominated early on with an opening try from Charles Ollivon, failed to maintain their accuracy throughout the game. The Azzurri managed to stay in touch through penalties from Page-Relo and Garbisi, keeping the match close despite being a player short.
The confidence of Garbisi to convert the late try hinted at a possible match-winning moment for Italy, only for it to end in disappointment as his injury-time penalty hit the post. The draw means that Italy’s victory in Cardiff remains their sole championship win in the last 45 attempts.
Italy’s head coach Gonzalo Quesada expressed mixed emotions about the result, acknowledging the achievement of a draw in France but lamenting the missed opportunity for a historic win. Meanwhile, France’s defense coach Shaun Edwards attributed the draw to a combination of overplaying the game, taking unnecessary risks, and the red card, expressing disappointment at not securing a win against Italy.
The result leaves Italy at the bottom of the table as they prepare to face Scotland next, while France, currently in fourth place, head to Cardiff to take on Wales in their next Six Nations encounter. The draw highlights Italy’s continued improvement in the tournament, while France struggles to regain their pre-World Cup form.