Rugby World Cup: France crush Italy to get their Japan preparations back on track

France 47-19 Italy: The hosts scored seven tries in a convincing warm-up win

France concluded their preparations for the Rugby World Cup with a comfortable 47-19 victory over Italy in their final warm-up match in Paris.

Italy took the lead after going behind to Yoann Huget’s early try when Tommaso Allan converted Mattia Bellini’s try midway through the first half.

However, the hosts took control thereafter and tries from Camille Chat, Antoine Dupont and Arthur Iturria together with a penalty try saw France pull clear.

Jake Polledri and Bellini went over in the second half as Italy offered some resistance but Wenceslas Lauret and Thomas Ramos ran in tries for France.

France captain Jefferson Poirot stressed the positives, saying: “I think we reached our objectives. We still have things to do but I think we can take some spirit from this – we showed some good things.

“When we had two players off the field, we still managed to stay ahead.”

Italy next face England on September 6 in Newcastle in what will be the final warm-up match for both countries before heading to the World Cup in Japan.