Italy Denied Historic Victory as Last-Minute Penalty Hits the Post Against France in Six Nations Clash

Italy came within inches of a historic victory as Paolo Garbisi‘s last-minute penalty struck the post, denying the Azzurri a chance to secure their first-ever Six Nations win in France. The closely contested match at Stade Pierre-Mauroy saw moments of brilliance from both sides, with Italy showing great resilience throughout.

France, led by Charles Ollivon, started strong with an early try but lacked precision in their execution, allowing Italy to stay within reach. Debutant Posolo Tuilagi‘s powerful performance added energy to the game, while the closed roof in Lille created an electrifying atmosphere.

After Jonathan Danty‘s red card incident and an injury to fly-half Matthieu Jalibert, France faced challenges in maintaining their lead. Italy seized the opportunity, displaying sharp attacking skills that led to a late try by Angelo Capuozzo, igniting hopes of a historic victory.

The drama peaked in the final moments as Garbisi lined up a potentially match-winning penalty. However, an unfortunate sequence of events, including the ball falling off the tee and a rushed attempt, resulted in the ball hitting the post, leaving Italy agonizingly close to claiming a monumental win against the 14-man French team.

Despite the heartbreak of missing out on victory, Italy’s performance was commendable, with head coach Gonzalo Quesada acknowledging the team’s growth and resilience. Shaun Edwards, the France defense coach, expressed mixed emotions over the draw, citing missed opportunities and a challenging second-half performance.

The draw leaves Italy still seeking their first Six Nations win in France, while France continues to work on regaining their pre-World Cup form. With the tournament unfolding unpredictably, both teams look ahead to their upcoming fixtures with lessons learned from this intense encounter.