France produce a second-half comeback to beat Italy after trailing 21-12 at half time and keep their 100% record in this year’s Six Nations before next weekend’s clash against England at Twickenham.
MATCH REPORT: Women’s Six Nations – Italy 21-34 France
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Women’s Six Nations
Italy (21) 21
Tries: Vecchini, Muzzo, Turani Cons: Sillari 3
France (12) 34
France survived a first-half mauling by Italy to fight back and pick up a vital 34-21 win in Parma that keeps their 100% record intact in the Six Nations.
France needed a win to keep the pressure up on England – who have a much better points difference and an extra bonus point – before the two sides meet next Saturday at Twickenham.
But they were second best in the opening half, as a hugely impressive Italy stormed to a 21-12 lead that could, and should, have been greater.
The hosts did not manage a point in the second 40 minutes, though, as France responded well to take a win that was only assured when Marine Menager and Alexandra Chambon crossed in the last five minutes.
Italy last beat France in 2019, and fell behind early on when wing Joanna Grisez finished a flowing move in the corner.
But when France lock Madoussou Fall was sent to the bin for a high tackle on Beatrice Veronese, Italy took advantage with a sustained spell of pressure and finished it with hooker Vittoria Vecchini going over from close range.
Wing Aura Muzzo scored at the end of another fine spell to put Italy 14-7 ahead, with the dominant hosts held up on the line three times.
France looked miles off it but reacted well and their first attack for 20 minutes ended with a try, quick ball finding Morgane Bourgeois to score.
Italy bossed the rest of the half though and secured a third try when prop Silvia Turani touched down after a maul. It appeared she had lost control of the ball but the TMO could not find clear evidence to overturn Sara Cox’s on-pitch call.
Bourgeois kicked a penalty to start the second-half comeback and Romane Menager put France 22-21 ahead when she dived under the posts.
Italy: Minuzzi; Muzzo, Sillari, Mannini, D’Inca; Madia, Bitonci; Turani, Vecchini, Seye, Fedrighi, Duca, Veronese, Ranuccini, Giordano (c)
Replacements: Spinelli, Stecca, Maris, Tounesi, Sgorbini, Stefan, Capomaggi, Rigoni
France: Bourgeois; Boulard, M. Menager (c), Vernier, Grisez; Arbez, Bourdon; Brosseau, Bigot, Khalfaoui, M. Feleu, Fall, R. Menager, Okemba, T. Feleu
Replacements: Riffonneau, Mwayembe, Joyeux, Escudero, Berthoumieu, Champon, Chambon, Queyroi
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti says there is “no conflict” with club president Florentino Perez despite his side’s Champions League exit.
Arsenal knocked Real Madrid out in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, leading to speculation over the 65-year-old’s future.
But before Sunday’s La Liga match with Europa League semi-finalists Athletic Bilbao, the Italian insisted there was no issue with Perez.
The defending champions are four points behind leaders Barcelona and will also face the Catalans in the Copa del Rey final on 26 April.
“We have the same idea – there is no conflict with the club,” said Ancelotti.
“Whoever says that there is a conflict is false. The president shows more affection in these moments than when we win.
“The Champions League is the most important competition for everyone. And the Champions League is the most important history of Madrid. But it’s not true that the rest do not count. “
“The reality is that in this world everything is questioned,” he went on. “Questioning a club that has won almost 30 titles in the last decade seems misleading to me.
“The only thing I want to do is thank all these players because I’ve had a great time so far and I want to continue doing so. These players have given me the opportunity to win two Champions Leagues in recent years.
“I have spoken with the players and the club, we all agree, we have to fight for the titles that are on the line. “
Ancelotti’s contract is due to end in 2026 and he says he will discuss his future with the club at the end of the season, but it is unclear whether that will be before or after June’s Club World Cup in the United States, which Real are participating in.
He has been linked with coaching the Brazil national team after Dorival Junior was sacked following a heavy defeat by Argentina.
“I don’t have to say anything at all,” said Ancelotti. “As I said already, at the end of the season we will speak about this. “
Halo World Championship
Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre Dates: April 19 to May 5
In his first match of defending his world title at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, reigning champion Kyren Wilson leads Lei Peifan 6-3.
With Crucible debutant Lei, 21, leading by 2-0, the world number two twice missed blacks off the spot in the second frame.
The 33-year-old Englishman made a 136 break in the eighth frame to complete three of the previous three half-centuries, winning six more in a row.
After Wilson missed a pink trying to get position on a tricky final red, Chinese qualifier Lei pinched the session’s final frame to give himself a chance to make a comeback.
If Wilson makes it to round two, he will face Zhao Xintong, a former UK Champion, or Jak Jones, the player he defeated in the 2024 final.
Wilson wants to end what has come to be known as the “crucible curse,” which no first-time winner has won the title since 1977 when it was relocated to Sheffield.
The other match scheduled for Saturday morning will be ruled by world number 14 Xiao Guodong.
In the opening nine frames, Xiao and Matthew Selt each recorded two century breaks, but the Chinese player will have a 7-2 advantage heading into Sunday’s concluding session.
10:00
14:30
19:00
Halo World Championship
Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre Dates: April 19 to May 5
In his first match of defending his world title at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, reigning champion Kyren Wilson leads Lei Peifan 6-3.
With Crucible debutant Lei, 21, leading by 2-0, the world number two twice missed blacks off the spot in the second frame.
The 33-year-old Englishman made a 136 break in the eighth frame to complete three of the previous three half-centuries, winning six more in a row.
After Wilson missed a pink trying to get position on a tricky final red, Chinese qualifier Lei pinched the session’s final frame to give himself a chance to make a comeback.
If Wilson makes it to round two, he will face Zhao Xintong, a former UK Champion, or Jak Jones, the player he defeated in the 2024 final.
Wilson wants to end what has come to be known as the “crucible curse,” which no first-time winner has won the title since 1977 when it was relocated to Sheffield.
The other match scheduled for Saturday morning will be ruled by world number 14 Xiao Guodong.
In the opening nine frames, Xiao and Matthew Selt each recorded two century breaks, but the Chinese player will have a 7-2 advantage heading into Sunday’s concluding session.
10:00
14:30
19:00
Rachel Brown-Finnis, a pundit for Football Focus, claims she has “absolutely no doubt” that Arsenal can defeat Paris St-Germain in the Champions League semifinals and replicate their performance against Real Madrid.