In a tightly contested match, the French XV came out on top by scoring five tries once again, but it was the French defense that played an essential role, answering the call of their captain Antoine Dupont.
Let’s get one thing straight: while this victory over Italy might not showcase the scoring machine that the French team has become, the numbers are impressive and the records keep piling up. For example, in this match against Italy, Louis Bielle-Biarrey made history in the Tournament by scoring a new try, making it the eighth consecutive match in the competition. Unprecedented. Obviously, this example is almost anecdotal compared to all the offensive records accumulated in recent months, such as the number of collective tries scored (30) in 2025. And let’s not nitpick, Antoine Dupont and his teammates still managed to score five tries in a match that paradoxically was much more tightly locked than the first two.
And so, you might ask? It’s that this third installment ultimately highlighted the defensive quality of this French XV which had the best tackle success rate in the competition before the match, with only 26 points conceded so far. Despite this, on the eve of facing Italy again, captain Antoine Dupont had warned about areas of improvement, stating: “There are many points we need to improve on […] but if we had to note something, it would maybe be the defense close to our lines. We conceded tries too easily. We need to be tougher in those areas. The Italians are very strong in those scoring zones.”
Result: only one try conceded to the Italians. And what about that moment when Thomas Ramos, not typically known for it, indulged in a bit of frivolity that others might call dilettantism? On a kick along the touchline by the center Menoncello, the Toulouse fly-half, perhaps a bit carried away by a perfect start to the match (19-0, 30th), opted for a cheeky touch instead of a big boot towards touch, allowing Capuozzo to score.
Antoine Dupont: “I feel like they listened to me or maybe read me”
Aside from that? To borrow Fabien Galthié’s semantics, the Blues refused to take points. “Awesome,” enthused the coach. “Awesome defense in the midfield. But also near the lines. It was a slightly different rugby game today. We had opened the in-goal area twice in previous matches, and this time, no try conceded, except on that turnover.” He added: “I truly commend the players’ commitment, their determination.”
These statements were illustrated by some well-contained Italian strong moments, such as when Louis Lynagh, after getting past Emilien Gailleton’s tackle on the right wing, was caught by a desperate sprint from “LBB” just a meter from the French try line, allowing Antoine Dupont to secure the ball (23rd). Or on a maul carried inside the French 22 meters where the Blues didn’t yield an inch of ground (27th). More symbolic still? In the final play of the match, with the result sealed (33-8), Galthié’s men defended their line as if their lives depended on it. To the point that Antoine Dupont smiled at the press conference: “I feel like they heard me, or maybe read me, I don’t know. But consequently, this time, we were less effective in the offensive scoring zone.” And he concluded with a touch of demand: “We have to succeed in being efficient in both zones in the next match.”
