However, France did not let that disappointment linger, swiftly banishing memories of their uncharacteristic profligacy and handling errors in the Twickenham rain a fortnight ago as man-of-the-match Antoine Dupont and the fit-again Leo Barre both helped themselves to braces along with scores from Mickael Guillard, Peato Mauvaka, Paul Boudehent, Gregory Alldritt, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Theo Attissogbe and Pierre-Louis Barassi, plus eight Thomas Ramos conversions.
It is the most points ever scored by France in a Six Nations game to silence some of the criticism aimed at coach Fabien Galthie after the defeat by England, and the second-most notched by a team in a single match in the 25-year history of the competition, after England scored 80 against Italy back in 2001.
It also revitalised their title hopes before that highly-anticipated showdown with Ireland in Dublin in round four, moving them back up above England - who outlasted Scotland in another one-point win to take back the Calcutta Cup - into second place in the table, three points behind the leaders with now a vastly superior points difference that stretches into the 90s.
Italy managed three tries of their own through centres Tommaso Menoncello and Juan Ignacio Brex and fly-half Paolo Garbisi, but were comprehensively outgunned otherwise in an unwelcome throwback to their previous struggles to dampen the enthusiasm generated following their latest victory over Wales, who will feel that they still have the chance to avoid a second successive wooden spoon after giving Triple Crown-winning Ireland a fright with a resurgent display under temporary boss Matt Sherratt in Cardiff on Saturday.
Brex’s score pulled Italy back to within four points, but that was promptly followed by flanker Boudehent wrapping up a first-half bonus point for France, who had a fifth try on the stroke of half-time as Barre was sent through by Dupont.
