With a massive trip to Dublin coming up, the pressure is now suddenly on as they head to Rome to face an Italy team who are on a high after following a disappointing round one defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield by inflicting a 14th successive Test defeat on wooden spoon holders Wales in another wet slugfest on home soil, prompting the premature end of Warren Gatland’s dismal second reign.
Had Garbisi’s last-gasp penalty not bobbled off the tee and then hit the post in agonising fashion in Lille last year, Italy would have celebrated a first-ever win in France and one of the biggest upsets in Six Nations history.
France travel to face Italy as the Six Nations returns this weekend, desperate to bounce back quickly from their shock defeat by England.
Italy will be confident after their latest deserved win over lowly Wales that may well have guaranteed the latter a second successive wooden spoon, but you sense they could face a storm this weekend in the form of a wounded French side looking to reassert their title credentials fast.
Fabien Galthie’s side butchered numerous try-scoring chances during an unusually profligate and error-strewn performance against an England team on a torrid run of form against fellow Tier One nations, failing to get a grip on the wet conditions as they saw hopes of a Grand Slam disappear despite another try-scoring brace from lethal wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
