Andy Nicol
Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"France's Mathieu Bastareaud has had the ball five or six times since he came on and he hasn't passed it once. The statistics show he has made two metres - and yet he's scored a try."

Image source, Reuters

The French juggernaut gets up to speed and, via a collision with the post protector, is over from close range.

Plisson slots with ease and that, thank goodness, is that.

Andy Nicol
Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"Look at that statistic - 37 handling errors. That sums up the game. It's one every two minutes."

France are camped up on the Italy five-metre line and, awarded the penalty, Thierry Dusuatoir opts for a scrum.

They have been dominant in the last few setpieces and will surely be going for the old-school pushover.

Ex England scrum-half Austin Healey on Twitter:, external Wales could put 100 on Italy next week

Andy Nicol
Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"Gael Fickou was one of the most exciting players when he burst onto the scene a few years ago. But where has all that ambition gone? He is just not being allowed to show it in this French team."

I think this game has lulled the watching crowd into a stupor. No other reason why people are still hanging around and not beating the traffic.

It has been truly dire, directionless stuff.

England and Wales will both fancy their chances of racking up big scores next weekend.

Andy Nicol
Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"If you made a sci-fi movie of this game I'm not sure the plot would be believable with the amount of mistakes we've seen."

Feel that tremor? Mathieu Bastareaud is on in the France centres. Damien Chouly is going to get a run at number eight in place of Loann Goujon.

Image source, Getty Images

Matthew Newton:, external 6nations is an amazing tournament and expect a thrilling finale next weekend. However this game is awful

Andy Nicol
Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"That was some really good scrambling defence by France, aggressive in the counter-rucking. They'll be thinking 'right, let's keep our defence in tact. Let's win this to zero'."

No cigar.

France turn over the ball and clear their lines. The Stadio Olimpico crowd have bought some of the most expensive tickets in sport if you consider value for money.

Penalty Italy. Again Sergio Parisse instructs his fly-half to send play into the corner and set up another line-out.

Italy win a penalty on the France 22m and Sergio Parisse does the only honourable thing, telling Luciano Orquera to kick into the corner.

They have got the maul rumbling off the line-out as well...

Carlo Del Fava
Former Italy lock on BBC One

Image source, Reuters

"Nothing has gone right for Italy today. The poor referee can't even play advantage because the mistakes are so blatant. Those mistakes lead to a lack of continuity and a lack of ability to build the phases. It causes you to lose metres and lose ground."

There are adverts popping up on the LCD advertising hoardings attempting to flog some tickets for Wales' visit to Rome next weekend.

That is a tough sell considering the hosts' limp performance today.

Under pressure five metres from their own line, Italy are given a get out of jail card by JP Doyle who rules that Rabah Slimani has engaged too early.

Carlo Del Fava
Former Italy lock on BBC One

"It doesn't make good viewing. If you were the Italian coach you would be extremely frustrated. You practice all week but the execution of individual skills is just not there today."

Image source, Getty Images

Italy's play has no urgency, their runners are having little impact and there is too little time anyway. This game is not going to salvage itself with a grandstand finish.