Thanks to a penalty, Italy make a rare visit into enemy territory and they make inroads deep into the French half.  

Italy scrum-half Edoardo Gori snipes around the fringes and he can see the whitewash, but he falls short... 

In the next phase it's Gori again, springing from the floor to attack a bouncing ball, which bobbles over the line. The scrum-half touched the ball, but did he knock it forward? Probably. No try is awarded. 

Image source, AP

Paul Grayson
Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"A fantastic score from France. It looked like they had made a mess of it but it came back to Frederic Michalak and he threaded through a tight grubber kick for Slimani."

Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live by pressing the audio button at the top of the page.

France smelling a wounded prey and the men in red turning into ruthless predators. The French faithful baying for bloody, singing La Marseillaise at full voice.

Italy need to hold on as Noa Nakaitaci is given a chance to press the accelerator again. The Azzurri hold firm this time, though, but that's not going to stop the French chorus. 

Martin Castrogiovanni caught offside and Craig Joubert blows his whistle in the opening minute, presenting Frederic Michalak with a simple chance which he converts. 

Image source, AFP

We're off again. Green lights for go. 

France have returned to the pitch and will probably be hoping for more of the same in this half. Les Rouges were dominant in the opening 40 minutes and perhaps should have scored a try or two. 

Image source, BBC Sport

Six penalty kicks is all that's on the scoreboard at half-time. We're metaphorically eating turkey curry for the third consecutive day after a glorious Christmas Day feast.

England World Cup winner Will Greenwood is loving watching Louis Picamoles.

Sergio Parisse is clearly a big blow loss to Italy. 

But Samuela Vunisa is a fearsome ball carrier and his battle with opposite Number eight Louis Picamoles will be key to the outcome of this game.

Vunisa has only had two carries but has provided his team's biggest 'go forward' with 24m.

In contrast, the Frenchman made 62m from 10 carries, beating five men in the first half.

Paul Grayson
Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"France are in control with a 12-point lead but they need more accuracy in general play."

And that's the first half over with. Can we not just watch a replay of South Africa versus Japan again? Everything else just feels dull in comparison. 

Image source, PA

Louis Picamoles pumping down field, bulldozing through every blue shirt in his way.. he evades one tackle, bounces off another, a third defender is beaten... The only way Italy can stop the number eight is to do so illegally. 

Frederic Michalak back in charge of the tee and he extends his team's lead going into the break. 

Paul Grayson
Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"That was an incredible strike of the ball from Scott Spedding. It must've been 55 yards through the air - an incredible hit."

The sound of Craig Joubert's whistle has been a familiar noise in this half. Toot! He's at it again because the scrum folds like a deckchair in the wind. The Italians at fault, says the South Africa. 

It'll need a mammoth kick for the three points and the man for the job is full-back Scott Spedding.

Image source, Getty Images