Summary

  • France revive Six Nations title hopes with ruthless 11-try victory at Rome's Stadio Olimpico

  • Man of the match Antoine Dupont and Leo Barre score two tries each as visitors record their biggest ever score in Six Nations

  • Statement win sets up huge clash with defending champions Ireland on 8 March

  • Italy beat Wales in previous match but were run ragged

  • Read Matt Dawson's column on England's win over Scotland

  1. Goodbyepublished at 17:25 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 24-73 France

    That's all from us this weekend after a thrilling round three in the Six Nations.

    You can read our full report of France's demolition job in Italy here.

    If you still haven't had your fill of rugby, head over to BBC Two at 18:00 GMT for all of the analysis on Six Nations Rugby Special.

    We've also got you covered across the BBC Sport website here.

    It's another fallow week now before we get stuck into round four, when all eyes will be on Ireland v France in Dublin.

    Until then...

  2. 'France played the game they wanted to play'published at 17:18 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 24-73 France

    Speaking to ITV, former Italy captain Sergio Parisse said: "The France forwards played really flat and narrow before moving the ball wide. It is a tough result to take for Italy. France played the game they wanted to play and they deserve their win.

    "This Italian team was playing against a powerful side. In two weeks time they play England so they must learn from this game because England will be a physical team.

    "We saw a couple of good tries in the first-half. In every game you have good things even if you conceded 70 points. The defence wasn't good enough and we were under pressure physically."

  3. Record try total for one game?published at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 24-73 France

    We're checking this stat but it looks like the total of 14 tries scored by both sides (France 11, Italy 3) is a record for the championship.

    England and Italy in 2001 and England v France in 2015 both featured 12 tries.

  4. 'It was important to play for 80 minutes'published at 17:09 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 24-73 France

    Speaking to ITV, France number eight Gregory Alldritt said: "We needed to score tries. We missed a lot at Twickenham but we also wanted to be present in the line-outs, the scrums and in defence. We knew Italy are strong in those areas but we wanted to be strong there to allow our backs to score some tries.

    "We have a massive bench so we knew we had to give everything in the first half. The tank was quite empty after half-time so the bench brought a lot of energy.

    "It was important to keep going and to play for 80 minutes. The Six Nations is still long so we have two weeks ahead of us before a big game in Ireland."

  5. The standingspublished at 17:04 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 24-73 France

    So how does that huge win for France affect the standings?

    Les Bleus leapfrog England to move second, three points behind leaders Ireland.

    The top two meet in the next round for what is set to be a thrilling contest.

    Victory for Ireland will pave the way for a second Grand Slam in three years, while a France win will blow the title race wide open.

    Six Nations table
  6. 'Today, it was better'published at 16:58 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 24-73 France

    Speaking to ITV, France captain Antoine Dupont said: "It was a tough game, especially at the start. We were able to keep the intensity for 80 minutes which is not easy against this Italy team, so we can be proud.

    "There were a lot of good things against England [in the last match] but when we had to score the tries we made mistakes. Today, it was better.

    "We know it will be a huge game in Dublin. We have two weeks to prepare for that but it will be tough for sure."

    Antoine DupontImage source, Getty Images
  7. Record Six Nations win for Francepublished at 16:56 Greenwich Mean Time

    FT: Italy 24-73 France

    France's 73-point haul is the second highest in the history of the men's Six Nations history.

    England's 80 points in their victory over Italy in 2001 continues to lead the way.

    But it's France's biggest ever win in the Six Nations.

  8. Full-time - Italy 24-73 Francepublished at 16:50 Greenwich Mean Time

    A vintage France performance in the Eternal City. Roll on Dublin in round four...

  9. try

    Try - Italy 24-73 Francepublished at 79 mins

    Pierre-Louis Barassi

    Time for one more.

    France throw the ball through their tiring hands for a final flurry out wide as Pierre-Louis Barassi dives over.

    Maxime Lucu misses the conversion as the clock ticks into the red but it shouldn't matter too much.

    Pierre-Louis BarassiImage source, Getty Images
  10. try

    Converted Try - Italy 24-68 Francepublished at 76 mins

    Theo Attissogbe (con Maxime Lucu)

    A trademark winger's finish.

    Louis Bielle-Biarrey is into midfield to find his opposite wing Theo Attissogbe, who still has plenty to do.

    The France number 14 explodes off his left foot to beat the first tackle and then has enough strength to ride the second and third to finish in the corner.

    Maxime Lucu adds the conversion.

  11. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Italy 24-61 France

    It's become a bit of a slugfest in the last few moments.

    Nonetheless, Giacomo Nicotera seizes the opportunity to wallop Maxime Lucu from his blind spot.

    The game is gone but the home fans enjoyed that one.

  12. Postpublished at 70 mins

    Italy 24-61 France

    While the talk of records is entirely justified, the wider context of this French demolition job is how it sets up a mouth-watering meeting with Ireland in round four.

    All eyes will certainly be on Dublin.

  13. Record score incoming?published at 67 mins

    Italy 24-61 France

    For anyone asking, the highest score in Six Nations history is England's 80-23 win over Italy in 2001.

    France have just over 10 minutes to set a new record...

  14. try

    Converted Try - Italy 24-61 Francepublished at 64 mins

    Leo Barre (con Thomas Ramos)

    Allez Les Bleus.

    The try is scored by Leo Barre but this is all about the magic of Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

    The wing pops the ball onto the boot with just enough weight to beat his man and reclaim before the Italian cover arrives.

    He retrieves his own nudge and throws a simple pass for Barre to walk in.

    Thomas Ramos adds another conversion.

    Leo BarreImage source, Getty Images
  15. try

    Converted Try - Italy 24-54 Francepublished at 59 mins

    Paolo Garbisi (con Garbisi)

    Yes they can.

    The scrum is set and the ball is moved wide for Paolo Garbisi to throw the dummy and glide through.

    The fly-half converts his own try. A well-worked consolation for the Azzurri.

  16. Postpublished at 58 mins

    Italy 17-54 France

    A tidy backs move from Italy gains valuable yards before they win a scrum.

    Can they register another try?

  17. Postpublished at 55 mins

    Italy 17-54 France

    If France lacked a clinical edge in Twickenham, there are no such shortcomings in Rome.

    They have been utterly ruthless in reaching 54 points inside 54 minutes.

    You have to feel there may be a few more to come as well...

  18. try

    Converted Try - Italy 17-54 Francepublished at 53 mins

    Antoine Dupont (con Thomas Ramos)

    The half century is up for France.

    Antoine Dupont's speed is a match for anyone over 30m and he has enough in the tank to beat the last Italy defender and dive over under the posts.

    Thomas Ramos can't miss the conversion from there.

    Antoine DupontImage source, Getty Images
  19. try

    Try - Italy 17-47 Francepublished at 49 mins

    Louis Bielle-Biarrey

    It's all a bit too easy for France.

    Antoine Dupont moves the ball blind and feeds Theo Attissogbe, who pops it back inside for Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

    It's a sixth Test try in a row for the France wing and a 15th in 17th appearances for Les Bleus.

    Thomas Ramos, uncharacteristically, misses the conversion.

    Louis Bielle-BiarreyImage source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 48 mins

    Italy 17-42 France

    The mistakes are starting to creep into the Italian game now.

    Paolo Garbisi spills a pass he'd usually take in his stride. The French onslaught continues.