Rome, April 19 (LaPresse) – A great Italy came close to achieving the impossible in Parma against France. They played an extraordinary first half, leading at halftime, and then defended brilliantly against the fierce French assault in the second half. However, they eventually conceded two tries in the last 5 minutes, resulting in a 34-21 scoreline that was much too harsh given the performance on the field. The Azzurre played 75 minutes on equal terms against one of the world’s strongest teams. It was an incredibly tight match, with Roselli’s team managing to dominate with their drive, despite the 60 kg weight difference between the two packs of forwards, and they went into halftime with a 9-point lead. In the second half, despite France taking the lead, Italy remained in the game, almost managing a counterattack several times, but eventually gave way in the final minutes, conceding two tries after taking risks to go all out. Despite the final result, Italy’s performance remains a great effort and a positive sign ahead of their match next Saturday against Wales.
© Copyright LaPresse
