Harinordoquy boosts erratic France
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Try-scorer Harinordoquy breaks clear of Italy's defense
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PARIS, France -- French No 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 24 on Friday, celebrated with two tries as erratic France beat Italy 25-0 in Paris.
Harinordoquy's brace, plus one from Pepito Elhorga, gave France a satisfactory winning margin, but they will have to improve hugely on this performance if they are to beat either improving Wales or world champions England.
The Italians rarely threatened the French line and relied on stout defense to stay in the game for an hour.
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde put France ahead in the 13th minute with a penalty in front of the posts which appeared to energize the French backline and it was just a despairing scramble into touch by Mirco Bergamasco that stopped Nicolas Brusque from collecting Damien Traille's neat chip and scoring a try.
Despite this constant pressure Italy escaped punishment as the French infringed several times and Italian fly-half Rima Wakirua cleared with thumping balls into touch.
However the visitors inspired their own downfall as, deep in French territory for the first time in the 20th minute, center Matteo Barbini was unable to take the ball and within seconds the French were inside their opponents' 22 as the Italians managed to hack it backwards.
Four minutes later and Harinordoquy went over in the corner after slipping the tackle by Mirco Bergamasco, in spite of a clumsy pass by Traille which fell at his feet, for his sixth try in 25 tests - Elissalde converted to make it 10-0.
However the hosts spurned several more scoring chances, Brusque spilling the ball yards from the line and the French were rewarded for their indifferent first-half display by being booed off the pitch.
Damien Traille extended France's lead to 13-0 shortly after the restart, landing one of his trademark long distance penalties from just inside the Italians' half.
However Italy appeared to gain heart from the hosts frequent errors and almost opened their account in the 47th minute as New-Zealand-born scrum-half Paul Griffen's darting run brought him to within inches of Italy's first try of the campaign.
However try as hard as they could the Italians could not break the formidable defense on the line by the French.
The French comedy of errors continued apace as Christophe Dominici broke clear but having crossed the line and dropped the ball forward in the act of touching down - leaving coach Bernard Laporte shaking his head in bewilderment.
After the game a furious Laporte said: "We told him that what he did is totally unacceptable at international level.
"It's a lack of respect for the team, for all the work that has been done during the week of training and for himself.
"It's a professional fault really but you can not ban a player for life because of a mistake, however stupid it was."
Just after the hour Harinordoquy struck again. Wide out on the wing he received the ball from skipper Fabien Pelous and forced himself over to touch down one-handed despite Griffen bringing him down. Elissalde converted from the touchline to make it 20-0.
Elhorga had barely come on to the pitch as a replacement for fullback Nicolas Brusque when he was released down the left wing and touched down in the corner to make it 25-0 with his third try in 11 tests.
Italian captain Andrea de Rossi then gave a warm welcome to Brusque with a one-armed tackle in the throat which earned him a warning from referee Alan Lewis.
This action provoked France into their first fluid move of the match which saw Yannick Jauzion break through three tackles before being brought to ground inside the visitors 22 but the French were unable to profit from it.
