By NICK POWELL
France…………………………………………..13
Tries: Ollivon 7
Conversions: Ramos 8
Penalties: Ramos 14, 45
Italy…………………………………………………13
Tries: Capuozzo 70
Conversions: Garbisi 71
Penalties: Page-Relo 40+4, Garbisi 61
Paolo Garbisi's late penalty struck the post and bounced away as the Italian fly-half was unable to seal a late victory against France.
With the shot-clock ticking down, the ball slipped off Garbisi's tee and he was forced to rush his attempt after it was repositioned, hitting the right upright and denying the Azzurri a first win on French soil for 26 years.
France had made a fast, powerful start and raced into a 10-0 lead after only 15 minutes, but they failed to increase their advantage and the visitors cut the cap to seven just before the break with a penalty.
That three-point chance had come from a high tackle by Jonathan Danty, and after he saw red from a half-time TMO bunker review momentum swung to Italy in the second period.
The sides exchanged penalties before Ange Capuozzo went over, but whilst Garbisi was able to land a difficult equalising conversion he couldn't slot the easier winning penalty, with the match ending in the first Six Nations draw in five years and the first stalemate between the two sides in their 49 contests.
“We probably overplayed the game a little bit, one too many risks, threw penalties away and obviously had the red card,” said French defence coach Shaun Edwards. “We are fortunate [Garbisi] missed the kick, but we are disappointed with a draw. We were expected to beat Italy here today.
“We had the ball all of the first half, total dominance with territory and possession. The second half was probably the total opposite. To be honest to concede 13 is not too bad, but we are very disappointed not to win.
“We want our team to score tries, we did have a lot of pressure. I think you do have to give credit to Italy in their defence. They were on the goal line, getting underneath the ball. They were fantastic.”
In front of a raucous home crowd under the Stade Pierre-Mauroy roof in Lille, France came flying out of the traps with Ollivon getting over the scoresheet after he juggled Cameron Woki's offload from only a few metres out.
The initial move, dominated by forward carries, had come off the back of a scrum advantage, and France's physical edge was made even more clear as the Azzurri's pack crumbled on their own ball five minutes later.
Ramos knocked over the resulting penalty having slotted the early conversion but France struggled to break down the Italian defence for the rest of the first-half, with the visitors desperately battling to keep themselves in the contest.
Italy weren't helping themselves as they failed to exit properly in a variety of ways: keeping the ball in play off clearance kicks, being charged down and retaining possession for too long and being stripped in contact.
Away from the scrum they were largely keeping their discipline, however, and what started as irritation for France then became frustration and finally anger, displayed by Matthis Lebel throwing the ball to the floor after he failed to get his hands on Damian Peanud's wayward offload that could have fed him a simple score.
Few could have foreseen that Italy would get the next points on the board through Martin Page-Relo, and with the three points coming from a penalty that saw Danty's reckless tackle placed under bunker review they went into the break suddenly believing victory was possible.
The cliffhanger over Danty's continued involvement was answered just before the second half got underway, as referee Christophe Ridley showed a red card to French inside centre – sat on the bench – with the review rightfully concluding there was no mitigation in the mistimed, upright head clash.
Having turned down shots at goal in the first half, France decided to take three points from a penalty straight in front in the new circumstances and reopened their ten point cushion.
But Italy were building into the game, evidenced by Tommaso Menoncello narrowly missing out on a score after he kicked on Paolo Garbisi's grubber through and just failed to touch it down inside the short dead ball area.
Italy had to wait for the opportunity to cut the gap back to within a score but eventually, like Ramos' penalty for France earlier in the half, a three-point shot was presented straight in front of the posts to make it 13-6 heading into the last quarter.
The Azzurri were growing in confidence and putting more effective attacking phases together. Though their composure and execution in the red zone was letting them down, they continued to keep plugging away in attack and remained resilient enough in defence to stop France making the game safe.
Les Bleus best chance to do just that came from seemingly a relentless driving maul that progressed 20 metres towards Italian territory, but after the French went to ground themselves Italy were given a scrum and launched their best attack yet.
Off the set piece the Azzurri delivered a brilliant backs move which sent Tommaso Menoncello up towards halfway. More powerful carries took Italy close, either side of Garbisi's shoulders at first receiver, before Leonardo Marin made a half-break and fed Capuozzo for a score in the corner.
Garbisi nailed the tough conversion to draw the game all square, and while France had more possession and the better of the try-scoring chances in the final ten minutes with Penaud making a pair of dangerous line breaks, Italy were presented with a match winning chance as Manuel Zuliani won a turnover penalty in kickable range.
Despite the cruel luck that followed with the ball falling off the tee at a critical moment, Garbisi still took responsibility for the miss that cost his side a historic victory against a side who had beaten them 60-7 just over three months ago.
“It's part of my job to put the kick over,” he said. “I'm sorry for the team because I thought they were amazing today, but also to all the Italian supporters; that's my bad and I'll work on it.
“I think the performance was good overall. Whenever you get to 13-13 going into the last minute against France it means you've done pretty well to be honest. Of course the extra man helped us in the second half.
“In the first half we trusted our defence, but I think too much time in our half and in possession we weren't that great. With one more man we could attack more and find space, which was good, but in the end it all comes down to that last kick really.”
TEAMS
FRANCE: Ramos, Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Bielle-Biarrey, Jalibert, Lucu; Baille, Mauvaka, Atonio, Woki, Tuilagi, Boudehent, Ollivon (c), Cros
Replacements: Marchand, Taofifenua, Aldegheri, Taofifenua, Roumat, Abadie, Le Garrec, Moefana
ITALY: Capuozzo, Menoncello, Brex, Mori, Ioane, P Garbisi, Page-Relo; Fischetti, Nicotera, Zilocchi, N Cannone, Ruzza, Favretto, Lamaro (c), Vintcent
Replacements: Lucchesi, Spagnolo, Ferrari, Canali, Zambonin, Zuliani, Varney, Marin
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
Star man: Tommasso Menoncello (Italy)
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The French did not stand still, and had a water carrier moving on the pitch.
I think the ref should have awarded a second penalty, 10m closer to the posts.
And with four sets of eyes, it really should have been caught.