Rugby World Cup 2015: France 32-10 Italy

France (15) 32

Tries: Slimani, Mas Cons: Michalak 2 Pens: Michalak 5, Spedding

Italy (3) 10

Try: Venditti Con: Allan Pen: Allan

France served notice they could be a serious threat at this year's World Cup with a business-like win over Italy.

Italy were made to pay for indiscipline in the first half as Frederic Michalak kicked France into a 15-3 lead.
France showed more adventure after the restart and Rabah Slimani touched down from Michalak's sweet grubber kick.
Giovanbattista Venditti hit back with a try for Italy, but veteran prop Nicolas Mas's first try in 81 Tests secured the win for France.
The one low point for France was an injury to winger Yoann Huget, who was helped off the field in the second half after appearing to injure his knee.
France's next game in Pool D is against Romania at London's Olympic Stadium on Wednesday, while Italy face Canada in Leeds next Saturday.
But the key match is set to be France versus Six Nations champions Ireland, who thrashed Canada 50-7 in Cardiff earlier on Saturday. The Pool D runners-up will probably play reigning champions New Zealand in the quarter-finals.

Italy's pack caught cold

Italy's starting front row had 227 caps between them, including 113 for Martin Castrogiovanni, but they were given a torrid time in the early exchanges, conceding several penalties.
Talismanic captain and number eight Sergio Parisse might have instilled discipline among the Italian ranks, but he missed the match with a thigh injury.
Michalak could even afford to miss two kicks, both of which struck a post, as he chiselled out a 9-0 lead. The advantage would have been more had a Noa Nakaitaci try not been controversially disallowed.