Antoine Dupont led France to an overwhelming 73-24 rout of hosts Italy as they ran in 11 tries in an action-packed Six Nations triumph on Sunday, bouncing back in style from their one-point loss to England in their last game two weeks ago.The French captain was at his imperious best as he directed matters at the Stadio Olimpico and scored two tries, as did fullback Leo Barré.The other French tries were shared among Mickaël Guillard, Peato Mauvaka, Paul Boudehent, Gregory Alldritt, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Theo Attissogbe and Pierre-Louis Barassi, while Thomas Ramos booted over eight conversions and substitute Maxime Lucu one.Italy had opened the try scoring through Tommaso Menoncello in the 12th minute with his centre partner, Juan Ignacio Brex, dotting down their other first-half try in what had been an end-to-end opening.Paolo Garbisi contributed a try midway through the second half and kicked over the conversion while Tommaso Allan booted over a penalty and two conversions, but the hosts finished almost 50 points adrift.

ReutersI said it would be close, shows what I know! That is a hiding of note as France get their campaign back on track with 11 tries.Just too good.Italy’s defence was practically walking, they are shattered.It had to come.The ball goes down the hands, left to right and then back down the left where Barassi is in space and sliding over in the corner.

Lucu can’t convert.80 min: France are camped inside Italy’s 22.Can they end with one more?Hot-stepper! Rather than maul, the French line-out keeps the ball zipping off the top.Quick down the line and a looping pass to the right winger who is hugging the touchline.He’s got two Italian defenders in front of him but makes them look like mannequins, lightning in his feet, he’s diving over.

Lucu lands a great conversion.Dupont wins the official player of the match, but don’t be fooled.It’s unquestionably Leo Barre (at least it should have been)75 min: Lucu is MASHED by Nicotera.The scrum-half received a bit of a hospital pass from Dupont back against the grain and the Italian hooker timed his hit to perfection.But there’s an Italian penalty so France set a driving maul from a line-out in the left corner.

73 min: Lucu’s fresh legs are cantering up field down the right and now France are back in Italy’s 22.Dupont shows great strength under pressure to stand up to the challenge.Penaud with a dart but the ball goes loose as France look to get the ball to Attisogbe.Gesi kicks it long and there’s a sniff of a counter attack, but the chasing Italian winger loses his feet as he goes to compete for the ball so it’s a French penalty in their own half which turns into a line-out on halfway.71 min: Marchand wins a penalty on the ground and Quesada looks livid.

His team have run their race.They look utterly spent.So France get the chance to set a line-up back on halfway.70 min: Italy with a rare contact win which gives Zuilani the opportunity to stoop over the ball and win a penalty on the ground.It’s hoofed up field where Italy get a chance to attack from a set-piece just beyond France’s 22.

68 min: Italy keep the ball but go nowhere.They’re totally out of puff.They knock on on halfway.Ramos is replaced by Lucu which means Dupont will slot in at fly-half.Magnifique! They look like the best team in the world when they play like that.

First Dupont kept the move alive inside his own half by holding the ball up and getting it away.Then Ramos and Marchand combined for the fly-half to scream through a midfield gap before off-loading.Then hands down the line from the centre to the left where Bielle-Biarrey gathered a Moefana diving off-load before he stepped, grubbered, gathered again and passed back infield for Barre to score.Ramos doesn’t look like missing and nudges the score past 60.Something for the home side to cheer! Off first phase strike play, Italy have been great today.

They just haven’t had too many opportunities.Solid scrum, Alessandro Garbisi, on at scrum-half, delays his pass for his brother, Paolo, who explodes onto the ball and beats Ramos and holds off Dupont to get over the line.The try scorer then curls his conversion with his left boot as it sneaks inside the upright.58 min: Scrum to Italy and they launch a great strike move with Garbisi – not for the first time – straightening the line from a wraparound and finding Trulla off his wing who put in a big hand-off on Attissogbe.They’ve gone from halfway into the 22.

They’ve now got a penalty advantage for an offside call,But the move splutters so they have the pen, which they choose to scrum just to the left of centre of the poles inside France’s 22,57 min: Italy’s pack is shoved back over their line, but they get a reprieve as there’s an obstruction call against France in the line-out,56 min: Bialle-Biarrey with another one for the highlights package,On the right wing, he collected a high pass from Barre.

With his hand above his head, he collected and off-loaded like a water polo player.Soon after Attissogbe is charging up the other wing and bundled over about five metres out.But there’s a penalty advantage so we’ll have a French line-out in the left corner.55 min: A couple of changes for Italy who have lost their home crowd.Allan and Cannone off, Vintcent and Trula on.

It’s a brace for the best in the world.But where was Italy’s defence? Too easy for Moefana, who almost looks guilty as he explodes through the line after collecting a pass from Ramos.The centre freed his arms to find Dupont on his inside and the GOAT contender pinned his ears back, handed off a tackler and rode a another to dot down under the poles.Ramos converts from right in front.52 min: Italy will keep throwing punches.

Clean line-out ball on halfway gives them a chance to attack but Gesi took his eyes off the ball anbd received a pass he wasn’t expecting from Brex.France get the scrum just inside their own half on the right.It’s a rout now! That’s six tries in six Tests for the French winger and it’s all too easy.Just simple one-up runners punching holes.Dupont shifts the point of attack and goes down the blindside to his right.

Attissogbe shows a good touch as he gathers, rides the tackle and then off-loads back infield where Bielle-Biarrey has the simple job of catching and running it over.Ramos continues his perfect record off the tee.49 min: Here comes the Le Bombe Squad Équipe.The whole front row, one second row and two in the back row all changed in a one go.Negri limps off so he won’t have to face the six new French forwards.

48 min: Capuozzo fields a Dupont kick deep inside his own 22 and is tackled.Italy get back to help him but it’s all France.It started with an Aldritt carry from the restart following his try and in a blink the French were screaming up field, with Barre, leading the charge.Dupont, with wave after wave of white shirts crashing over the gainline, spotted space in the corner.His raking kick forced Capuozzo to turn and gather.

Rather than kick himself he chose to run and was nailed bu Barre (my pick for player of the match so far).Italy just about got it away.Too much power from France.Direct off the top of the line-out – slick from Cros at the back – and the French No.8 has so much explosive energy and he rumbles over running from the 10 channel.

Ramos converts and that’s probably the game.43 min: A French penalty becomes a French line-out whihc turns into front foot ball for Dupont between the 22 and halfway.They go left then right but land up giving it away.Italy have the chance to clear but it’s charged down by Guillard, who is having a great game, and falls to Dupont who leads an attack.Aldritt runs a dangerous line in the 22.

Menoncello is off-side.Italy look a little rattled right now.They have to defend a line-out five out from their own line.41 min: We’re back.Italy have a mountain to climb.

There’s no question they have the firepower to score the requisite tries, but can they keep France quiet?Bit of kick tennis to start and Italy have it around half-way with Gesi stepping down the left wing.What a half! Seven tries in 40 minutes, you can’t be disappointed with that.Italy were brilliant on attack but no robust enough on defence.France were utterly ruthless with just about every entry in the red zone ending in a try.How many more can these two teams register in the next 40?Relentless! It just had to be.

Wave after waver until Dupont spotted a chink in the armour, picked the ball up, ran into the line, welcomed the contact and off-load for the onrushing Barre who bust past two tacklers to get over the line.Just sublime from France.They are in the mood today.38 min: Garbisi bursts through on the angle, excellent run and he finds Cannone who is now cantering upfield.He needs support.

The big lock delays and looks for an off-load on his inside but can’t find a mate,So Moefana runs it back and is tackled by Brex,In a flash France are in Italy’s 22 with Bielle-Biarrey keeping it alive down the left with a slick off-load of his own,Dupont ups the tempo,Every French carry is making ground.

Barassi on a wraparound takes it closer, he’s a mighty runner.Can France finish this?37 min: Dupont’s box kick doesn’t go far but it lands in Bielle-Biarrey’s breadbasket.The winger kicks, that doesn’t make much ground and dribbles out of touch.Italy win the line-out and Page-Relo box kicks.Bielle-Biarrey gathers.

Dupont box-kicks.Page-Relo gathers and counters.Italy forming something around halfway but their runners don’t quite have the punch of the French heavies who are starting to dominate the close contest.33 min: Capuozzo has just unfurled a remarkable spinning back kick – not sure how to describe it to be honest – and almost gathered on the chase.Barre had to quickly gather and dot down for a goal-line drop-out.

Italy are back at them but spill the ball.Ramos has a kick charged down and Italy have it again.This is frenetic! What a game of rugby this is.Italy forming an attack, Garbisi kicks for a chasing winger from halfway.It bobbles out