Fans forgive but French stars again fail to shine

France 37 Italy 12

Laporte made a point of thanking the crowd for their support in a game where for an hour Italy were in with a real chance of pulling off a first ever away win in the Six Nations.

However, a late glut of tries ensured a comprehensive margin of victory and a warm send-off from the fans that had jeered them off after the 43-31 win over Ireland a fortnight ago.

Laporte had defended his team after the Ireland match with a foul-mouthed outburst against the crowd, for which he later apologised, but on Saturday he was in introspective mood, admitting the weaknesses of his own team.

“We made some dreadful errors in the first half,” said Laporte.

“Although we played at a good physical intensity, there was no real teamwork. There were some unbelievable things - just booting the ball forward to nowhere and our inability to string anything together.”

At the interval Italy led 12-8 and although France - through number eight Thomas Lievremont - scored the only try of the first period, they were facing the prospect of becoming the first team to capitulate to Italy on home soil since the Azzurri joined the erstwhile Five Nations in 2000.

“Luckily the players realised at half-time that things had to change if we were going to score, but it was not easy for us,” said Laporte.

It was only when Yannick Nyanga scored the second try that France took control of the game and then prop Pieter De Villiers scored the game-clincher. Aurelien Rougerie and Frederic Michalak then added late scores to give a scoreline that flattered France although the fact they scored all five tries in the match proved the win was not undeserved.

“We became more focused in our game and that enables us to put some points on the board,” said Laporte.

Michalak’s late try after a largely unconvincing performance from the France stand-off helped repair his own relationship with the crowd who had been so contemptuous of his display against the Irish when Les Bleus almost blew a 41-3 lead before eventually winning 43-31.

“I have had to discuss things with Frederic but in fact the crowd really helped us today,” said Laporte. “I want to say well done to the public for singing Les Marseillaise so well and also for getting behind the team.”

Explaining his profanity-laced attack on the crowd after the Ireland match, Laporte admitted his apology had only been for the manner of his attack not for the basis of his criticism.

“I did not underestimate the impact the crowd’s behaviour (against Ireland) had on the players and that’s why I was angry.”

Looking forward to the match with England, whose Grand Slam hopes ended with an 18-12 defeat at Scotland, Laporte said: “We have to show the right face (against England) because against a team like that you can not afford to make mistakes like we have.”

The euphoria that followed France’s November Tests, when they won all four matches including victories over southern hemisphere giants Australia and South Africa, is gone.

An opening 20-16 defeat by Scotland provided a jolt to French confidence before the performance against Ireland that tested the patience of their supporters.

Skipper Fabien Pelous admitted the team had needed to get back to basics.

“There were times when I had to gather them together and shake them up. We did some very positive things but it was very hard for us for 60 minutes,” he said.