Damian Penaud stars for France in World Cup mauling of Italy 

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Italy's Pierre Bruno tries to tackle France's Damian Penaud during the Rugby World Cup 2023, Pool A match at OL Stadium in Lyon. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire

Et voilà. France are through to the quarter-finals of their own World Cup after the tournament’s latest mismatch against a demoralised Italy. The unthinkable outcome – a pool-stage exit for Fabien Galthié’s side – remained a possibility, but was never on the cards from the moment Damian Penaud scored the first of eight French tries in the second minute. Not even before that, in truth, considering France have now beaten Italy 14 times consecutively, a run stretching back to 2014.

If the predatory Penaud’s progress is a marker of France’s hopes their fellow title contenders should be worried. The wing has now scored in seven straight matches and 14 times this year. Two tries here took him to second overall in their men’s try-scorers’ chart, with 35, now only three behind Serge Blanco. As a whole, the French machine is tuning up satisfactorily with top spot in Pool A safely secured. A likely last-eight collision with Ireland or South Africa will be a monumental affair for which their forwards, in particular, will need to be at their best.