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Six Nations | France produce bonus-point win over Italy in Paris

France have made it two wins from two in the 2020 Six Nations with a five-try 35-22 win over Italy in Paris.

Teddy Thomas, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt, Romain Ntamack and Baptiste Serin scored the tries as Les Bleus secured a bonus point at Stade de France.

France, who stormed to victory over England last week, made an excellent start on home soil, taking the lead in just the third minute.

Ntamack split the posts with a penalty after a high tackle on Paul Willemse to give the hosts a 3-0 lead against the Italians, who suffered a demoralizing 42-0 defeat to Wales last week.

In the seventh minute, Thomas benefited from Ntamack's clever grubber, sprinting over the whitewash for the game's first try.

Ntamack missed the subsequent conversion for Fabien Galthie's hosts, who recorded their second try in the 18th minute.

France captain Ollivon scored his third try of the tournament from close range after a strong drive from Willemse and good work from Dupont before that.

Ntamack missed again, seeing his effort come back off the post on this occasion.

Italy registered their first points six minutes later, with Matteo Minozzi diving over in the corner for the visitors' first try after 13 phases of attack.

Tommaso Allan slotted the resulting conversion to make it 13-7.

Allan reduced the deficit by a further three points with a penalty in the 28th minute, with France punished for crossing just outside their own 22.

🔝🇫🇷 - Après deux journées, la France est en tête du tournoi des #SixNations ! 😀👊 #XVdeFrance #NeFaisonsXV #FRAITA pic.twitter.com/nsdzxHIzJ8 — France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 9, 2020

20-year-old Ntamack responded with a penalty of his own soon afterwards, his second of the half. France scored their third try on the stroke of half time, with Alldritt collecting Antoine Dupont's looping pass out wide.

Ntamack's conversion eventually went over after crashing off both posts, giving the home side a 23-10 lead at the interval.

Allan missed a routine penalty early in the second half as Italy searched for a way back into the game.

Les Bleus notched their bonus-point try on the hour mark, with Ntamack weaving past several defenders to sprint over the try-line emphatically after being picked out by Thomas.

The fly-half missed yet another conversion, but it mattered little.

Italy continued to fight for a way back into the contest, and were rewarded in the 65th minute.

Replacement hooker Federico Zani touched the ball down against the post after a strong lineout from the away side.

Allan converted for Franco Smith's men to reduce France's lead to 28-17.

Substitute Serin scored France's fifth try, taking a quick tap penalty before bursting past Guglielmo Palazzani.

The scrum-half then kicked the ball over Jayden Hayward, raced on to it and crossed the whitewash to make it 33-17. Fellow replacement Matthieu Jalibert converted.

Italy winger Mattia Bellini scored a late consolation try in the 80th after combining well with Giovanni Licata and Hayward.

The 35-22 bonus-point win lifts France to the top of the Six Nations rankings.

Next up for Galthié's men is a trip to Cardiff to face reigning champions Wales. Italy take on Scotland at home in round three.

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