Fabien Galthie left with 'bitter taste' as Italy run France close

France head coach Fabien Galthie said he had been left with a “bitter taste” despite his team opening their Guinness Six Nations defence with a bonus-point victory over Italy in Rome.

Having been 19-6 up midway through the first half, France then found themselves behind in the second before Matthieu Jalibert’s try saw them claim a 29-24 win.

Galthie, whose side will now face world number one-ranked Ireland in Dublin next Saturday, said in quotes reported by L’Equipe: “We are satisfied to have won it, to have taken the offensive bonus – two of the objectives we had set ourselves – but we must admit that it was hard.

“The performance is mixed to say the least, it leaves us with a bitter taste. We didn’t achieve all our goals in this game, that’s clear.

“But we have the right, collectively, not to always be on top, always be in line with our expectations that have evolved over the past two years.

“We must say that winning an international match, in the tournament, away, is already important. Now we are aware that we must do much better.”

As well as Jalibert, Thibault Flament, Thomas Ramos and debutant Ethan Dumortier got on the scoresheet for France, while Ange Capuozzo dotted down for Italy, who also were awarded a penalty try, and Tommaso Allan added four penalties.

Italy head coach Kieran Cowley told a press conference: “I am really satisfied with the character and conviction with which we approached the match.

“In the first half there were some problems of execution, mistakes that must be avoided and that cost us a lot.

“For the rest our scrum was fantastic, despite the considerable difference in weight in the front line, in defence we did very well, and the way we came back in the second half is for me another reason for great satisfaction, how we were able to modify our game adapting to the mood of the match showed great maturity.

“Unfortunately, the defeat is the result of those (mistakes) seen in the first quarter, at these levels concessions cannot be made and against England (next Sunday at Twickenham) we will absolutely have to avoid them.”