LILLE – France coach Fabien Galthie said on Feb 25 his side were not in crisis after a dramatic 13-13 draw at home to Italy in the Six Nations.

His side were hammered by Ireland in the tournament opener, before edging out Scotland earlier in February.

Les Bleus were then within inches of losing at home to Italy in the tournament for the first time, as Paolo Garbisi’s 82nd-minute penalty hit the post.

The result came five months after their disappointing Rugby World Cup campaign at home ended in defeat by South Africa in the quarter-finals.

“At international level, with France, our ambition is to win, when you don’t win it’s not positive,” said Galthie, after being asked if his side were in a crisis.

“Often within the players when you don’t win it can be a crisis... Right now, a loss at home, a win in Scotland, a draw with Italy, not the expected results, it’s a difficult, painful moment.”

France have looked sluggish since the World Cup loss to the Springboks, a stark contrast to Galthie’s all-conquering first four years in charge.

Garbisi’s last-gasp failure meant Les Bleus avoided a third-straight home defeat for the first time since 1998-99, and a first loss to Italy since 2013 in Rome.

“I don’t feel something’s broken,” captain and France’s sole try scorer Charles Ollivon said. “We have to do better. We work on things but it didn’t pay off today.”

Next up for the 2022 Six Nations champions is a trip to Wales on March 10.

They will continue to be without regular skipper Antoine Dupont, away with France’s sevens team before the Olympics in Paris, as well as injured fly-half partner Romain Ntamack.

Star scrum-half Dupont’s France lost 28-26 to New Zealand in the semi-finals of the Vancouver SVNS on Feb 25, the first tournament for the former Player of the Year with his country’s sevens team.

Former France captain Galthie’s decision to stick with ageing scrum-half Maxime Lucu as Dupont’s stand-in, instead of starting with the more energetic 21-year-old Nolann le Garrec, has been the main focus of criticism.

“It’s a challenge, we will question ourselves, for us, our supporters we will work hard,” flanker Ollivon said.

“We promise it and commit it. We will give everything to head to Cardiff and put in a good performance.”

Winger Matthis Lebel added: “We have to find a new energy to be successful again and be a France that win games again.

“Something has to come from inside us players, it can’t only come from Fabien Galthie.”

Garbisi’s agonising late failure meant Italy were unable to claim just a third Six Nations win since 2015.

“I missed the kick as I was coming down the lift from the coaches’ box. I believed we could win, it was an emotional lift,” said Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada.

“We’re not overjoyed but we’re happy with the work done, the progress and the mentality.

“We’re working on being a tough team to beat, not a team that concedes stupid penalties.”

“Today we were in a position to win, I’m proud,” added the former France attack coach.

With France centre Jonathan Danty shown a red card, Italy were trailing 13-6 with just 10 minutes left when Ange Capuozzo went over for a try, converted by Garbisi.

Garbisi was then handed the chance to claim Italy’s first win over France in over a decade.

The ball, however, fell from the tee as he had 14 seconds left on the clock, leaving the rushed fly-half with only four seconds to kick an attempt that ended up hitting the post.

“This was part of my job and I didn’t do it well, that’s why I apologise to my teammates and the whole country of Italy,” said a dejected Garbisi.

“A draw is a good result but winning would have been better, there was the space for it. It’s on me. It’s going to stay in my head for a while.”

But Capuozzo added: “The ball falling (from the tee), I don’t think it happens a lot.” AFP, REUTERS