France made a winning start to their Women's Rugby World Cup campaign as they ground out a 24-0 victory over Italy in Exeter on Saturday.
On an opening weekend dominated by blow-out results in other group games during the showpiece tournament in England, this Pool D encounter at southwest side Exeter's Sandy Park was scoreless for 27 minutes, with France wing Joanna Grisez responsible for the lone try of an attritional first half.
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But Les Bleus eventually pulled clear after the break with further tries from forwards Assia Khalfaoui and Charlotte Escudero.
France full-back Morgane Bourgeois converted all three tries and also landed a penalty. "We know we still have more to give," said France's co-coach David Ortiz after the match.
"We know we can still develop and improve but we need playing time. We have confidence in the team when we see what we are capable of doing in the Six Nations tournament. "If we look at the fundamentals on which ur game is based, we are clearly on track."
Italy could take heart from some excellent defence, with France captain Marine Menager held up over the line when a try seemed all but certain. Grisez broke the deadlock when working a neat overlap out wide on the left before brushing off two defenders, with Bourgeois's penalty giving France – who have only failed to reach the World Cup semi-finals once in nine tournaments -- a 10-0 lead at half-time. France pulled further clear five minutes after the break when sustained forward pressure was rewarded by prop Khalfaoui powering through a gap in Italy's defence. Poor handling from Les Bleus cost them several promising positions, but they put the result beyond doubt just after the hour mark when Escudero forced her way over after Grisez had been held up near the line following a well-judged chip and chase from fly-half Carla Arbez.
