“France were unbelievably good at taking their opportunities, especially in the first half,” Michele Lamaro, Italy’s captain, told ITV. “Any little errors… it was a very good reaction by them. The scoreboard is the truth of the game.

“Second half, we could not keep the ball, especially at the line-out. Even the last phase [of the match], we were five metres out, playing one of the best teams in the world, so you have to be precise and concrete. We have been there in moments but in others we were not able to execute well enough.”

Italy were ultimately well beaten but Lamaro was right – they were playing one of the best sides in the world. There is plenty that Italy can take forward for their hosting of England in just under a fortnight. Italy have never beaten England but, with the confidence of Steve Borthwick’s side in the gutter, the Azzurri will be fancying their chances to make history. Given their improvements and the Welsh decline, two Six Nations victories should be the bare minimum for Italy; three should be the aim and, for the first time in a long time, looks as though it might be feasible.

But Sunday belonged to France – and their Grand Slam dream. Only Murrayfield and the hosting of England in Paris stand in their way.

Match details

Scoring sequence: 5-0 Bielle-Biarrey try, 7-0 Ramos con, 12-0 Meafou try, 17-0 Ramos try, 19-5 Capuozzo try, 19-8 Garbisi pen, 24-8 Dréan try, 26-8 Ramos con, 31-8 Gailleton try, 33-8 Ramos con.

France: Attissogbe; Dréan, Gailleton (Barassi 58), Brau-Boirie (Gailleton 66), Bielle-Biarrey; Ramos, Dupont (capt, Serin 75); Gros (Neti 37), Marchand (Mauvaka 58), Aldegheri (Colombe 53), Flament, Meafou, Cros (Nouchi 55), Jegou (Ollivon 55), Jelonch (Guillard 74).

Italy: Capuozzo (Odiase 72;) Lynagh, Menoncello, Marin; Ioane (Odogwu 67); Garbisi, Fusco (Garbisi 59); Fischetti (Spagnolo 53), Nicotera (Dimcheff 53), Ferrari (Zilocchi 53), Cannone (Ruzza 53), Zambonin (Favretto 53), Lamaro (capt), Zuliani, Cannone. Yellow card: Lynagh 70

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)