“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 …