Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Pool A - New Zealand v Italy - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - September 29, 2023 Italy head coach Kieran Crowley before the match REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo
LYON, France (Reuters) - Italy had hoped to at least make up for their disastrous 96-17 defeat by New Zealand when they faced France in their last game at the Rugby World Cup, instead they suffered their worst ever loss to their neighbours as they were thrashed 60-7 on Friday.
On a night when Italy gained their only points of the game just past 70 minutes and the hosts ran in eight tries, coach Kieran Crowley could only admire the superiority and class of the French in their final Pool A fixture.
