Dubai Telegraph - Unimpressive France stay on course for Grand Slam showdown

However, the laboured manner of the victory suggests champions England, who should dispose of Scotland later Saturday, will have little trouble in successfully defending their title.

The French -- the last side to beat England in the competition but that was back in 2018 -- relied on two late tries.

Marine Menager and Alexandra Chambon finally put distance between themselves and their resilient hosts.

"We said at half-time do not lose our heads," said Menager, whose twin sister Romane scored a try earlier in the second-half.

"The key was not to panic, to slowly regain a foothold in the match.

"That is what we did."

The Italians fully deserved their lead at half-time, outscoring the visitors three tries to two, hooker Silvia Turani touching down their third right on the stroke of half-time.

Morgane Bourgeois, scorer of one of the French tries in the first-half, reduced the deficit with a penalty in front of the posts early in the second-half.

However, this failed to spark a points avalanche by the French, whose gamble to spurn a kick at goal and go for a try failed as sterling Italian defence forced a turnover.

Nevertheless eventually French pressure told, flanker Romane Menager going over under the posts and Bourgeois converted to give them the lead in the 55th minute.

Bourgeois, though, missed a great opportunity to extend the lead sending a kickable penalty wide of the posts with 10 minutes remaining.

The Bordeaux star was guilty of an even worse miss three minutes later, failing to convert from in front of the posts.

Fortunately for her first Marine Menager and then Chambon wore down the tired Italian defence to put a more positive look to the scoreboard than the victors performance merited.

Their scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus said people may write off their chances but they would go to England with belief in themselves.

"We will play our game, we have nothing to lose," she said.

"We have been chasing this prize since 2018 and we want to end that drought."

Z.W.Varughese--DT