French Dad's Army fumble their way to win over Italy

France 37 Italy 12

The Stade de France is not exactly Walmington-on-Sea, but France's Dad's Army provided an impressive take-off of Captain Mainwaring and his stumbling men. These old French chaps (eight of yesterday's team were over 30) at times made Corporal Jones look positively sprightly.

For more than 50 minutes, France looked as bumbling and idiotic as Dad's Army on manoeuvres.

In the end, France scored five tries to none and enjoyed a consummate victory over the outclassed Azzurri.

The fact was, though, whatever spin their coach, Bernard Laporte, wishes to put on the game, this match confirmed that France are going nowhere towards their stated ambition of winning the World Cup in their own country in 17 months' time.

France coated their victory with 21 points in the last 16 minutes, but that never began to gloss over their inadequacies. The very fact that Laporte had resorted to the old guard spoke volumes for the pressure under which he is currently operating.

To return to players such as Raphael Ibanez, Olivier Magne and Thomas Castaignede represented humble pie for Laporte, who had not wanted to choose players who had left France to play their rugby.

To bring all three back, as well as load the team with other veterans such as Thomas Lievremont, who clearly is not quick enough, is an appalling indictment of the failure of most of the younger brigade.

No one has failed more palpably than Frederic Michalak, whose inability to orchestrate his team is a glaring problem.

- INDEPENDENT