Italy press the self-destruct button

Like love of good wine and a good row, a tendency towards self-destruction seems to be a crucial part of the Latin temperament.

How else do you explain the way in which Italy and, to a lesser extent, France appear to be imploding just as they should be advancing to new levels in the rugby world?

The French, that victory over the All Blacks last year looking smaller and smaller with every passing lacklustre performance, can at least claim they are working to a plan.

Head coach Bernard Laporte believes a tight defence is the only way forward and, if that means sacrificing some of his players' more flamboyant instincts, he is willing to pay the price.

Italy's counterpart Brad Johnstone, by contrast, appears to be paying for the inflexibility, short-sightedness and disorganisation of those with more clout than common sense.

Had Christophe Lamaison not performed a fair impression of Kenny Logan on Saturday, missing five penalties, Laporte would have left Rome with a handsome victory which, while not scoring many points for style, would have at least built some momentum for the remainder of this Six Nations. As it was, the French very nearly threw away victory. They led by only four points with 10 minutes remaining and had to rely on an injury-time try from Sebastien Bonetti to put some shine on the 30-19 scoreline.

England can now focus on their Dublin meeting with Ireland as the championship decider as, in this form, France will be in no shape to spoil any last-day celebrations at Twickenham. Laporte, pleased to at least bounce back from defeat in Ireland, said: 'What we need to do against Wales and England is to kick a few penalties, and pick the ball up two metres from the line and score a try.