France 13-13 Italy: Azzurri fly-half Paolo Garbisi hits the post with rushed last-gasp penalty as rudderless 14-man Les Bleus falter in Antoine Dupont’s absence

On the same weekend their star man Antoine Dupont was starring on his seven-a-side debut in Vancouver, a rudderless 14-man France were held to a 13-13 draw by Italy in Lille.

In an extraordinary finale, Azzurri fly-half Paolo Garbisi had a chance to win the game for his team with the game’s final kick. But as Garbisi lined up a penalty, the ball fell off the tee.

With the shot clock for the kick underway, the Italian playmaker had to put the ball back on and reset. With the time counting down, he had to rush his kick.

Garbisi’s effort struck the post and robbed Italy of what would have been a first Six Nations win over France on French soil. The end result was the two sides sharing the spoils.

Dupont’s decision to pursue his Olympic dream in rugby’s shorter format means he is not available to lead Les Bleus in this year’s Six Nations.

Paolo Garbisi came within inches of sealing a stunning win for Italy on the road in Lille

The Italian No 10’s penalty was rushed after the ball fell off the tee with the shot clock ticking down

Without the scrum-half, Fabien Galthie’s side are struggling badly. They couldn’t get the better of the Azzurri after playing the second half with a numerical disadvantage following Jonathan Danty’s sending off. 

After another disappointing French display, the Championship title is now almost certainly beyond them as they sit in fourth place.Italy deserved a share of their spoils and could have had even more.

France’s power game saw them dominant territory and possession in the first half although they led only 10-3 at the break. Captain Charles Ollivon crossed and Matthieu Jalibert kicked a conversion and a penalty but France’s accuracy was off. Italy’s defence was impressive.

And France lost fly-half Jalibert to injury and centre Danty to what was initially a yellow card for a high tackle on Juan Ignacio Brex at the end of the opening 40. Martin Page-Relo kicked an Italian penalty. Danty’s yellow was rightly upgraded to red before the second half kicked off.

Ramos – who moved to No 10 from full-back when Jalibert went off – made it 13-3 when the game resumed. But Italy never went away and France’s high error count continued.

Captain Charles Ollivon crossed over the line for the only French try in the encounter

Thomas Ramos moved from full-back to No 10 and kicked eight of France’s 13 points on the day

Ange Capuozzo scored Italy’s try after the break against a number of his Toulouse team-mates

Garbisi kicked a second Azzurri penalty as France began to tire despite their head coach Galthie unloading his bench to try and bring on fresh legs.

But after Italy finally managed to string some phase play together, Ange Capuozzo – a Toulouse team-mate of many of the French players – crossed in the corner.

Garbisi nailed the touchline conversion. It tied the scores and set up a grandstand finish.Italy’s Under-20 side beat France in the junior Six Nations on Friday and right at the death, Garbisi had the chance to make it a famous double.

But he suffered a heartbreaking and unlucky finale with the tee incident – one which Italy will surely look back on for many years as a huge opportunity missed.