FRANCE made a barnstorming start to the defence of their RBS 6 Nations Championship crown by plundering five tries in a convincing win against a beleaguered Italy at the Stadio Flaminio today. After an even first 20 minutes, Christophe Dominici went over following an Italy error in midfield - and the floodgates opened.

Cedric Heymans and Sebastien Chabal also scored five-pointers before the break, which Les Bleus went into 223 ahead. The impressive Chabal and Yannick Jauzion added further scores in the second half, with fly-half David Skrela - making his first appearance in a France shirt for almost six years - booting 11 points in the process.

It was a strong performance from a side that was bereft of a number of key players, such as captain Fabien Pelous and regular number 10 Frederic Michalak. But they had more than enough to see off the Azzurri, whose only points came from the boot of substitute Ramiro Pez.

Italy wasted two early chances to go ahead through penalty kicks, and Skrela showed them how to do it at the other end after 12 minutes, knocking over a simple three-pointer after Italy had impinged at a scrum.

Les Bleus were producing some fine build up play, often involving Toulouse centres Florian Fritz and Jauzion, but took until the 24th minute to stretch their lead. An awry pass from Gonzalo Canale was pounced on by Raphael Ibanez, who booted the ball upfield. Dominici outpaced the covering defence, hacked on himself down the right and then collected to go over under the posts.

That was followed in the 31st minute by a second converted try, scored by other winger Heymans, who received a deft pop-up pass by Skrela tight on the left flank to breeze over under the posts.

A Pez penalty under the sticks gave Italy brief respite but the rampaging Chabal put the game beyond the hosts with tries either side of the interval. He barged over from close range following a sniping run from the impressive Mignoni in first-half injury time. And the second half was only four minutes old when the Sale number eight doubled his try count for the afternoon, running onto a short Mignoni pass just off a ruck. Skrela converted for the third time.

Chabal was running the show for the visitors, forcing a turnover with the Italians 10 yards out in the 50th minute, then showing some nifty footwork in midfield to bemuse a would-be Italy tackler in midfield moments later.

Jauzion scored France's fifth try in the 63rd minute in front of a crowd which had become demoralised by that stage. Skrela's high kick was patted down by Heymans into the path of Clement Poitrenaud, and his short pass sent away the centre, who galloped over from 10 yards.

With the game comfortably won, France started to showboat, Jauzion picking up a ball under his own posts and beginning a counter-attack that ended with substitute Lionel Beauxis knocking over a penalty for the last score of the game in the 71st minute.

ITALY De Marigny, Dallan, Canale, M.

Bergamasco, Masi, Scanavacca, Griffen, Perugini, Ongaro, Nieto, Dellape, Bortolami, Sole, M. Bergamasco, Parisse Subs Festuccia, Lo Cicero, Castrogiovanni, Mandelli, Troncon, Pez, Robertson FRANCE Poitrenaud, Heymans, Fritz, Jauzion, Dominici, Skrela, Mignoni, Milloud, Ibanez, De Villiers, Thion, Nallet, Betsen, Bonnaire, Chabal Subs Szarzewski, Marconnet, Pape, Harinordoquy, Yachvili, Beauxis, Clerc.

Referee W Barnes (England)