The Azzurri defeated France in Rome for the second successive time in the Six Nations – backing up the 2011 victory at the Stadio Flaminio with a 23-18 win at the Stadio Olimpico.

Castrogiovanni contributed to the victory with the final try of the game to send Italy to Scotland next weekend in pursuit of back-to-back victories.

And after helping his side claim the Garibaldi Trophy, 31-year-old prop Castrogiovanni is convinced Italy are just getting started.

“We couldn't have started the tournament better than this, repeating what we did (against France) two years ago,” he said.

“France are one of the best teams and one of the favourites to win the tournament, so for us it is a huge start.

“We still have other four games to go, and I hope we keep playing like that. If we play like that, I think we can have a chance against any team.

“Our defence was unbelievable, and against any team in the world, if you put them under pressure with your defence they can't carry the ball forward. It's not how you want to finish a game, with seven men in the scrum five metres from your own line, but the boys really wanted it.”