Les Bleuets suffered a shock 13-12 defeat to Ireland a week ago and again started slowly in the game which had been rearranged after a postponement on the opening weekend.

It took half an hour before either side could get on to the scoreboard, with Perpignan prop Sébastien Taofifenua finishing off some good work from highly-rated Toulouse hooker Christopher Tolofua.

Montpellier scrum-half Eric Escande converted to make it 7-0 which was the score at the interval.

The French grabbed their second try just after the break when Toulouse winger Maxime Payen scored an opportunistic try from a chargedown to make it 12-0.

Still the French struggled to impose themselves on the Azzurrini, who got their only score through Lazio flanker Ruben Riccioli taking advantage of the French being a man down after Jean-Charles Fidinde had been sin-binned.

However the French had the final say when Clermont second row Paul Jedreziak finished off a powerful rolling maul, replacement centre Enzo Selponi adding the extras.

Italy Under-20s head coach Craig Green admitted his side had been rusty without the benefit of match practice but believes his side can still have an influence in the Championship.

"We lacked attitude in contact, owing perhaps to the fact that it's been a month in which we haven't managed to play," said Green.

"That's no justification. We paid dearly for their second try - that could have been avoided.

"But overall we fought until the end and I am satisfied with the character shown by the team.

"There's still the regret of not having done more, we were lacking in clear-thinking but the game was a first step.

"There's still four matches to go and we must grow from game to game."