In boggy conditions in Rovato it was the Azzurre's ability to score in the closing stages of each half which proved the difference, with neither side able to play an expansive game.

They made the quicker start and deservedly took the lead after 11 minutes when France were penalised for not rolling away.

Schiavon made no mistake to open the scoring, but it was les Bleues who scored next.

On the back of a powerful scrum, which had their opponents in trouble, it was Jade Le Pesc who crashed her way over after a great charge from Safi N'Diaye. Jessy Tremoulière converted.

It looked like the French would go in ahead, but right on the stroke of half-time, Italy responded with a try of their own, back row Flavia Severin finishing off a period of concerted pressure from the home forwards. Schiavon's conversion made it 10-7.

It took France just five minutes of the second half to get back in front, hooker Gaelle Mignot going over, but crucially Tremoulière's conversion went just wide to leave the score at 12-10.

The sodden conditions meant it would always be tight, and Italy knew that while they were within two points, the shock was very much on.

With time running out, the Italians piled on the pressure in French territory, and eventually it told with the visitors infringing, allowing Schiavon the chance to put her side in front.

And the fly-half made no mistake, slotting through the uprights to complete a historic win for the home side.