Six Nations favorite France scores 5 tries in 33-8 win against Italy despite some errors

LILLE, France (AP) — France remained on course for the Six Nations title after a scrappy 33-8 win against Italy on Sunday.

Fabien Galthié’s side is favored to win back-to-back titles and is the only team to have won all three matches. France grabbed five tries for a bonus point and has 18 tries so far, having managed a tournament-record 30 last year.

Jet-heeled left winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, lock Emmanuel Meafou and makeshift flyhalf Thomas Ramos scored first-half tries at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, two of them set up by star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont.

But after leading 19-0 inside 30 minutes, the French tried too much entertaining as indiscipline allowed Italy back in.

An opportunist try from fullback Ange Capuozzo followed by Paolo Garbisi’s penalty pulled it back to 19-8.

“It was a tough match as expected, very tight, against an opponent who put us under pressure, especially in the rucks,” Galthié said. “At one point, it became a real arm wrestle.”

The scoreboard stayed static until 31 minutes into the second half when the ever-alert Ramos kicked into the right corner to give winger Gaël Dréan a try on test debut.

That try came with down to 14 players after winger Louis Lynagh — the son of Australian flyhalf great Michael Lynagh — was carelessly sinbinned for a deliberate knock-on.

Italy's bench was angry at the try, which came with the Italians effectively down to 13 because Capuozzo was not yet back on the field following treatment for a shoulder injury.

Center Emilien Gailleton showed his strength when he broke a tackle to dive over in the closing stages, and Ramos converted.

“It wasn’t our most complete performance. But I can tell you Italy really fought hard, we were not surprised by their intensity,” Ramos said. “We have two matches left to go and get the title.”

Galthié said his players were a bit tense at times.

“We made a few mistakes in terms of our positioning and our lineouts,” he said, pointing to late team changes as a factor.

Matthieu Jalibert pulled out on Saturday night with a minor calf injury and was replaced at flyhalf by Ramos. This forced Galthié to improvise as Théo Attisssogbe took Ramos’ place at fullback and Dréan replaced Attisssogbe on the right wing.

Bielle-Biarrey scored France’s first try in the fourth minute. Attisssogbe won an aerial challenge and Dupont kicked quickly to the left corner, where Bielle-Biarrey profited from a favorable bounce to grab the ball just before it went out.

It was the 22-year-old’s 24th try in 25 tests and his fourth of the tournament. His eight tries in last year’s tournament equaled the record of England’s Cyril Lowe in 1914, and Scotland’s Ian Smith in 1925, when the tournament was the Five Nations.

After France gained ground by spreading the play right, Italy could not prevent Dupont setting up Meafou to bulldoze over in the 15th.

The galloping Gailleton broke free down the left and unselfishly passed inside to Ramos for the third try, which he converted.

Italy pulled a try back when careless defending from Attisssogbe in the right corner allowed Capuozzo to dart over.

More loose French play saw flanker Oscar Jegou trying a one-handed floated pass, which led to an interception and forced Bielle-Biarrey to cover. When France conceded a penalty at the scrum, Garbisi’s kick gave Italy some hope at 19-8 down at the break.

Having impressed against Wales last weekend, center Fabien Brau-Boirie became butter-fingered as he dropped Dupont’s pass in front of the posts midway through the second half.

But as Italy faded, France finally tightened up.

France is away to Scotland and Italy hosts a slumping England side, with both matches on March 7.

France started by crushing Ireland 36-14 and routed Wales with eight tries in Cardiff.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

France's Charles Ollivon, center, hold s the ball during the Six Nations rugby union match between France and Italy in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

France's Gaël Dréan on his way to score a try during the Six Nations rugby union match between France and Italy in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Italy's Leonardo Marin, center, is tackled by France's Charles Ollivon during the Six Nations rugby union match between France and Italy in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

France's Emmanuel Meafou, left, scores a try as Italy's Louis Lynagh tries to defend during the Six Nations rugby union match between France and Italy in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

France's Emilien Gailleton, right, goes over to score a try during the Six Nations rugby union match between France and Italy in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

WASHINGTON (AP) — An armed man drove into the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump's resort in Palm Beach, Florida, as another vehicle was exiting before being shot and killed early Sunday morning, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service.

The man, who was in his early 20s and from North Carolina, had a gas can and a shotgun, according to Anthony Guglielmi, the spokesman. He had been reported missing by his family a few days ago, and investigators believe he headed south and picked up the shotgun along the way.

Guglielmi said a box for the weapon was discovered in the man's vehicle after the incident, which took place around 1:30 a.m.

The man killed was identified by investigators as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation.

Trump has faced threats to his life before, including two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign. Although the president often spends weekends at his resort, he and first lady Melania Trump were at the White House when the breach at Mar-a-Lago occurred.

After entering near the north gate of the property, the man was confronted by two Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.

“He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with them. At which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” Bradshaw said at a brief press conference. The two agents and the deputy “fired their weapons to neutralize the threat.”

The FBI asked residents who live near Mar-a-Lago to check any security cameras they may have for footage that could help investigators.

In a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel said that the bureau would be “dedicating all necessary resources” to the investigation.

Investigators are working to compile a psychological profile and a motive is still under investigation. Asked whether the individual was known to law enforcement, Bradshaw said “not right now.”

On Sunday afternoon, vehicles blocked the entrance to a property listed in public records as an address for Martin at the end of a sandy private road in Cameron, North Carolina.

Braeden Fields, Martin’s cousin, reacted with disbelief. He described Martin as quiet, afraid of guns and from a family of avid Trump supporters.

“He’s a good kid,” Fields, 19, said. He said they grew up together. “I wouldn’t believe he would do something like this. It’s mind-blowing,” Fields said.

He said Martin worked at a local golf course and would send money from each paycheck to charity.

“He wouldn’t even hurt an ant. He doesn’t even know how to use a gun,” Fields said.

He said his cousin didn’t discuss politics.

“We are big Trump supporters, all of us. Everybody,” Fields said, but his cousin was “real quiet, never really talked about anything.”

The incident comes as the United States has been rocked by spasms political violence.

The incursion at Mar-a-Lago took place a few miles from Trump's West Palm Beach club where a man tried to assassinate him while he played golf during the 2024 campaign.

A Secret Service agent spotted that man, Ryan Routh, aiming a rifle through the shrubbery before Trump came into view. Officials said Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire and caused Routh to drop his weapon.

Routh was found guilty last year and sentenced this month to life in prison.

Trump also survived an assassination attempt at a Butler, Pennsylvania campaign rally. That gunman fired eight shots before being killed by a Secret Service counter sniper. One rally attendee was killed by the gunman.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X that “the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person, armed with a gun and a gas canister, who intruded President Trump’s home.”

Leavitt used her post to blame Democratic lawmakers in Congress for the partial government shutdown affecting the Homeland Security department that began Feb. 14 after Democrats demanded changes to the president's deportation campaign.

The Secret Service is among the agencies where the vast majority of employees are continuing their work but missing a paycheck.

“Federal law enforcement are working 24/7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans,” Leavitt said. “It’s shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their Department.”

The White House referred all questions to the Secret Service and FBI. Both Trump and his wife posted statements on social media after the incident, but they were unrelated to the shooting.

There have been other recent incidents of political violence as well.

In the last year, there was the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk; the assassination of the Democratic leader in the Minnesota state House and her husband and the shooting of another lawmaker and his wife; and an arson attack at the official residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Five days ago, a Georgia man armed with a shotgun was arrested as he sprinted towards the west side of the U.S. Capitol.

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Breed reported from Cameron, N.C. Associated Press reporters Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this story.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive at the National Governors Association dinner at the White House, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

FILE - This is an aerial view of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Aug. 10, 2022, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)