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Italy leaves World Cup after heavy defeat by France – ARN News Centre
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AFP
Italy had hoped to make up for their disastrous 96-17 defeat by New Zealand when they faced France in their last game at the Rugby World Cup, instead, they suffered their worst-ever loss as they were thrashed 60-7 on Friday.
On a night when Italy gained their only points of the game just past 70 minutes and the hosts ran in eight tries, coach Kieran Crowley could only admire the superiority and class of the French in their final Pool A fixture.
“You just need to listen to the support they’ve got. They were too good,” Crowley said.
“We gave away a lot of penalties early on and then we just didn’t get any momentum because our breakdown work wasn’t good enough. The interpretation sometimes left a bit to be desired but that’s the way it was.
“They were just too physical, too powerful for us.”
In what was Crowley’s last game in charge of Italy, the coach still spoke of his side’s spirit and bright future, despite another heavy defeat.
“These boys, they’d die for you. They’ve got a lot of pride,” he said.
“I just hope they start getting treated with a bit more respect after this. For the next World Cup cycle there will be a lot of players with 50 or 60 test matches by then so that will be good.”
Italy’s captain Michele Lamaro, replaced just four minutes into the second half, was at a loss to describe how it felt to have won their opening two games against Namibia and Uruguay and then come nowhere close to building on that.
“We managed to put ourselves into the position we wanted to be in but unfortunately a word to describe it, I can’t think of anything right now.”
Lamaro denied, however, that there had been too much expectation and pressure on his team.
“Within the group we set our goals and concentrated on our performance,” he said.
“Everyone reads the media articles but we leave that outside, so I don’t think the expectations had an influence on the group.”
What is undeniable is that this Italy side have failed to live up to expectations.
“The reason is quite simple. In rugby when you’re struggling to play your basic game that’s what happens,” the captain said.
“I know that we would like to wave a magic wand but there is no such thing in this game.
“If we win the physical fight, we carry on playing. Otherwise, we lose the game.”
Like his coach, Lamaro admitted France were simply too strong.
“France’s forwards were very powerful. To stop their attacks we need an extra man or two. It’s as simple as that. I don’t know what you expect as an answer,” he said.
“You are drawn in by the opposing forwards and the wide spaces open up. We were ready but we lost the last two games, unfortunately. It’s hard to accept.”
Italy end the World Cup in third place in Pool A on 10 points, enough to see them qualify for the next World Cup, but the heavy defeats by France and New Zealand leave them with little to celebrate.
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Indian chess star Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu produced a brilliant final-round victory to win Norway Chess 2026, capping a dramatic finish to one of the year’s most prestigious tournaments.
Entering the final day half a point behind leader Wesley So, Praggnanandhaa knew only a win would give him a realistic chance of claiming the title. The 19-year-old delivered under pressure, defeating Vincent Keymer with the white pieces to secure the full three points and surge to first place.
The victory lifted Praggnanandhaa to 18 points, enough to overtake Wesley So and clinch the Norway Chess crown in Oslo.
So, who had led the standings heading into the final round, drew his classical game against Alireza Firouzja before winning the Armageddon tiebreak. However, the extra points were not enough to keep him ahead of the charging Indian grandmaster.
Firouzja completed a strong campaign to finish third overall.
Elsewhere, world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen signed off in style with a classical victory over reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju, delighting home fans with a final-round win.
Final Standings
- Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu – 18 points
- Wesley So – 17 points
- Alireza Firouzja – 15.5 points
Assaubayeva dominates women’s event
In the Norway Chess Women’s tournament, Bibisara Assaubayeva completed a dominant campaign to secure the title after having already wrapped up first place with a round to spare.
The final day featured three decisive classical games, eliminating the need for Armageddon tiebreaks.
Women’s world champion Ju Wenjun handed Assaubayeva her first classical defeat of the tournament, while Zhu Jiner defeated Humpy Koneru to secure second place overall. Anna Muzychuk also ended her campaign on a high note with a victory over Divya Deshmukh to finish third.
Norway Chess women’s final standings
- Bibisara Assaubayeva – 16.5 points
- Zhu Jiner – 16 points
- Anna Muzychuk – 15 points
Praggnanandhaa’s triumph marks another major milestone in the young Indian grandmaster’s rapidly rising career and further strengthens India’s growing influence at the highest level of world chess.
The battle for the Norway Chess 2026 title is set for a thrilling finish after a dramatic Round 9 left three players firmly in contention heading into the final day in Oslo.
Tournament leader Wesley So maintained his narrow advantage after drawing his classical game against Magnus Carlsen before winning the Armageddon tiebreak to secure valuable extra points.
The standout result of the day came from Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, who defeated reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju with the black pieces. The victory earned Praggnanandhaa three points and moved him to within half a point of the tournament lead.
Meanwhile, Alireza Firouzja kept his championship hopes alive by overcoming Vincent Keymer in Armageddon after their classical game ended in a draw.
With one round remaining, Wesley So leads the standings on 15.5 points, followed by Praggnanandhaa on 15 points and Firouzja on 14.5 points, setting up a nail-biting conclusion to the tournament.
Assaubayeva seals women’s title
In the women’s competition, Bibisara Assaubayeva secured the Norway Chess Women 2026 title with a round to spare.
Assaubayeva drew her classical game against Anna Muzychuk, who later claimed the Armageddon win. However, the result was enough to guarantee Assaubayeva an unassailable lead at the top of the standings.
The only decisive classical result in the women’s event came from Zhu Jiner, who defeated Divya Deshmukh to move into second place.
Elsewhere, Humpy Koneru and Ju Wenjun drew their classical encounter before Ju Wenjun claimed the Armageddon victory.
After Round 9, Assaubayeva tops the women’s standings with 16.5 points, ahead of Zhu Jiner on 13 points and Anna Muzychuk on 12 points.
Praggnanandhaa wins Norway Chess 2026 title after stunning comeback
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