GRAND SLAM winners France, fielding barely half the team which thrashed Scotland in the Five Nations finale a week ago, were beaten in Grenoble on Saturday in a friendly with Italy.

Treviso's Ivan Francescato laid the foundation for the Italian victory, their first over the French in 11 attempts, with a try in the fifth minute, converted by Diego Dominguez.

The Squadra Azzura, who led 20-13 at the interval, went on to score another three tries through former Australian international flanker Julian Gardner, Gianbattista Croci and Paolo Vaccari. The French also went over four times through a penalty try, two from Pierre Bondouy, and one from Jean Luc Sadourny.

Argentinian born fly half Diego Dominguez, of Milan, secured all of Italy's other points, kicking four conversions and four penalties. David Aucagne was similarly successful with the boot for the French who included only eight of the starting line up from last Saturday's 47-20 win over the Scots - landing three conversions and kicking two penalties.