Now they give shows of their own. Thumbs up! Thumbs down! And the killers, spare or slay, and then go back to concessions for private privies.— Juvenal, Against the City of Rome (c. 110–127 A.D.)

The Gladiators in Ancient Rome, long before Russell Crowe had been invented, were at the mercy of the spectators judgement if they suffered a defeat. Thumbs up signalled killing the gladiator whilst “a closed fist with a wraparound thumb” meant sparing him.

Outcomes at the Stadio Olimpico yesterday were not quite as drastic as those at the colosseum, but it was indeed a matter of rugby life and death for France’ Guinness Six Nations title hopes.

France had the temerity to drop their top try scorer Damian Penaud a statement from coach Fabien Galthie to send out a message to his charges that no player is guaranteed a place in the team.

That message appeared to have the desired affect as France left Italy in Roman ruins scoring eleven tries in a 73-24 win.

Italy started brightly and scored the opening try after just eleven minutes through Tomasso Mennoncello to give them a 7-0 lead.

That lead lasted just three minutes before Mickaël Guillard touched down for France. Ramos’ conversion made it 7-7.

Les Bleus never lost the lead again following that score, and with four further first half tries to one by Juan Ignacio Brex for Italy, the visitors had a commanding 35-17 half time lead.

Six second half tries from relentless France left the Italians shell shocked, and a Garbisi try on sixty one minutes was all they had to show for their efforts.

This was France’s biggest ever Six Nations victory and they were utterly ruthless, never taking their foot off the gas.

So in the end Les Bleus got the thumbs up, and we are now set for a wonderful showdown in Dublin two weeks hence, a mouthwatering match against Ireland that could effectively decide the title.

Rome wasn’t built in a day but France’s Guinness Six Nations hopes were definitely reconstructed in one.