ROME -- France beat Italy 29-0 in a turgid, error-strewn match in the Six Nations on Sunday, with little at stake for either side apart from pride.

Yoann Maestri scored the opening try at the start of the second half after a fantastic break from Scott Spedding, in one of the few moments of quality at a rainy Stadio Olimpico.

Replacement Mathieu Bastareaud added another right at the end of a dire match which saw 37 handling errors.

Italy had only itself to blame for going in at the break 9-0 down after giving away penalties in relatively easy positions and some miserable goal-kicking of its own.

France can mathematically still win the tournament, although it would take a series of shock results in next weekend's final round.