France held off a dogged Italy to open their Women's Six Nations campaign with a win in Parma.

The visitors scored while a player down as Carla Arbez got a try on debut.

Wing Alyssa D'Inca scored her first try for Italy to get the hosts within three points but Boujard's late score sealed France's victory.

Newly professional Italy reached a first World Cup quarter-final last year, while France narrowly missed out on the final in New Zealand.

Les Bleues are expected to challenge England for the Six Nations title as France seek their first since 2018.

When the two sides meet at Twickenham in the final round on 29 April, it will likely be the tournament decider.

When Italy managed to string passes together they looked dangerous, but the Azzurre were let down by frequent handling errors.

France showed glimpses of a fast-paced attack that will be troublesome for future opponents.

Italy face England in Northampton next Sunday, while France travel to Belfast on Saturday.

Line-ups

Italy: Ostuni Minuzzi; Muzzo, Sillari, Rigoni, D'Inca; Madia, Stefan; Turani, Vecchini, Gai, Fedrighi, Duca, Sgorbini, Franco, Giordano.

Replacements: Stecca, Maris, Seye, Tounesi, Locatelli, Barattin, Stevanin, Capomaggi.

France: Boulard; Banet, Menager, Vernier, Boujard; Arbez, Bourdon; Deshayes, Sochat, Khalfaoui, Feleu, Forlani, Berthoumieu, Gros, Escudero.

Replacements: Domain, Lindelauf, Bernadou, Picut, Hermet, Chambon, Tremouliere, Dupouy.

Bath moved off the bottom of the Premiership with a five-try win over Exeter to dent the Chiefs' top-four ambitions at the Recreation Ground.

Beno Obano and Joe Cokanasiga then gave Bath the half-time lead.

Tries from Tom Dunn and Ollie Lawrence stretched their advantage and while Jack Yeandle pulled one back as Exeter stay sixth in the table.

Exeter are eight points behind London Irish in fourth, although they still have a game in hand on the three teams immediately above them.

Defeat continued their poor run of away results, with this their sixth consecutive loss on the road in the Premiership.

For Bath, the win is their first in 2023 and arguably the finest of their season so far as they scored five tries at the Rec for the first time in over a year.

They moved one point above Newcastle at the foot of the table, as they look to end their campaign on a high.

Redpath - back from Six Nations duty with Scotland - opened the scoring for the hosts with a brilliant solo try eight minutes in.

He skipped past a tackle from Harvey Skinner to get in behind the Chiefs' line, before producing a turn of speed no-one could get near to, and finish with a dive into the corner.

Exeter reacted instantly from the restart, taking the ball straight back down the other end for Kata to score from close range. When Obano was then sent to the bin for a high tackle on Kata, the Chiefs added a second through Sio under the posts.

Bath, who last won on New Year's Eve, weathered the storm with a player disadvantage and, with 15 restored, grew in strength.

As the mistakes racked up from the Chiefs, they kicked to the corner from which Obano eventually powered over from range.

Three minutes later Cokanasiga got their third on Bath's third visit to the Exeter 22, running onto a kick from Orlando Bailey, as the Chiefs ended the half with five straight penalties in eight minutes.

Exeter's ill-discipline continued and Dunn got the bonus point driving over from a maul, before Dan Frost was sent to the bin for a mistimed high tackle on Bailey as the visitors started to implode.

Lawrence then made it five tries for Bath, rolling over under a tackle to widen their lead to 16 points.

The visitors started ringing the changes and Yeandle drove over with 23 minutes still on the clock as their line-out finally hit the target after earlier misfires.

But it did not invigorate Exeter's comeback.

A Piers Francis penalty added another three points for Bath and Exeter's afternoon was summed up when Dave Ewers was held up on the line with seconds left on the clock - on his landmark 200th appearance for the club - denying them what could prove a crucial bonus point right at the death.

Bath defence coach JP Ferreira told BBC Radio Bristol:

"We always knew that Exeter are a tough side, they keep the ball for multiple phases, you've got to be really up on your D on the day otherwise you can get 50 against you. We looked hard at them and also ourselves and luckily we came out on top today.

"There was some helter skelter out there and then the boys really had some calm heads on them, Ben [Spencer] leading the team with Dunny [Tom Dunn]. This whole week has been really about them, they've been leading this week, they've even lead today.

"We're getting to a point where they're thinking like we're thinking and it takes time. It takes time to build those habits and to get rid of the old ones and build the good ones.

"We're on the right track at the moment. We'll take this performance, we'll look hard at it because it was our best one for the season but I think there's still a lot of work to be done."

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said:

"We can't perform as a team because individually we are killing each other. I am at that stage when I am almost thinking we have got to change the personnel.

"We have got guys now who are champing at the bit and expecting to be there or thereabouts as players move on next season, and I just said to the lads 'the power you have got as a player is your performance'.

"They perform and it shows how much they want things and how good they want to be. The power I have got is selection.

"It never looked like we were going to make the game about us. It was a litany of errors.

"We have got a lot to work on in a week, and the most important thing is how the players turn up on Tuesday. Did we look like a good team today? I don't think we can say any player had a good game in any facet."

Bath: Gallagher; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Redpath, McConnochie; Bailey, Spencer (capt); Obano, Dunn, Stuart, McNally, van Velze, Hill, Cloete, Reid.

Replacements: Annett, Boyce, Rae, Lee-Warner, Bayliss, Schreuder, Francis, de Glanville.

Sin bin: Beno Obano (20 mins), Niall Annett (78 mins)

Exeter: Hodge; Nowell (capt), Slade, Kata, Woodburn; Skinner, S Maunder; Sio, Frost, Street, Dunne, Jenkins, Ewers, Tshiunza, S Simmonds.

Replacements: Yeandle, Hepburn, Schickerling, Williams, Davis, J Maunder, J Simmonds, DeVoto.

Sin bin: Dan Frost (48 mins)

Referee: Karl Dickson

AUSTIN, Texas – We ended up with the Rory McIlroy-Scottie Scheffler bout everyone wanted. However, it’ll be in the wrong match.

The two highest-ranked players remaining in the field at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play will face off in Sunday’s consolation match while Sam Burns and Cameron Young will play in the championship match following overtime semifinal victories.

Young rallied from 2 down with three to play against McIlroy and birdied the 19th hole to advance. Burns mounted his own comeback after being 2 down through 12 holes and birdied the third extra hole to defeat the defending champion and world No. 1 in 21 holes.

“I struggled midway through the round. But just was able to battle back and kept myself in it and, you know, at the end of the day it came down to making putts,” Burns said.

It was the second time Burns had beaten Scheffler head-to-head, following his victory at last year’s Charles Schwab Challenge when they finished 72 holes tied and Burns birdied the first playoff hole.

Scheffler had a 6-footer on the 20th hole at Austin Country Club to win the match but missed.

McIlroy had been dominant playing the par-4 18th this week, having won the hole three times to close out matches, including a walk-off eagle on Thursday after hitting his drive to 4 feet. But on Sunday, leading 1 up, his drive took an unfortunate kick and settled into deep rough, from where he pitched to 40 feet and two-putted for par. In his previous three trips down the 18th hole, he was a combined 4 under par.

“I just didn't do enough over those last four holes to close him out and when you don't do that and you're up against a player of Cam's caliber that's what's going to happen,” McIlroy said.

Young, who is seeking his first Tour win, birdied the 18th and then made birdie on the 19th hole, the par-5 12th, where McIlroy again settled for par.

JOHANNESBURG — Nick Bachem pulled clear of the field with a faultless final-round 64 to win the Jonsson Workwear Open by four shots Sunday for his first DP World Tour title.

The German carded eight birdies, four on the front nine and four on the back, to go to 24 under par overall and leave his challengers behind at The Club at Steyn City.

South Africans Hennie du Plessis and Zander Lombard tied for second on 20 under, with Lombard racing up the leaderboard with a 7-under 65.

The 23-year-old Bachem led at the halfway stage in Johannesburg but lost that advantage to compatriot Alexander Knappe in the third round and started Sunday one shot behind.

He hit the ground running in the final round, making four birdies in his first six holes.

By the time he made his seventh birdie of the round at No. 14, he had opened a five-shot lead over his challengers.

“I just had the goal to enjoy today," Bachem said. “It’s just the beginning of my career so I just enjoyed it as much as possible and played great and got lucky that it was my day.”

Ockie Strydom was tied for fourth with Ewen Ferguson on 19 under.

Russia eased to a 2-0 win over Iraq in a friendly on Sunday as they played their first international match on home soil since November 2021 after being barred from global competitions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Substitute Anton Miranchuk fired Russia ahead shortly after half-time, pouncing on a rebound after Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan Hachim parried Alexander Sobolev's low shot to his right.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Sergei Pinyaev then grabbed a second in style, becoming Russia's youngest ever goalscorer in the process at 18 years, four months and 24 days. The Lokomotiv Moscow winger exploited Iraq's high defensive line, before cutting in from the left and squeezing a low shot to the goalkeeper's right.

The hosts dominated possession but struggled to make it pay in the first half, with Ayman Hussein and Ibrahim Bayesh squandering good opportunities for the visitors.

Official attendance at the 68,000-seater Gazprom Arena was 23,818. The stadium had been due to host last year's Champions League final before Russia was stripped of that honour.

Both European football body UEFA and global football's governing body FIFA decided in February 2022 that all Russian teams -- national or club sides -- would be suspended from their competitions following the invasion.

Russia's men have played just four matches since Moscow embarked on what it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine, all away from home, winning 2-1 in Kyrgyzstan last September, before draws against Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran.

The hosts created a few chances in the first half, with Russia's best moment coming from Danil Fomin, who forced a great save from Hassan Hachim after 36 minutes.

But Iraq came closest to opening the scoring on the counter attack, with Hussein blazing wide from a tight angle, before Bayesh saw his shot from 20 yards saved comfortably by Sergei Pesyakov.

The Russian goalkeeper looked shaky on the ball, almost gifting Iraq a goal twice with loose passes.

Miranchuk squandered a chance to double his tally in the 65th minute, while Sobolev struck the bar with a header two minutes later.

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has left the England squad ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine after undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis, the Premier League club said on Sunday.

The 22-year-old played 12 minutes of England's 2-1 win in Italy earlier this week before undergoing surgery on their return to London.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

"He will not be fit for this weekend's Premier League game at home to Liverpool and it is unclear at this stage how long he will be unavailable for," City said in a statement.

City, who are second in the Premier League, host Liverpool on Saturday. England face Ukraine at Wembley later on Sunday.

First-half goals from Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka helped England seal a dominant 2-0 victory over Ukraine in Group C of their Euro 2024 qualifying at Wembley on Sunday.

Gareth Southgate's side have now won back-to-back games to begin their bid to qualify for the next European Championships following Thursday's win over Italy. The pair of matches were also their first since being knocked out in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Harry Kane opened the scoring with a well-taken volley from inside the six-yard box that went through the legs of Ukraine goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. The strike was Kane's 55th goal for England, coming days after he broke the country's all-time scoring record, previously held by Wayne Rooney, against Italy.

Saka doubled England's lead just three minutes later with an eye-catching curled strike from the edge of the box into the far corner.

Ukraine had their moments and enjoyed some pressure after the interval but never really looked capable of claiming only a second victory over England in 10 attempts.

The second half was tepid although it was noteworthy for an international debut for Brentford forward Ivan Toney who came on 10 minutes from the end as a substitute for Kane.

Ukraine, who came agonisingly close to qualifying for the World Cup but lost a playoff to Wales, will be relieved to have got their toughest fixture out of the way.

There was plenty of sympathy for war-ravaged Ukraine around Wembley Stadium with 1,000 tickets donated to refugees and their sponsor families and the country's anthem warmly-applauded.

But all sentiment was put to one side once the whistle sounded with England focussed only on building on their first victory in 62 years against Italy on Italian soil.

It took them a while to get going, however, as Ukraine comfortably kept the hosts at bay for most of the first half.

Kane, who was presented with a golden boot beforehand, was missing two routine chances, first fluffing a close-range volley and then prodding an inviting James Maddison delivery over.

But when he got a third chance he made no mistake.

Having passed the ball out to Saka, the captain then ghosted into the area and was picked out by the Arsenal's man cross to touch the ball home. Saka then produced a goal of stunning quality, turning on to Jordan Henderson's pass and curling a shot into the top corner.

Ukraine, who had a couple of half chances early on, showed plenty of energy after the interval but did not have the quality to ruffle and England side in cruise control.

It could have been a bigger margin of victory if substitutes Conor Gallagher and Jack Grealish, left out in favour of Maddison, had converted chances, although by that time thousands of England fans had decided to get to the station early.

Ukraine's fans stayed until the end, however, and gave their team a rousing ovation in a corner that was a sea of yellow and blue. Their next game will be against North Macedonia in June while England are away in Malta next.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.

The January transfer window is closed around Europe, but teams are looking ahead to the summer and there's plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!

TOP STORY: Man United eye Ferguson, Hojlund

Brighton teenager Evan Ferguson will be on Manchester United's shortlist this summer, according to Football Insider.

Ferguson, 18, has scored three goals and provided two assists from 10 games in the Premier League -- as well as three goals in four games in the FA Cup -- after being promoted to the first team by Roberto de Zerbi this season.

The Republic of Ireland international striker has developed quickly and became Brighton's youngest-ever player when he made his debut against Burnley in 2022.

Meanwhile, Ekstra Bladet says that United have an interest in signing Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund. The 20-year-old Denmark international has seven goals in 23 Serie A games this season and is a self-confessed fan of Man United. He has also drawn comparisons in style to Man City striker Erling Haaland.

Sources have told ESPN that United's priority targets up front for the summer will include Napoli's Victor Osimhen, RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and, if he opts against signing a new contract at Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Kane. However, they would all cost over €100 million to sign.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

LIVE BLOG

19.01 BST: Barcelona's mountain of debt and subsequent financial woes are well known throughout the football world, so Mundo Deportivo writing that the Blaugrana asked RB Leipzig attacker Dani Olmo not to sign a new contract with the Bundesliga outfit, taking him to a year from free agency and subsequently lowering his transfer value, should come as little surprise. The Red Bull-backed club are said to want a €40m transfer fee to sanction the departure of the 24-year-old Spain international, a figure that Barca can't afford, while similarly interested clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich can.

17.34 BST: Sport reports that even though Barcelona had practically everything agreed to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves last summer, the Catalan club are now abandoning the project. That's because the 26-year-old Portugal international is said to be negotiating a transfer to remain in the lucrative Premier League with Manchester United.

16.07 BST: Record says that Manchester United are keeping tabs on Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos and could make a move to sign him this summer.

Ramos, 21, shot to attention as he starred at the World Cup for Portugal after replacing Cristiano Ronaldo in the first XI. He has continued his good form with 24 goals in 36 games for his club across all competitions this season.

Sources told ESPN that United were interested ahead of the January transfer window, but now his transfer fee will have risen significantly.

Ramos is reportedly unhappy with Benfica over negotiations around a new contract, which have not materialised. His current terms until 2026 have a release clause of €120m and Benfica would want close to that in order to let him leave.

15.28 BST: Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha could move to Tottenham if Mauricio Pochettino returns to the club, says The Sun.

Zaha, 30, is out of contract in the summer and is reportedly considering a move to a bigger club.

Spurs are likely to sack manager Antonio Conte in the coming weeks, with former boss Pochettino a possible option to replace him. If that happens, then Pochettino is keen to sign Zaha.

14.44 BST: Fabrizio Romano claims that Arsenal are interested in signing Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.

Lavia, 19, only moved to the club in the summer for around £10m from Manchester City and has been in fine form this season, despite Southampton's struggles at the foot of the table.

City have a £40m clause to re-sign the Belgian but Arsenal could get in there first and secure his signature.

13.30 BST: Who will Spurs hire if they sack Antonio Conte?

12.22 BST: Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets is still not convinced by the club's offer to extend his contract and is attracted by a move to Major League Soccer, Mundo Deportivo reports.

Busquets, 34, who has made over 700 appearances for Barcelona and is club captain, retired from international football with Spain after the World Cup in Qatar and becomes a free agent this summer.

On March 15, Barca handed Busquets an offer of a one-year contract extension, with an optional second depending on games played. However, his wages would be lower than what he is currently earning and he is unlikely to sign a deal on those terms.

In recent months there has been interest in his services from MLS side Inter Miami and Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.

11.45 BST: Inter Milan are closely monitoring Boca Juniors forward Mateo Retegui, according to Sky Italia.

Retegui, 23, made his senior debut for Italy in a 2-1 loss to England in Thursday's Euro 2024 qualifier.

He is playing his club football at Argentinian side Club Atletico Tigre, on loan from Boca, and Tigre have an option to sign him on a permanent basis for €2.5m once his loan expires in December, with Boca expected to retain 50% of any future fee.

Inter have followed Retegui's progress for over a year but since his call-up to the Italy team, other clubs have also expressed an interest in the Argentina-born forward.

11.04 BST: Nemanja Matic's contract with Roma has been automatically renewed until June 2024, Sky Italia reports.

Matic, 34, joined Roma from Manchester United last summer as a free agent. The Serbia midfielder's contract was due to expire this summer but a one-year contract extension has been automatically triggered after he made his 26th league appearance, 13th as a starter, for the Giallorossi against Sassuolo on March 12.

10.25 BST: Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks set to leave the club this summer.

Aubameyang, 33, has dropped down the pecking order (with three goals in 18 appearances) and could return to Barcelona just six months after he left them to move to Stamford Bridge for €12m.

AS claims he will make a big effort to return to Camp Nou, pushing to be let go as a free agent this summer and cutting his wages in order to facilitate his return. He also travelled to Barcelona to cheer his former teammates on in El Clasico on March 19 during a break from Chelsea.

Gazzetta dello Sport, however, claims that Inter Milan are also interested in bringing him in. Though that deal could hinge on the future of €115m striker Romelu Lukaku, who is on loan at Inter from Chelsea.

10.01 BST: Tottenham are interested in Uruguay defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte, says the Daily Mirror.

Ugarte, 21, impressed for his country at the World Cup and his form for club Sporting CP in recent months suggests he could be ready to make the step up.

Sporting want to extend his contract, which is set until 2026, as the current version reportedly has a €25m release clause.

09.22 BST: Man City striker Erling Haaland is still the first year of a contract that runs until 2027, but the club are looking to extend it already.

The Sun claims that Haaland, 22, earns around £375,000-a-week now and that would be boosted to £500,000-a-week to ward off interest from Real Madrid.

09.00 BST - ICYMI: Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the summer if Manchester United decide to let him leave, sources have told ESPN.

Henderson is on loan at Nottingham Forest until the end of the season and is set for talks with United about his future.

The 26-year-old has a contract at Old Trafford until 2025 with the option of another year but he's keen to play regular football in an effort to force his way into the England squad ahead of the Euros in Germany in 2024 and the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

United refused to include the option of a permanent transfer in Henderson's loan agreement with Forest last summer.