France host Italy in round three of the Six Nations this afternoon hoping to build on their impressive, albeit controversial, win over Scotland and complete back-to-back victories in this campaign.
Les Bleus opened the competition in Marseille where they were hammered 38-17 by Ireland and travel to Lille this afternoon as renovation work continues on the Stade de France ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games. France bounced back for a 20-16 success against Scotland at Murrayfield though the hosts were controversially denied a last-gasp winning try.
In contrast, Italy, who are being led by new head coach Gonzalo Quesada, started the Six Nations well with a testing and competitive 24-27 loss to England in Rome. Much like France, their confidence took a hit when they came up against the Irish who romped to a 36-0 victory in Dublin last time out.
The Azzurri will be hoping to bounce back from that loss and record a third-ever Six Nations victory over France when the two sides clash this afternoon.
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France defence coach Shaun Edwards offers his pre-match thoughts to ITV
“We have a roof here, so the conditions are totally different to what they were in Scotland. We are going to have to adapt our tactics to that. It’s more suited to running rugby, but we have selected a big pack. That big pack is there to do a job in the first half and hopefully the backs can do their job in the second half.
“As regards to the [new] coaching staff, we have to gel first, and I think we are doing a pretty good job of doing that. We felt we had momentum after the Scotland game, a very difficult fixture away from home, and now we have momentum there and need to continue.
On Posolo Tuilagi, who makes a first start: “Hopefully he can create some go forward with the ball and stop the go forward when they’ve got the ball. It’s a pretty simple job! There’s other complexities to it, but that’s primarily his job. Italy are a team that never give in, they are fit and mobile.”
Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2024 14:34
Can Italy repeat their age group heroics?
There’s already been one significant victory for Italy over France this weekend, with their Under-20s getting a first ever victory over their neighbours at that level on Friday night. The Italian scrum was simply sensational, marmalising an admittedly slightly under-strength French eight, while wing Marco Scalabrin looks quite the prospect.
And how better to celebrate a breakthrough victory than with some Puccini? Impressive stuff from replacement tighthead Davide Ascari, who has got some serious pipes.
Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2024 14:27
Italy team news
No late scares for Italy, with the 23 named on Friday intact for kick off. Gonzalo Quesada shuffles his pack after a bruising trip to Dublin that saw Italy fail to register: Federico Mori starts at inside centre with Tommaso Menoncello shifted out to the wing, while Martin Page-Relo replaces Stephen Varney at scrum half with the Italy coach keen to assess his options at nine.
Riccardo Favretto will win his second international cap three years on from his first in a new-look back row, with the uncapped Matteo Canali among Italy’s own six-strong bench forward unit.
Italy XV: 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 3 Giosue Zilocchi; 4 Niccolo Cannone, 5 Federico Ruzza; 6 Riccardo Favretto, 7 Michele Lamaro (capt.), 8 Ross Vintcent; 9 Martin Page-Relo, 10 Paolo Garbisi; 11 Monty Ioane, 12 Federico Mori, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 14 Tommaso Menoncello; 15 Ange Capuozzo.
Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Andrea Zambonin, 21 Manuel Zuliani; 22 Stephen Varney, 23 Leonardo Marin.
Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2024 14:21
France team news
Fabien Galthie hands teenage lock Posolo Tuilagi his first start in the French pack, with Paul Boudehent brought into the back row after injury to Gregory Alldritt. Charles Ollivon captains in Alldritt’s absence with Francois Cros sliding across to No 8, while potential debutant Esteban Abadie is one of six forwards on the bench.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s neck injury was a bit of a spanner in the French works on match eve – Matthis Lebel had been due to start for Toulouse at full-back tonight, but has been whistled up to the north and comes straight into the starting side.
France XV: 1 Cyrill Baille, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio; 4 Cameron Woki, 5 Posolo Tuilagi; 6 Paul Boudehent, 7 Charles Ollivon (capt.), 8 Francois Cros; 9 Maxime Lucu, 10 Matthieu Jalibert; 11 Matthis Lebel, 12 Jonathan Danty, 13 Gael Fickou, 14 Damian Penaud; 15 Thomas Ramos.
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Sebastien Taofifenua, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 Esteban Abadie; 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Yoram Moefana.
Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2024 14:17
France vs Italy
We are, of course, in Lille today, with France continuing their Six Nations roadshow with the Stade de France out of action ahead of this summer’s Olympic festivities. Uruguay gave Les Bleus one hell of a scare at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy during the World Cup, but I’d expect a slightly livelier atmosphere this afternoon.
Let’s take a closer look at the two teams.
Harry Latham-Coyle25 February 2024 14:12
Pre-match thoughts from Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada:
“Every game is a new opportunity to continue on the path of growth. We know how the last match went and it was useful to work on certain areas of the game.
“We want to show the best version of ourselves. We have heart, character and determination. All these characteristics must be put on the field against a team that is tactically and physically strong.”
Mike Jones25 February 2024 14:06
Pre-match thoughts from France head coach Fabien Galthie:
“When you compete in the Six Nations, it’s like a 400m race, you start by sprinting and you have to accelerate at each turn.
“We want to play better and specifically defend better. Playing better also means without the ball. We need to be more disciplined. We must first be strong on the basics: solidarity, commitment and courage.”
Mike Jones25 February 2024 14:00
Who is Six Nations official Christophe Ridley?
Christophe Ridley will make his Six Nations debut after being appointed to referee the round three clash between France and Italy.
The talented young Englishman joins the officiating panel as a lead official after the retirement of Wayne Barnes, having worked closely with his compatriot during his career so far.
A former member of the academy at Leicester Tigers, Ridley switched to refereeing after a series of injuries and has developed quickly through the ranks after studying at the University of Gloucestershire.
Students on the sports scholarship programme at the university benefit from the expertise of three-time World Cup official Chris White, who helped both Ridley and fellow top official Matthew Carley develop.
Ridley’s Premiership debut came in 2018, taking charge of London Irish vs Wasps, and the 30-year-old travelled to last year’s World Cup as an assistant.
His Six Nations debut comes as one of four English referees appointed to games in the championship, with Carley, Karl Dickson and Luke Pearce all earning selection again.
Mike Jones25 February 2024 13:51
Steve Borthwick describes England’s defeat to Scotland as ‘real painful lesson’
Frustrated Steve Borthwick felt his work-in-progress England team were taught “a real painful lesson” by a Duhan Van Der Merwe-inspired Scotland after the Red Rose crashed to a fourth consecutive Calcutta Cup defeat at Murrayfield.
The visitors arrived in Edinburgh hoping to make it three Guinness Six Nations victories in a row, but after a bright start in which a George Furbank try helped them carve a 10-0 lead in the opening quarter of an hour.
However, they lost their way and were put to the sword by their clinical hosts who ran out 30-21 winners.
Mike Jones25 February 2024 13:43
England heading in right direction overall under Steve Borthwick – Jamie George
Jamie George conceded England were “not good enough” in their Calcutta Cup defeat to Scotland but the captain remained adamant they were heading in the right direction overall under Steve Borthwick.
The Red Rose lost 30-21 at Murrayfield on Saturday, bringing to an end their unbeaten start to this year’s Guinness Six Nations campaign after narrow wins away to Italy and at home to Wales.
England had arrived in Edinburgh having won eight of their previous nine matches, with their only setback in that run being the agonising World Cup semi-final defeat by eventual winners South Africa in October.
Mike Jones25 February 2024 13:31