Luke McLaughlin’s piece is in and with that I’ll sign off. What an effort from Luke to get something cohesive on the whistle. I promise you, cracking last minute nail-biters are brilliant, unless you have to file a report. So well done him.
And well done Italy. They’ll rue the missed opportunity but there’s no question they’d have taken a draw before kick-off. A remarkable performance from their backline and loose forwards and credit to their tight five for growing in the game.
Lots to ponder for France who have looked disjointed, bereft of ideas and low on confidence. Can they turn it around? We’ll find out in two weeks’ time when they head to Cardiff.
Thanks for keeping me company. Arrivederci!
Loads of concerns for France. Good point being made here. Even when they changed most of the pack in the second half they faded as the match went on.
The biggest concern for France is that they lost a backline player, not a forward, but their pack looked completely cooked at the end there. Bossed in the scrums. Slow around the park. Big boys but are they flat track bullies from 0-45mins?
— A-P (@rugby_ap) February 25, 2024
Now Garbisi:
I was just thinking about trusting my process. I take full responsibility for that. I’m sorry for the team because they were amazing today. And to all the Italian supporters. That’s my bad.
The performance was good overall. If you get to 13-13 in the last minute against France it means you did well. The extra man helped. But we spend too much time in our half in the first half. We had more space in the second half. It all comes down to the last kick.
This is only the third match with the new coaching staff. We’re still learning what they want from us. We’re learning new things.
Now a scowling Shaun Edwards:
Obviously [it’s better getting a draw]. We overplayed. Fortunately the guy missed the kick. But we’re disappointed with the draw. We expected to beat Italy. We had all the ball in the first half. The second half was the total opposite. To concede 13 points with 14 players [isn’t so bad].
Obviously you want your team to score tries. We had a lot of pressure. You have to give credit to Italy’s defence. They had the same intensity to what we do. Credit to them, they were fantastic.
[No complaints about the red card. Nor should there be].
[Why isn’t it clicking?] I’ve been pretty happy with defence. First game we weren’t great against Ireland but they’re a fantastic team. Offensively, we need quicker ball at the base of the ruck [if only there was a scrumhalf who was the master at quick ball]
For those of you who haven’t see it, here’s that decisive moment:
😲 UNBELIEVABLE DRAMA!
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) February 25, 2024
Paolo Garbisi's 82nd-minute penalty hits the post to deny Italy a historic win in France!
Heartbreak for the visitors 💔#GuinnessSixNations | #FRAvITA pic.twitter.com/VywBO78YT6
‘One centimetre from history’
Sport can be so cruel.
A un centimetro dalla storia @SixNationsRugby#insieme #rugbypassioneitaliana pic.twitter.com/Azc78jG5uK
— Italrugby (@Federugby) February 25, 2024
Were Italy robbed?
Our reader Tomas Thronicker points out the laws of the game weren’t followed:
“Law 8.22, If the kicker indicates to the referee the intent to kick at goal, the opposing team must stand still with their hands by their sides from the time the kicker starts to approach to kick until the ball is kicked.”
That never happened. Sadly the officials got that wrong I feel.
Here’s Vintcent:
It was gutting to see it hit the post. But I don’t think that takes away from the performance.
We just said that we’re blowing but they’re blowing just as hard. If we could stick in the fight and go 80 minutes we’d be in with a chance.
I’m very grateful to be playing in front of this many people.
The boys showed a lot of heart. There is something brewing here for sure.
Adam Roberts has a longer memory than me:
“Reminds me of Don Fox, 1968 Challenge Cup Final and Eddie Waring ‘He’s a poor lad’”
Can’t say I know that one. But I’m sure no one who watched this Garbisi miss will forget it either.
How did the ball fall off the tee? That was under a closed roof. There was no wind. Have you got your tinfoil hats ready? Red strings prepped for a criss-crossing conspiracy board? Something ain’t right.
We’ll be hearing a lot about that last kick in the coming weeks.
Skipping between football and rugby. How did France get away with a water boy standing in Garbisi’s way? #SixNationsRugby
— Craig Ray (@craigray11) February 25, 2024
France were their own worst enemeies and Danty will have a lot of explaining to do.
Reader Andy Flintoff has a question I’m sure we’d all like an answer to:
“I don’t get why so many professional players are being pinged (and carded) for high tackles and head-to-head (or shoulder-to-head) contact - it’s almost the first thing that a rugby playing kid gets taught when contact is introduced. Are professionals forgetting or are they being deliberately coached to hit higher?”
No excuse, Andy. Which is why referees and TMOs are coming down hard on those who get it wrong and put others at risk.
Try doing a live blog, Charlie.
can't spake.
— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) February 25, 2024
Did France charge down the penalty?
Tell you what, now that I think back I think they did send players to rush forward. Should the referee have restarted the shot clock even after the ball fell off the tee? To be honest I’m at a loss. Any refs out there?
Jeez what a miss for Italy. They really, really should have won that. Garbisi rushed. But the referee should've handled France's cynical play there better. You can't charge down a penalty. France tried it twice to run down the clock. Should've reset the clock.
— Dylan Jack (@dylmjack) February 25, 2024
I’m reeling. I just can’t imagine what Garbisi is going through. What any of those Italian players are going through. The one saving grace is that Garbisi didn’t just miss. He missed largely as a result of the ball falling off the tee. Still, that was a major opportunity to create history and become the first Italian team to win in France. It does, though, end a 14-game losing streak against their neighbours.
How cruel is that? If the ball hadn’t fallen off the tee I have almost no doubt that Garbisi would have slotted that. How unfortunate. Italy deserved a win. Menoncello gets the player of the match but it could have gone to one of several Italians. Oh my goodness. What a finish.
FULL-TIME: France 13-13 Italy
Garbisi hits the post! The ball fell off the tee which meant he had to dash to put it back on and then rush his kick. He never looked set and hooked it as it struck the post. I can’t believe it!!!
It’s about 25 metres out just on the angle. France had no choice but to run it and that gave Italy the chance to step in and steal the ball on the ground. We’re on the edge of history…
80+ min: ITALY HAVE WON A PENALTY WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE!
80 min: France win the line-out and will have one more shot. Down the line. Lebel smothered as he carries. France set again. Meaty carries through the midfield. A floated ball from Ramos to the right wing. Varney does well to wrap up Penaud. Last chance saloon now.
78 min: Italy steal it back. They’re deep in their own half and consider running it. Garbisi chooses to kick and gets a great bounce that puts the ball out 20 metres into French territory. France – again – gave away the ball on the attack. Two years ago this was the best team on the planet. What has happened to them?
76 min: [Insert Italian curse words]. What a time to lose your first line-out of the match. France have it back and are back into Italy’s half.
75 min: France knock-on in the tackle as an aimless attack meanders down the line. Italy think about running from deep but Ioane kicks. France run from deep with Lebel getting the ball. Italy’s defence floods forward and they force a spilled ball. They have the feed on the left with a huge gap in France’s midfield. Never mind that. They’ve won a scrum penalty! Outstanding shove. Do they take a shot at goal? Nope, they’ve kicked it out and will take the line-out inside French territory.
72 min: France need to catch a wake-up real fast. Ramos dinks a cross-kick to the left wing and he finds his man. France build around halfway but Italy’s defence is keeping them there. Ramos floats a lovely pass to Penaud who steps a man, chips and forces Capuozzo to catch under pressure. Garbisi has it and is tackled as he tries to kick so knocks on. French scrum just outside Italy’s 22 on the right flank.
TRY! France 13-13 Italy (Capuozzo, 70)
They’ve got it! It started with a scrum in their own 22 and they rampaged forward from first phase and breezed past Ramos at 10. recycling, click hands, swift passing and the final off-load after the last defender from Marin found his fullback who dived over to score. Garbisi converts from the touchline and we’re level!
Updated
70 min: In a flash Italy have gone fron their own 22 to France’s. Varney is everywhere but the entire backline has sparked into life. Brex, Ioane, Garbisi. They’re close. Their forwards are charging. There’s space out to the left…
68 min: France win the line-out from their penalty and set a rumbling maul. It makes good ground but the ball stays with the heavies up front and Italy manage to make it unplayable so win the scrum. Great maul defence there after being marched backwards.
67 min: AAAAAAAH! Anyone got any good swear words in Italian? They give away a scrum penalty just as they’d set what looked like a promising attacking platform. Flatman isn’t sure that was the right call.
66 min: All Italy right now with Varney and Garbisi keeping the ball moving. Menoncello again carries well. As does Ioane who stepped off his left foot and unfurled an off-load in the tackle. Le Garrec rushed up to intercept after Italy strung together a neat wraparound move down the line, but he couldn’t gather so Italy will have the scrum 10 metres into French territory and bang in front of the poles. Pods of two men stationed on either side of the scrum. This could be interesting if they get clean ball.
64 min: Italy go short at the line-out and Capuozzo steps Fickou and finds Ioane in his inside. Italy are trucking forward. Menoncello comes off his wing and finds space but there’s a soft knock-on at the back of the ruck so France have the scrum inside their 22.
63 min: France give away another penalty on the ground. “Poor concentration and poor discipline” says Flatman. He’s right. They’ve beeb dreadful in that department.
PENALTY! France 13-6 Italy (Garbisi, 62)
The gap closes to seven. Italy gaining confidence. I reckon they’re starting to believe.
60 min: Penalty against Marchand for losing his body weight at the ruck. It’s on France’s 22 and bang in front so Garbisi will take the easy three. More control with the ball from Italy. There was a bit of innovation as an Italian pretended to grab the ball from the back of a maul and charge to the line. Except he didn’t have it. It was still with the back. Once it came loose Brex cantered forward before Marchand erred.
58 min: Italy, like France, are struggling to find a way through the stiff defensive wall. Garbisi looks up and can’t see a gap so he kicks low down the blindside. Another waste of possession. France kick into Italy’s 22 and the visitors launch a counter down the line. This is better. A spiralled pass from Capuozzo finds a teammate in space near the right flank but it drifts forward. No bother though. Italy win a scrum penalty and now have a line-out on France’s 22.
56 min: France again though Fickou is shunted back by a hefty tackle from Mononcello. France have it back after a dinked chip up field forces Italy to scramble. A poor kick from Varney hands the initiative back to France who charge forward. But they can’t make it count as another penalty sucks out the air from that attack. If I were a French fan I’d be tearing my hair out.
54 min: Italy’s scrum is secure and the clearance from Page-Relo is long. That’s his last act as Varney enters the scene.
52 min: Another maddening error from France as they lose possession on the attack. Although maybe there was a crafty rip in contact from Ruzza. Either way, a promising move from France once again comes to nothing.
50 min: France kick it straight out from just outside their own 22 so Italy have the feed. But Romain Taofifenua gets his large frame down low to seal the ball and win a penalty on the deck.
49 min: France bring on the Taofifenua brothers as well as Marchand, Aldegheri and Roumat. Sweeping changes to the pack. Lucu is off as well.
47 min: Ruzza shows strength to hold the ball up under pressure. Italy keep the ball moving. Seven phases now. Then eight. A pass wide and then a chip out of nowhere almost lands favourably. The onrushing Italian wing (I think that was Menoncello) couldn’t get there with an outstretched dive.
PENALTY! France 13-3 Italy (Ramos, 45)
Soft from Italy and France’s 10 point lead is restored. A minute ago Page-Relo pinned France in their own 22. But two penalties resulted in a 60 metre swing and three points on the board.
Updated
44 min: Lucu breaks down the blindside, kicks and Capuozzo returns a relatively inept clearance. That gives France the chance to counter and they bust through several collisions thanks largely to Cros – who is having a great game. Italy are scrambling and they stick out an unnecessary hand to give away a penalty on the floor.
43 min: France win the line-out under pressure and get a relieving penalty as Italy over commit at the breakdown.
42 min: Italy look so much sharper. Much better ball retention as they carry, they’re targeting that midfield. Page-Relo boxes a low raking kick and it’s superbly palced. It’s not a 50-22, but he forces France to throw to the line deep in their own 22.
RED CARD! Danty is gone!
France are down to 14. Before they kick off the referee pulls out his red card and Italy have a huge opportunity. Second half underway.
Updated
Hard to see how this stays yellow. Danty in big trouble.
🟨 Jonathan Danty is sent to the sin bin just before the break...
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) February 25, 2024
Will the bunker upgrade it to a red card? 🤔#GuinnessSixNations | #FRAvITA pic.twitter.com/FQaKH3cBtS
Er, what he said.
If that stays red, this is on for Italy.
— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) February 25, 2024
It's on, like a tighthead's thong.
Half-Time: Penalty! France 10-3 Italy (Garbisi)
The last act of the half comes from Garbisi who drills a mighty kick from distance to notch Italy’s first points.
They’ll be buzzing to head into the shed at 10-3 down. France could have scored five tries at least but only managed the one. Italy’s defence held and eventually held their own in the scrum. No question France dominated but they’ll start the second a man down after Danty was shown a yellow card for a high hit.
Weird one. Could still go in either direction.
Yellow Card! France (Danty, 40)
No question. This could be upgraded to red. he never got low enough and had plenty of time to adjust. It was a good read as he burst up to make the hit. But that looked pretty bad on review.
40+ min: After the half time hooter Italy keep attacking. Garbisi and then Brex charge through gaps in the line. It’s messy and a little hectic. Loads of wild passes and players straightening from static positions. The move fizzles to nothing but they’re looking at a potential head on hit hit from Danty.
40 min: Two consecutive penalties for Italy in their own 22 means they can clear up field. Vintcent is having a great game at the base of Italy’s pack. His dynamism as he picks and goes is proving productive.
39 min: It’s just not happening for France. Woki wins another line-out. They maul then splinter. Lucu shifts it. Ramos spirals a skip pass for Penaud but it’s above his head. The winger leaps and tries to off-load back in field. It’s behind the run of Lebel and there’s a knock-on. Another visit to Italy’s 22 ends with no score.
37 min: Held up! Tuilagi gets over the line with a pick and go but can’t ground it. The move started with some delicious skills from the big teenager. He charged onto a short pass and gave a little dummy and then a quick step to burst through a tackler and canter up field. France recycled well but couldn’t get that killer move to land. Lucu had a go as di Mauvaka. Tuilagi had the last shot but was held up. They had the advantage so kicked to the corner to set a maul.
Jalibert can’t shake his injury and is replaced by Moefana. Ramos will shift to 10.
35 min: Lamaro walks into a breakdown and simply picks up a loose ball. France seemingly forgot to seal that off. Italy clear away but there’s concern for Jalibert who is clutching his right knee and is an apparent world of pain. Yup, he copped a mighty low shot as he passed the ball.
France have been below par. Yet again. French fans look frustrated in the stands.
33 min: Italy go short at the line-out. That’s been a clear tactic to keep the ball away from France’s big units. It works again and they carry without much punch until Fischetti wriggles past a couple of tacklers. Ramos fields a kick, carries into contact and France nick a penalty on the deck around halfway as Jalibert punts to the 22.
31 min: Italy just can’t string two consecutive moves together. Once again they win the line-out, make metres with slick hands but spill the ball in contact. France give it back to them with a nothing kick but have it back as Italy hoof an aimless punt of their own. This is getting a little stodgy. Penaud has it down the right flank and attempts a chip and chase. It skews off the side of his boot and straight into touch.
30 min: Italy win a scrum penalty this time. Baille penalised for going to deck. That silenced the crowd. Garbisi can now hoof the ball away from danger about 10 metres short of halfway.
28 min: Italy’s scrum holds and they set their exit well. But an inexplicable off-load is snaffled by Cros and now France have a shot in the red zone. The ball goes wide and Jalibert has a dart himself instead of passing. Again I question that decision from the French 10. Fickou cuts back against the grain and Tuilagi shows lovely hands to keep it moving. A wild pass lands on the turf and Penaud picks up and makes several metres. France are struggling with continuity as Italy’s tenacious defence turns this phase into a scrap. France knock-on so Italy will get another opportunity to set an exit with a scrum.
26 min: Italy win the line-out and Vintcent makes good yardage with a busting carry. France win it back after Italy cough it up in contact. A kick gives possession back to Italy who respond in kind with an awful mistake from Brex who takes an age to clear from the boot. The ball is charged down and France have a chance in the corner. Lebel can’t gather the loose ball off the floor so Italy have a scrum.
Updated
24 min: Italy’s scrum holds but the ball is out the back and Danty charges with a hard straight run. Down the line. Lucu finds Tuilagi who is brought down. Cros can’t get over the line. Atonio just about manages. Lucu feeds Jalibert who opts for a cross-kick for Penaud. It’s over-cooked and a bit of a waste. Not sure why he did that to be honest. Italy will have the line-out inside their 22.
22 min: Woki wins the line-out as Italy decline the contest. Mauvaka joins the maul before peeling off the back. Jalibert takes it to the line before Cros does likewise. Tuilagi gets over the gainline and Atonio almost stitches a wonderful off-load in the tackle. Wonderful skills on show from some of the bigger men. They’re not just brutes. They can play! But Italy’s defence holds. Just about. They keep France at bay but give away a penalty for shooting up too early. France call for a scrum about six metres from the line.
20 min: Another scrum penalty! That’s two in a row against Italy after they had the feed. Fischetti is being eaten alive. Atonio all over him. Jalibert kicks to the corner. About 10m out from Italy’s line.
19 min: Cros wins the line-out and they set up a carry for Atonio who makes about eight metres through sheer heft after running over Garbisi. Nothin’ doin’ though so Ramos kicks over halfway. France make a mess of Italy’s line-out but there’s a French knock-on. Italy have the scrum feed just inside their own half.
17 min: France win a penalty in their own red zone. France dominating the breakdown. Menoncello picked and went but was isolated. Italy look so much better when they go through the hands and find width. France will welcome short charges into heavy traffic all day. Danty getting the credit for that steal as Jalibert hoofs it to the halfway line.
Updated
16 min: France gather the restart and Lucu executes a perfect clearing kick. Vintcent brings down the line-out and Italy, with an advantage, go down the line. Nicotera charges before Menoncello carries well but they can’t get enough go-forward so will come back for the penalty. Better from Italy. Garbisi kicks into the corner.
PENALTY! France 10-0 Italy (Ramos, 15)
Three more for France. That was just a gigantic scrum. France can smell blood here. They’re bossing things right now.
13 min: France win a scrum penalty off an Italian feed. Fischetti absolutely monstered by the double act of Atonio and Tuilagi behind him. That’s almost 300kg on that side of the scrum.
12 min: The big lad Tuilagi shows a lovely pair of hands as he unleashes Jalibert who runs round an Italian prop and charges 40 metres up field. He finds Fickou off the shoulder who takes it into the 22. Numbers form out wide and it goes down the line but Mauvaka in space can’t hold on. Blistering from France.
Updated
11 min: Italy are keeping the ball well but France’s defence is smothering Garbisi who is seemingly playing in a phone box. Italy look a little short of ideas. An aimless kick dribbles over France’s line so they’ll restart with a drop-kick.
9 min: Ioane brings the ball up from deep and Italy’s support just about keep the ball on their side. But a sloppy mistake at the breakdown hands possession back. France go down the line but kick it straight to Capuozzo. That didn’t feel necessary as they look so dangerous with ball in hand.
TRY! France 7-0 Italy (Ollivon, 7)
France on the board! It came off the back of a scrum on the 22 and ended with Ollivon linking with Woki whose rampaging run almost took him to the line himself. Instead he had to pop it up for his skipper who gathered after a few bobbles, went to ground and twisted his body to ground it.
The extras are added from right in front off Ramos’ boot and France are on their way.
Updated
7 min: Huge carries from France. The get it to the line and there’s an on-field call of a try. Ollivon looks confident as he comes up from the pile of bodies. They have an advantage so even if this doesn’t stick they’ll have another opportunity. Could be a knock-on in the build up.
6 min: Italy contest the line-out but knock on. They were more aggressive there and made a mess of France’s ball at the back of the set-piece. Baille was a little loose but they’ll get the feed. Still a great platform to launch from the right of Italy’s 22. They win a scrum penalty and two busty charges takes them to within five.
5 min: Woki wins a line-out and a strong French maul rumbles forward and wins a penalty. Jalibert kicks with an advantage but can’t find his winger with that raking grubber. He gets the ball back and kicks into Italy’s 22.
4 min: Penalty for France now. Italy can’t protect the ball and failed to build momentum with carries around the fringe. Sharp work from Cros to steal it off the deck.
2 min: Italy win a penalty with Fischetti getting over the ball after a meaty tackle. Garbisi kicks it out and Italy set a maul. Brex runs hard from midfield. Italy getting through the phases.
Here we go! France in their delicious dark royal blue. Italy in white with their blue trimmings. Christophe Ridley makes his debut in the Six Nations with a sharp blast of his whistle.
According to the Six Nations’ official website, France have a 92% chance of victory. Italy have a paltry 7%. Just the 1% chance of a draw. Anyone fancy those odds?
“Could be fun this avo,” says reader Jeremy Boyce.
“France in rebuild, missing their world xv half backs, and obviously not at their relentless best. Italy had been looking good in the World Cup but firing blanks again in the 6 Nations, could this be their moment to get some spicy hot oil back on their pizza?”
Apart from the pummellings they got against France and New Zealand in the World Cup you mean?
The teams are heading out the tunnel. Allez le bleus rings out as the anthems get underway. Two of the best in the comp no doubt.
Updated
“It’s been too long,” explains Italy’s best-ever player, Sergio Parisse, speaking about this losing streak against France that stretches back to February 2013.
Parisse was captain that day in Rome 11 years ago when he scored a try in a 23-18 win over a grand-slam chasing French team containing Freddie Michalak and Thierry Dusautoir.
“It’s a good challenge,” says Italy’s coach Gonzalo Queseda. He points out that his team played well for half the match against England. That feels like a familiar story for Italy.
The sharp-dressed Argentine, who worked as an assistant coach for France between 2008-11, explains that most of the six changes to his team were forced upon him, but it does provide an opportunity build depth in the squad.
Our man Luke McLaughlin is in Lille:
The roof is closed at Stade Pierre-Mauroy but still, it feels colder in here than the 9C forecast. A proper winter’s day. The outcome this afternoon may seem like a foregone conclusion but it’s still a hot ticket: a man was just wandering around outside the stadium holding up a cardboard sign reading: “CHERCHE 1 PLACE”. The mood among the French fans is buoyant, and although it’s quite difficult to see how Gonzalo Quesada’s team can seriously trouble their hosts, we (the neutrals) live in hope of a competitive affair. Allez!
With Tomasso Alan taking a mini break from Test rugby, Federico Ruzza in the second row is the only Italian with more than 50 caps.
Will that make a difference? Maybe, but the exuberance of youth can often compel teams to have a go, give it some air and charge into the guts of the opposition. Italy won’t win an arm wrestle with that monstrous French pack.
But it can’t be reckless. As David Flatman says on ITV, they won’t make inroads by predictably running it from all parts. They’ll need to mix things up if they want to end this 14-match losing streak against France.
Change to French team.
Young winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey pulled out of the match after picking up a knock in training yesterday so is replaced by Mathis Lebel. The 24-year-old who plays for Toulouse wins his sixth cap for his country.
We’ve already had one maverick playmaker cast spells this weekend. As Gerard Meagher notes, Finn Russell was spellbinding in Scotland’s win over England. I highly rate Italy’s Garbisi but he has to drag his team to a famous win to take his place alongside the elite fly-halves in the world.
Italian team
Italian rugby is on the rise. Then again, that’s been true for several seasons now. They came within a score of beating England in the opening round and are bolstered by a productive youth programme and two clubs that are starting to come good. And just look at that backline!
Ange Capuozzo at fullback provides a threat from with Paolo Garbisi pulling the strings at 10. Monty Ioane prvoides puch out wide with a strong running midfield.
Their forwards, though, have often lacked grunt and the tight five still looks short of heft. Exeter’s Ross Vincent starts at the back of the scrum and will be asked to carry into heavy traffic.
Italy: Capuozzo; Menoncello, Brex, Mori, Ioane; Garbisi, Page-Relo; Fischetti, Nicotera, Zilocchi, Cannone, Ruza, Favretto, Lamaro (c), Vintcent.
Replacements: Luccehsi, Spagnolo, Ferrari, Canali, Zombonin, Zuliani, Varney, Marin.
🇮🇹 Here's how the Italians line-up to take on France this weekend ⬇️#GuinnessM6N @Federugby
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 23, 2024
French team
After their u20s lost to Italy at home on Friday, the big boys will want to send out a reminder that France remains a powerhouse in the game.
They’ve yet to show that this tournament and Maxime Lucu will be desperate to put on a commanding show at nine in the absence of Antoine Dupont.
There’s a start for colossal teenager Posolo Tuilagi in the second row with a glittering backline that can strike from anywhere. Surely this team is too good to slip today. Right?
France: Ramos; Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Lebel; Jalibert, Lucu; Baille, Mauvaka, Atonio, Woki, Tuilagi, Boudehent, Ollivon (c), Cros.
Replacements: Marchand, Taofifenua, Aldegheri, Taofifenua, Roumat, Abadie, Le Garrec, Moefana.
🇫🇷⚡️🇮🇹 La composition de 𝐕𝐎𝐒 𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐔𝐒 pour affronter l'Italie ! #FRAITA
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 23, 2024
⏳ Rendez-vous dimanche à 16h à Lille pour la 3ème journée des #SixNations 2024#NeFaisonsXV #XVdeFrance pic.twitter.com/ZA0ZniZIRV
Updated
Preamble
Bonjour, ciao and welcome to the European mainland derby. It doesn’t quite have the ring of a Calcutta Cup, or even the history of the all-Celtic clash between Wales and Ireland, but this contest between the two newest entrants to the Six Nations has a certain charm of its own.
Both sides need a statement. France have been awful by their own lofty standards. A shellacking at home to Ireland and a fortunate win in a scrappy match against Scotland has given life to the theory that Le Bleus are gripped by a sense of ennui since their World Cup disappointment last year.
As for Italy, it’s the same old story as they seek a performance that proves their worth in a competition they’ve propped up for far too long. They too were no match for the Irish machine and slipped up at home to England, though they might feel they should have won that one.
So, we head to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille to answer a few questions. Can France shake off the rust? Can Italy step up? And will week three of this year’s Six Nations close with a bang?
We’ll find out at 3pm BST/2pm local time.
Teams and updates to come.
