France take on Italy in the Six Nations today, knowing that they must produce a statement win before a potentially decisive trip to Ireland coming up.
After demolishing woeful Wales to nil on opening night, pre-tournament favourites Les Bleus handed huge initiative to historic three-peat chasing Ireland at Twickenham in round two, stunned by a last-gasp Elliot Daly try to lose 26-25 in a thriller.
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Fabien Galthie’s side butchered numerous try-scoring chances during an unusually profligate and error-strewn performance against an England team on a torrid run of form against fellow Tier One nations, failing to get a grip on the wet conditions as they saw hopes of a Grand Slam disappear despite another try-scoring brace from lethal wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
Such an unexpected loss has led to stern criticism back home, with many now questioning if Galthie has wasted a golden generation of French talent, with just one Six Nations title for France since 2010 and no success on the global stage.
With a massive trip to Dublin coming up after Ireland survived their own scare against improved Wales in Cardiff on Saturday to clinch the Triple Crown, the pressure is now suddenly on as they head to Rome to face an Italy team who are on a high after following a disappointing round one defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield by inflicting a 14th successive Test defeat on Wales in another wet slugfest on home soil, prompting the premature end of Warren Gatland’s dismal second reign.
This is a fixture that France almost lost last year at home in what would have been a seismic upset, only for Paolo Garbisi’s injury-time penalty to bounce back off the post to spare French blushes in a 13-13 draw that saw Jonathan Danty red-carded.
Italy vs France date and venue
Italy vs France in the Six Nations takes place today on Sunday February 23, 2025. The Stadio Olimpico in Rome hosts the match.
Italy vs France kick-off time
Sunday’s match gets underway at 3pm GMT, which is 4pm local time and in France.
How to watch Italy vs France
TV channel: Italy vs France is being shown live and free-to-air in the UK on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 2:15pm GMT.
Live stream: The contest can also be viewed live online via the ITVX website and app, which is free with a subscription.
Live blog: You can follow Sunday’s game as it happens with Standard Sport’s live blog.
Italy vs France team news
Galthie has moved Thomas Ramos to fly-half for France with Matthieu Jalibert ill and Romain Ntamack still suspended, with the fit-again Leo Barre coming in at full-back.
Damian Penaud isn’t in the squad at all with Theo Attissogbe lining up opposite Bielle-Biarrey, while Thibaud Flament returns in a huge boost in a new second-row pairing with Mickael Guillard. Alexandre Roumat drops to the bench and there’s no Emmanuel Meafou, who has been ill.
Galthie has raised eyebrows with a Springbok-esque 7-1 bench split in favour of the forwards, with only scrum-half Maxime Lucu providing bench cover for the backs in place of Nolann Le Garrec.
Anthony Jelonch is among the replacements after injury, with promotions too for Dorian Aldegheri and Romain Taofifenua. Georges-Henri Colombe, Hugo Auradou and Emilien Gailleton all drop out.
Italy have made two changes to the side that beat the Welsh, with the injured Monty Ioane replaced on the wing by Simone Gesi and Gianmarco Lucchesi preferred to Giacomo Nicotera at hooker.
Harlequins lock Dino Lamb is out, with Riccardo Favretto called onto the bench along with props Giosue Zilocchi and Mirco Spagnolo, who is back from a ban. Marco Riccioni drops out. Danilo Fischetti and Niccolo Cannone both earn their 50th Italy caps.
Italy vs France lineups
Italy XV: Allan; Capuozzo, Brex, Menoncello, Gesi; P Garbisi, Page-Relo; Fischetti, Lucchesi, Ferrari; N Cannone, Ruzza; Negri, Lamaro (c), L Cannone
Replacements: Nicotera, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Favretto, Zuliani, Vintcent, A Garbisi, Trulla
France XV: Barre; Attissogbe, Barassi, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Ramos, Dupont (c); Gros, Mauvaka, Atonio; Flament, Guillard; Cros, Boudehent, Alldritt
Replacements: Marchand, Baille, Aldegheri, Taofifenua, Roumat, Jegou, Jelonch, Lucu
Italy vs France head-to-head record and results
Had Garbisi’s last-gasp penalty not bobbled off the tee and then hit the post in agonising fashion in Lille last year, Italy would have celebrated a first-ever win in France and one of the biggest upsets in Six Nations history.
As it is, they still have not beaten Les Bleus since earning two victories in three years at home in the Six Nations between 2011-13. Their only win in this fixture before that was all the way back in 1997.
France were on a 14-match winning streak against Italy before drawing 12 months ago.
Italy wins: 3
France wins: 45
Draws: 1
Italy vs France prediction
Italy will be confident after their latest deserved win over lowly Wales that may well have guaranteed the latter a second successive wooden spoon, but you sense they could face a storm this weekend in the form of a wounded French side looking to reassert their title credentials fast.
Despite their glut of handling errors and botched scoring chances at Twickenham, they still should have beaten England and will be eager to decisively and swiftly banish memories of that blip ahead of a massive battle against Ireland in round four that could revitalise their championship hopes.
The Azzurri may be able to keep things close and tense early on, but we expect France to be ultra-physical and utilise their dazzling array of attacking threats to restore a ruthless edge and throw down the challenge to the champions heading to Dublin.
France to win, by 20 points.
Italy vs France odds
Italy to win: 17/2
France to win: 1/14
Draw: 40/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
