Key events
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TRY! Italy 24-61 France (Barre, 65)
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TRY! Italy 22-54 France (P Garbisi, 61)
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TRY! Italy 17-France 54 (Dupont. 54)
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TRY! Italy 17-47 France (Bielle-Biarrey, 50)
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TRY! Italy 17-42 France (Alldritt, 45)
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Half-time: Italy17-35 France
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TRY! Italy 17-35 France (Barre, 39)
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TRY! Italy 17-28 (Boudehent, 31)
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TRY! Italy 17- 21 France (Brex, 28)
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TRY! Italy 10-21 France (Dupont, 25)
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TRY! Italy 10-14 France (Guillard, 22)
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Penalty! Italy 10-7 France (Allan, 18)
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TRY! Italy 7-7 France (Guillard, 14)
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TRY! Italy 7-0 France (Menoncello, 11)
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France team
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Italy team
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Preamble
68 min: Italy keep the ball but go nowhere. They’re totally out of puff. They knock on on halfway. Ramos is replaced by Lucu which means Dupont will slot in at fly-half.
TRY! Italy 24-61 France (Barre, 65)
Magnifique! They look like the best team in the world when they play like that. First Dupont kept the move alive inside his own half by holding the ball up and getting it away. Then Ramos and Marchand combined for the fly-half to scream through a midfield gap before off-loading. Then hands down the line from the centre to the left where Bielle-Biarrey gathered a Moefana diving off-load before he stepped, grubbered, gathered again and passed back infield for Barre to score. Ramos doesn’t look like missing and nudges the score past 60.
TRY! Italy 22-54 France (P Garbisi, 61)
Something for the home side to cheer! Off first phase strike play, Italy have been great today. They just haven’t had too many opportunities. Solid scrum, Alessandro Garbisi, on at scrum-half, delays his pass for his brother, Paolo, who explodes onto the ball and beats Ramos and holds off Dupont to get over the line. The try scorer then curls his conversion with his left boot as it sneaks inside the upright.
58 min: Scrum to Italy and they launch a great strike move with Garbisi – not for the first time – straightening the line from a wraparound and finding Trulla off his wing who put in a big hand-off on Attissogbe. They’ve gone from halfway into the 22. They’ve now got a penalty advantage for an offside call. But the move splutters so they have the pen, which they choose to scrum just to the left of centre of the poles inside France’s 22.
57 min: Italy’s pack is shoved back over their line, but they get a reprieve as there’s an obstruction call against France in the line-out.
56 min: Bialle-Biarrey with another one for the highlights package. On the right wing, he collected a high pass from Barre. With his hand above his head, he collected and off-loaded like a water polo player. Soon after Attissogbe is charging up the other wing and bundled over about five metres out. But there’s a penalty advantage so we’ll have a French line-out in the left corner.
55 min: A couple of changes for Italy who have lost their home crowd. Allan and Cannone off, Vintcent and Trula on.
TRY! Italy 17-France 54 (Dupont. 54)
It’s a brace for the best in the world. But where was Italy’s defence? Too easy for Moefana, who almost looks guilty as he explodes through the line after collecting a pass from Ramos. The centre freed his arms to find Dupont on his inside and the GOAT contender pinned his ears back, handed off a tackler and rode a another to dot down under the poles. Ramos converts from right in front.
52 min: Italy will keep throwing punches. Clean line-out ball on halfway gives them a chance to attack but Gesi took his eyes off the ball anbd received a pass he wasn’t expecting from Brex. France get the scrum just inside their own half on the right.
TRY! Italy 17-47 France (Bielle-Biarrey, 50)
It’s a rout now! That’s six tries in six Tests for the French winger and it’s all too easy. Just simple one-up runners punching holes. Dupont shifts the point of attack and goes down the blindside to his right. Attissogbe shows a good touch as he gathers, rides the tackle and then off-loads back infield where Bielle-Biarrey has the simple job of catching and running it over. Ramos continues his perfect record off the tee.
49 min: Here comes the Le Bombe Squad Équipe.
The whole front row, one second row and two in the back row all changed in a one go.
Negri limps off so he won’t have to face the six new French forwards.
48 min: Capuozzo fields a Dupont kick deep inside his own 22 and is tackled. Italy get back to help him but it’s all France. It started with an Aldritt carry from the restart following his try and in a blink the French were screaming up field, with Barre, leading the charge. Dupont, with wave after wave of white shirts crashing over the gainline, spotted space in the corner. His raking kick forced Capuozzo to turn and gather. Rather than kick himself he chose to run and was nailed bu Barre (my pick for player of the match so far). Italy just about got it away.
TRY! Italy 17-42 France (Alldritt, 45)
Too much power from France. Direct off the top of the line-out – slick from Cros at the back – and the French No. 8 has so much explosive energy and he rumbles over running from the 10 channel. Ramos converts and that’s probably the game.
43 min: A French penalty becomes a French line-out whihc turns into front foot ball for Dupont between the 22 and halfway. They go left then right but land up giving it away. Italy have the chance to clear but it’s charged down by Guillard, who is having a great game, and falls to Dupont who leads an attack. Aldritt runs a dangerous line in the 22. Menoncello is off-side. Italy look a little rattled right now. They have to defend a line-out five out from their own line.
41 min: We’re back. Italy have a mountain to climb. There’s no question they have the firepower to score the requisite tries, but can they keep France quiet?
Bit of kick tennis to start and Italy have it around half-way with Gesi stepping down the left wing.
Half-time: Italy17-35 France
What a half! Seven tries in 40 minutes, you can’t be disappointed with that. Italy were brilliant on attack but no robust enough on defence. France were utterly ruthless with just about every entry in the red zone ending in a try. How many more can these two teams register in the next 40?
TRY! Italy 17-35 France (Barre, 39)
Relentless! It just had to be. Wave after waver until Dupont spotted a chink in the armour, picked the ball up, ran into the line, welcomed the contact and off-load for the onrushing Barre who bust past two tacklers to get over the line. Just sublime from France. They are in the mood today.
38 min: Garbisi bursts through on the angle, excellent run and he finds Cannone who is now cantering upfield. He needs support. The big lock delays and looks for an off-load on his inside but can’t find a mate. So Moefana runs it back and is tackled by Brex. In a flash France are in Italy’s 22 with Bielle-Biarrey keeping it alive down the left with a slick off-load of his own. Dupont ups the tempo. Every French carry is making ground. Barassi on a wraparound takes it closer, he’s a mighty runner. Can France finish this?
37 min: Dupont’s box kick doesn’t go far but it lands in Bielle-Biarrey’s breadbasket. The winger kicks, that doesn’t make much ground and dribbles out of touch. Italy win the line-out and Page-Relo box kicks. Bielle-Biarrey gathers. Dupont box-kicks. Page-Relo gathers and counters. Italy forming something around halfway but their runners don’t quite have the punch of the French heavies who are starting to dominate the close contest.
33 min: Capuozzo has just unfurled a remarkable spinning back kick – not sure how to describe it to be honest – and almost gathered on the chase. Barre had to quickly gather and dot down for a goal-line drop-out. Italy are back at them but spill the ball. Ramos has a kick charged down and Italy have it again. This is frenetic! What a game of rugby this is. Italy forming an attack, Garbisi kicks for a chasing winger from halfway. It bobbles out. No bad result that for the Italians who weren’t really getting over the gainline there.
TRY! Italy 17-28 (Boudehent, 31)
Bonus point secured! They were profligate in London, they’re ruthless in Rome! Dupont has upped the tempo at the back of the breakdown and his zipping balls has French forwards steaming into contact. A short charge from Atonio got over the gainline and more waves of white crashed over tacklers in blue. Soon Boudehent had it and was powering over from close range. Relentless stuff. Simple but oh so effective. Ramos adds two more.
TRY! Italy 17- 21 France (Brex, 28)
It’s raining tries! It’s Brex with the score but it’s a sumptuous team try. Capuozzo got things moving with a zig-zagging run before the ball went down the line, left to right. Garbisi straightened things up and found support in Cannone who stepped off his right foot, held onto the ball and then delivered a sensational inside ball for Brex who burst onto it from a blind run. Lovely rugby from Italy, shifting the angle of attack. Ramos with two more and we have a classic brewing here.
27 min: Italy win a penalty shortly after the restart. Rather than take a shot at goal they kick to the corner. They set up a maul but it goes nowhere. Things splinter and soon France win the turnover on the ground. Dupont hoofs it long.
TRY! Italy 10-21 France (Dupont, 25)
Too easy. Set up by Barre who has lightning feet and wriggled past the first onrushing defender. His pass wide right for Bielle-Biarrey was perfect, as was the subsequent inside ball for Dupont who cantered over. Italy’s defenders over zealous I think and the French hot-steppers had all the space to make their move. Ramos with the extras.
TRY! Italy 10-14 France (Guillard, 22)
Monstered over! Guillard has his second after a second drive from the line-out has him crashing over in the corner. A simple line-out routine and a lot of French meat gets the job done. Ramos with a very good conversion from the whitewash on the right opens up a four point lead.
21 min: France win the scrum penalty so have a free shot. Moefana’s direct run makes yards. It’s a simple approach from the French until Dupont puts in a kick for Bielle-Biarrey on the left wing but it’s too long and bobbles out of bounds. Not like Dupont that. He had room to pick his spot. Brex receives some treatment after feeling the full force of Moefana’s run. Ramos nudges the penalty out for a five metre line-out.
20 min: Another slick exit from Page-Relo from the restart but France are on the attack from a solid line-out. Barre nudges a grubber into the right corner where Allan has to gather but he’s swiftly bundled over the line by the chasing Attissogbe. Five metre scrum to France on the right. Can the replacement prop Spagnolo hold for Italy?
Penalty! Italy 10-7 France (Allan, 18)
Sweetly struck. He doesn’t miss many and this one, from straight in front about 40m out, sneaks inside of the right post.
16 min: This is a cracking game. Italy are attacking with great zip, Their midfield is winning the gainline battle and Capuozzo, with a bit of room on the right wing, wriggled past a defender and off-loaded to keep the move going. Strong runs from Lamaro and Negri. There’s a late challenge off the ball from Boudehent and it’s a penalty for Italy within range. Fischetti hobbles off. That’s a big loss early on for the home team.
TRY! Italy 7-7 France (Guillard, 14)
France respond! It’s Guillard who notches his first Test try through sheer strength and power, carrying three Italians over five metres to the line. France are perhaps a little lucky as Dupont looked to have knocked on in the build up at the back of the ruck. Not so according to the officials. Direct running with a touch of wizardry on the wing from Barre. Classic French try. Ramos brings us level from the tee.
13 min: Italy’s exit game has come on leaps and bounds. A Page-Relo box kick lands over halfway after the restart. They look like a slick outfit. But France are back in their territory with Dupont conducting short and direct runners. Into the 22 now with some heavy carries.
TRY! Italy 7-0 France (Menoncello, 11)
BANG! Italy respond with a belter. They win a free kick from the scrum and Page-Relo ignites the move. It looked so simple with Menoncello running onto a short pass against the grain from Brex and he exploded through the line and sprinted away from Allan. The French defence was nowhere to be seen. Allan adds the extras. Italy are up and running.
10 min: Barre has dotted down after some excellent build up, but we’re looking at a potential forward pass on halfway. Yup! No try! A shame for the French. Attissogbe had done brilliantly on the right tram with a grubber, pick up and pass for Barre on his inside, who then jinked up field and under the poles. But a Ramos pass drifted forward so we’re back for an Italian scrum just inside French territory.
9 min: Allan misses the 50m shot at goal.
8 min: Italy’s line-out is neat, and they’re playing with confidence. Garbisi shows bravery to take it flat at the line. The midfield is keeping France honest and their relentless tempo means French defenders are all over the place. Aldritt, who lost the contact, is off-side by the time Page-Relo picks up at the base of the ruck and milks the penalty on halfway.
6 min: After an age Italy win the scrum and launch a strike play from their own 22. Capuozzo on the wraparound and Gesi has it on the opposite wing. They kick down field, get it back and then return it with interest. France take the mark in their own 22 which means a big net gain for Italy. Ramos hoofs it out on halfway. Slick exit work there from the home team.
4 min: France hammer the line but Italy’s defence holds and they force the knock-on as Barre’s grip on the ball is loose. Page-Relo’s clearing kick is charged down but they do get it away. France are back in the red zone though with Moefana charging through a gap in midfield off a line-out. Now they’re searching for an opening down the left tram. Guillard is about seven metres out in front of the poles. Ramos finds space on the edge down the left but there’s a fantastic steal on the ground. Ramos was isolated and Italy swarmed. They’ll have the scrum feed in their own 22 on the right touch.
1 min: Ramos kicks off and Guillard wins a turnover on the ground. France kick to the corner and win it as they set up an early drive inside Italy’s 22.
Sergio Parisse, flanked by his two kids, brings out the match ball to warm applause. If the Italians can match his standards they’ll romp to a victory.
Anthems done. Not long to go now.
Italy are looking to make it three straight home wins for the first time in the Six Nations.
This would perhaps be their best ever result.
Anthems now….
The players are assembling in the tunnel now. Rome looks a picture in glorious sunshine! I’ve got a mate who has just sent a picture from the stadium and I must say I’m incredibly jealous.
France’s defence coach, Shaun Edwards, a man of few words, says that “There’s definitely a renewed intensity” to the group after the loss to England.
“I’m a big believer that when the guys lose you need to give them support.”
I bet there were some harsh words spoken in private though.
“When you play one of the best teams in the world, you have to be really accurate with everything you do.”
So says Italy’s coach Gonzalo Quesada.
Simple, eh?
Despite last year’s 13-13 draw, France have had it all their own way against Italy in recent years.
In the 2023 World Cup Le Bleus thumped their neighbours by 53 points. It was tighter the last time they played in Rome with a late try settling the game by five points, but it was another thumping the year before that as France claimed the slam, and again the year before that.
The average score between these two over the last five meetings is Italy 13-38 France. My ten cents? It’ll be much closer than that this afternoon.
While we wait, here’s a bunch of tasty writing from yesterday’s Six Nations action:
Rob Kitson reflects on Scotland’s agony:
Andy Bull sings the praises of England’s “iron-chinned boxers”:
Michael Aylwin enjoyed watching Scotland, but laments their inability to deliver on their promise:
Gerard Meagher rates England’s and Scotland’s players:
And Luke McLuaghlin heard from Wales’ interim coach, Matt Sherratt, who managed to rouse a response from his beleaguered squad:
France team
The French are going for power over panache as Fabian Galthié has loaded his bench with seven forwards.
There are four changes from the team that started in the defeat to England with Thibaud Flament making his first appearance of the tournament in the second row alongside Mackael Guillard who came off the bench in Twickenham two weeks ago.
Fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and winger Damian Penaud have remarkably been axed from the match-day 23 altogether with Thomas Ramos slotting in at 10 and Leo Barre moving to 15. Theo Attissogbe starts on the right wing.
There are more changes on the bench with Georges-Henri Colombe replacing Dorian Aldegheri as the replacement tighthead prop while lock Romain Taofifenua joins the party. Anthony Jelonch adds extra heft while Maxime Lucu is the sole back among the subs, edging out Nolann Le Garrec.
France: 15 – Leo Barre; 14 – Theo Attissogbe, 13 – Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 – Yoram Moefana, 11 – Louis Bielle-Biarrey; 10 – Thomas Ramos, 9 – Antoine Dupont (c); 1 – Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 – Peato Mauvaka, 3 – Uini Atonio, 4 – Thibaud Flament, 5 – Mickael Guillard, 6 – Francois Cros, 7 – Paul Boudehent, 8 – Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: 16 – Julien Marchand, 17- Cyril Baille, 18- Dorian Aldegheri, 19- Romain Taofifenua, 20 – Alexandre Roumat, 21 – Oscar Jegou, 22 – Anthony Jelonch, 23 – Maxime Lucu
Italy team
Gonzalo Quesada has made two changes from the starting XV that comfortably beat Wales a fortnight ago.
One is a forced change with the injured winger Monty Ioane making way for Simone Gesi, who started on the bench in Warren Gatland’s last game in charge of Wales.
There’s also a change at hooker with Gianmarco Lucchesi moving to the bench and Giacomo Nicotera starting.
The previously banned loosehead Mirco Spagnolo has returns to the match-day 23 with tighthead Giosuè Zilocchi and lock Riccardo Favretto among the substitutes in a 6-2 split.
Otherwise it’s a settled backline with perhaps the most potent midfield in the competition. It’s a question of whether or not their tight five can win the arm wrestle up front.
Italy: 15 – Tommasso Allan; 14 – Ange Capuozzo, 13 – Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 – Tommaso Menoncello, 11 – Simone Gesi; 10 – Paolo Garbisi, 9 – Martin Page-Relo; 1 – Danilo Fischetti, 2 – Gianmarco Lucchesi, 3 – Simone Ferrari, 4 – Niccolò Cannone, 5 – Federico Ruzza, 6 – Sebastian Negri, 7 – Michele Lamaro (c), 8 – Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: 16 – Giacomo Nicotera, 17 – Mirco Spagnolo, 18 – Giosuè Zilocchi, 19 – Riccardo Favretto, 20 – Manuel Zuliani, 21 – Ross Vintcent, 22 – Alessandro Garbisi, 23 – Jacopo Trulla
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
Is Fabian Galthié wasting a golden generation of French talent? It’s a harsh question, but a fair one considering a team stacked with game changers, one supplemented by the best domestic league in the world, has only one Six Nations crown to show for all their dazzle.
Now, with England beating Scotland, and Ireland keeping their grand slam ambitions alive, we’re entering must-win territory for France. A loss today would see their slim hopes of a title evaporate.
In years gone by this would be a gimme. From 9 February 2011 to 6 October 2023, France beat Italy 14 times in a row. But last year, a malfunctioning kicking tee denied the Azzurri a deserving victory in Lille. Instead the sides settled for a 13-13 draw but it was the Italians who left with enhanced reputations and the French wondering if their quarterfinal exit in a home World Cup in 2023 constituted a high water mark.
Italy will fancy their chances against the one team they want to beat more than the rest. There’s a bit of a little-brother-big-brother vibe to this rivalry and the fratellini have all the tools for an upset on home soil.
Can they do it? We’ll find out once things kick off in Rome at 3pm.
Teams and more updates to come.
