(AFP via Getty Images)
France will be hoping to right the wrongs of their defeat to England as Fabien Galthie’s side return to Six Nations action against Italy.
Thoughts of a possible grand slam came crashing down at Twickenham a fortnight ago as the visitors were made to pay for their errors, coughing up a number of try-scoring chances and allowing England to pinch it at the death. Galthie has wielded the selection scythe as a result of a disappointing defeat, making changes to his squad in search of an improved performance to revive their campaign.
While Ireland lurk on the other side of the second fallow week, they cannot afford to take their eye off the ball against an Italy side that came within a whisker of victory in this fixture last year. Paolo Garbisi’s late missed kick left Italy to settle for a dramatic draw in Lille but with confidence buoyed by a win over Wales in their last outing, the Azzurri will fancy their chances of frightening the French once more.
Follow all of the latest from the Stadio Olimpico in our live blog below:
Italy vs France LIVE
Italy host France in the Six Nations | Live on ITV
Gonzalo Quesada’s hosts beat Wales in their last outing
Error-ridden performance at Twickenham cost France and Fabien Galthie makes significant changes
TRY! France 0-7 ITALY (Tommaso Menconcello, 11 minutes)
France 7-10 Italy 20 minutes
15:26 , Michael Cooke
French advantage and an Italian player down, France do cross the try line but Carl Dickson the referee brings it back for the original penalty
France 7-10 Italy 19 minutes
15:25 , Michael Cooke
France are quick to get back on the attack with a lineout in the Italian half, Antoine Dupont steering his team around the pitch. France are held up over the try line and have a scrum on the Italian 5 meter line.
France 7-10 Italy 17 minutes
15:23 , Michael Cooke
Tommaso Allan opts for another attempt at kicking a penalty goal and is successful from 40m. Italy ahead once again
France 7-7 Italy 16 minutes
15:22 , Michael Cooke
Italy playing some great rugby, French defence having to answer a lot of questions. Penalty Italy on the French 40m line for tackling off the ball
TRY! FRANCE 7-7 Italy (Mickael Guillard, 14 minutes)
15:20 , Michael Cooke
Try for France! There’s a suspicion of a knock on from Antoine Dupont in the build-up, but the officials are happy, and Italy lose their shape as they protest. Through pile the French forwards with Mickael Guillard eventually notching his first Test try, and France are level as Ramos easily adds the conversion.
France 0-7 Italy 13 minutes
15:19 , Michael Cooke
France are quick to respond with direct carries from a lineout, they move up the field playing hard and direct rugby. An early show of dominance from Italy being responded to well by France
TRY! France 0-7 ITALY (Tommaso Menoncello, 11 minutes)
15:17 , Michael Cooke
Try Italy! Tommaso Menoncello slices through French defence from a clever scrum move, Italy go ahead with the first try of the day, Allan adds the extras.
France 0-0 10 minutes
15:15 , Michael Cooke
Try disallowed because of a forward pass, score-line remains 0-0. Scrum to Italy on the French 40m line
France 0-0 Italy 10 minutes
15:14 , Michael Cooke
France in possession in their half, a superb kick down the touchline and France regather, they run it under the posts from halfway, try scorer Leo Barre
France 0-0 Italy 8 minutes
15:13 , Michael Cooke
Allan pushes the kick wide and France send the ball down field.
France 0-0 Italy 8 minutes
15:12 , Michael Cooke
Italian lineout on halfway, good hard carry and Italy gain the penalty from their possession. Tommaso Allan chooses to take points from 45m out
France 0-0 Italy 6 minutes
15:10 , Michael Cooke
Italy opt to run it bravely in their half and do well. They are looking to play an expansive game in the dry Rome weather. Knock on from France in the tackle gives Italy an advantage
France 0-0 Italy 5 minutes
15:09 , Michael Cooke
Italy fight hard for the turnover after some early defensive efforts, good breakdown work see’s them awarded a scrum in their 22. A good chance to relieve pressure and shift momentum
France 0-0 Italy 3 minutes
15:07 , Michael Cooke
France once again moving the ball wide and looking dangerous, they are camped in the Italian 22. 6 phases played already and Italy hanging on
France 0-0 Italy 1 minutes
15:05 , Michael Cooke
Early penalty for France and they opt to kick to the corner, they have an attacking platform to apply pressure on the Italian goal line. Scrappy play see’s a turnover and Italy clear their lines
France 0-0 Italy 0 minutes
15:04 , Michael Cooke
Thomas Ramos the flyhalf for France kicks us off in Rome, no doubt a fast and physical encounter to come
KICK OFF!
15:03 , Harry Latham-Coyle
We are underway in Rome!
(AFP via Getty Images)
Italy vs France
15:03 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Italy great Sergio Parisse delivers the match ball, the nation’s finest ever player getting the rousing reception he deserves. A lovely moment for his two young kids, who seem rather less comfortable with the roars of the Stadio Olimpico crowd.
Italy vs France match officials
14:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (Wal) & Eoghan Cross (Ire)
Television Match Official: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
Foul Play Review Officer: Mike Adamson (Sco)
Italy vs France referee: Who is Six Nations official Karl Dickson?
Italy vs France
14:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There appears to have been a late injury scare for France, Uini Atonio seemingly hurting a calf. No confirmed news of any change just yet – Dorian Aldegheri would presumably start, with Georges-Henri Colombe perhaps returning to the 23 having featured off the bench in rounds one and two.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Italy captain Michele Lamaro confident hosts can cope with French strength
14:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It will be a mighty challenge for Italy to deal with the French forward strength, but the Azzurri matched Fabien Galthie’s side in Lille last year, swelling in size with Michele Lamaro, Ross Vintcent and Niccolo Cannone among those producing big performances.
“Last year we realised that we can cause them problems especially in some areas, the way we remained attached to the score, with a second half in which we dominated them physically too,” Lamaro recalled this week. “Today it will be a battle up front, they have 7 forwards on the bench and I’m sure that in the first 20 minutes they will want to put us under pressure like never before and this will have to be faced without arrogance. We play at the Olimpico and this is our home and no one comes here to attack us.”
(Getty Images)
Fabien Galthie axes Damian Penaud
14:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It is a real surprise to see Damian Penaud left out for France today, the wing just one try short of Serge Blanco’s record Test tally for the nation. Theo Attissogbe went well on the opening night against Wales, but it still feels curious for a player of Penaud’s attacking talents to be omitted, even if rumours that he has been challenged to improve his defensive efforts are true.
“There are times when you have to make choices, you have to arbitrate between different possibilities,” Fabien Galthie explained on Friday. “Our vision is focused on the match and the long term.”
“I spent two hours with Damian on Tuesday at the end of the afternoon, talking, listening to him, sharing. We absolutely have to be in harmony even if I understand that it is never easy for a competitor, for a champion, to accept, to take in the decision.”
(Getty Images)
Italy hooker Giacomo Nicotera targets statement success
14:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Giacomo Nicotera says that Italy are intent on ensuring that their win over Wales is not the sole success of the campaign, insisting that the Azzurri have to beat a better team to show their progress.
“We can’t say ‘we’ve beaten Wales, that’s it.’ The objective is to beat a team that is better than Wales,” Nicotera stressed.
“Last year was great, the best Six Nations Italy has had, and we want to improve on it.
“We know if we don’t keep improving then everyone will say last year was a fluke, or coincidence. We are on the right path and growing lots.”
France opt for bold Springboks-style tactic
14:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A seven/one bench? It’s very Rassie Erasmus from Fabien Galthie, trusting in the versatility of his backs to cover if injury strikes and giving his bench real punch.
France opt for bold Springboks-style tactic as Damian Penaud dropped for Italy clash
Team news – France
14:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Fabien Galthie swings the selection scythe after France’s Twickenham misstep, with fly half Matthieu Jalibert and wing Damian Penaud eye-catching omissions. Thomas Ramos wears 10 as Leo Barre and Theo Attissogbe come in to the back three, while there is a new lock combination: a fit-again Thibaud Flament unites with Mickael Guillard in the absence of an ill Emmanuel Meafou.
The bench is bulky, even by French standards, as Galthie selects a Springbok-style seven forwards/one back bench split.
France XV: 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; 9 Antoine Dupont, 10 Thomas Ramos; 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 14 Theo Attissogbe; 15 Leo Barre.
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyrill Baille, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Anthony Jelonch; 23 Maxime Lucu.
Team news – Italy
14:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Monty Ioane is ruled out with injury for Italy, with Simone Gesi brought in on the wing. Gianmarco Lucchesi and Giacomo Nicotera swap spots in the hooker pecking order in the only other change to the starting side, but Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi and Riccardo Favretto are all brought on to the bench.
Italy XV: 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 3 Simone Ferrari; 4 Niccolo Cannone, 5 Federico Ruzza; 6 Sebastian Negri, 7 Michele Lamaro (capt.), 8 Lorenzo Cannone; 9 Martin Page-Relo, 10 Paolo Garbisi; 11 Simone Gesi, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 14 Ange Capuozzo; 15 Tommaso Allan.
Replacements: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosue Zilocchi, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Ross Vintcent; 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Jacopo Trulla.
Fabien Galthie explains challenges Italy will pose
13:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Italy really were uber impressive in this fixture last year. They have a habit of producing their best against France, and Fabien Galthie is all too aware of the issues they may pose.
“Since Gonzalo Quesada’s arrival, Italy have been a very combative team which fights for every ball in attack and defence,” Galthie said.
“They get bodies around the ball. That caused us huge problems in Lille and causes problems for all their opponents.”
Michele Lamaro urges Italy to make Stadio Olimpico their ‘fortress’
13:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Italy captain Michele Lamaro has laid down the gauntlet to France today, urging his side to make the Stadio Olimpico their fortress.
“We certainly took some pressure off ourselves with the victory over Wales, but we want to take advantage of the opportunities we have, at home and at Twickenham, which means showing that we can put in a strong performance,” Lamaro said. “We have two matches in Rome and we want to show that the Olimpico is our fortress and that we don’t give anything away to anyone.”
(REUTERS)
Tommy Freeman reacts to controversial Calcutta Cup try
13:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Did Tommy Freeman manage to ground England’s only try? The officials quickly concluded yes, but the footage appeared inconclusive. The wing wasn’t exactly emphatic when asked about it post-match, either:
Tommy Freeman reacts to controversial try in England’s Calcutta Cup win
Scotland did not deserve to lose to England — but Calcutta Cup pain conceals tough Six Nations truth
13:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It was a difficult evening for Finn Russell and Scotland, so close yet so far and facing another Six Nations campaign without a true title challenge. Is Gregor Townsend safe in his role? There are some tough questions for the head coach now…
Scotland did not deserve to lose Calcutta Cup — but pain conceals tough truth
England’s luck finally turns to end Calcutta Cup misery as Finn Russell suffers late agony
12:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle
At Twickenham, meanwhile, Scotland made all of the running but England emerged on top – Luke Baker watched on as the hosts found a way.
England’s luck turns to end Calcutta Cup misery as Finn Russell suffers late agony
Garry Ringrose red card: Why was the Ireland centre sent off against Wales in the Six Nations?
12:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
That red card for Garry Ringrose was not a sanction that all agreed with – but assessing the high tackle framework, it’s straightforward to see why the centre was dismissed by referee Christophe Ridley:
Why was Garry Ringrose given a red card against Wales in the Six Nations?
Simon Easterby hails Ireland’s mentality in Wales to keep Grand Slam dream alive
12:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Simon Easterby praised Ireland’s mentality for “digging ourselves out of a hole” to overcome Wales in the Six Nations and keep their Grand Slam dream alive.
Ireland started as massive favourites in Cardiff to inflict a 15th-successive defeat on Wales following the departure of their head coach Warren Gatland.
But, having lost centre Garry Ringrose to a 20-minute red card midway through the second quarter, Ireland found themselves 18-10 adrift before rallying in the closing stages to triumph 27-18 and win an eighth Triple Crown in the Six Nations era.
Simon Easterby hails Ireland’s mentality in Wales to keep Grand Slam dream alive
Yesterday’s action…
12:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Let’s reflect first on the highs and lows of yesterday, with plenty to dig into. In Cardiff, things were rather tougher for Ireland than some might have expected, with a sparky Wales coming close to a mighty shock but the champions eventually finding a way…
Wales show spark in new era but Ireland stay on track for Six Nations grand slam
Italy vs France LIVE
07:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Hello and welcome along to LIVE coverage of part three of this middle Six Nations weekend, Italy and France looking to follow along after two proper thrillers yesterday in Cardiff and Twickenham. These two delivered the goods last year, a Paolo Garbisi miss all that prevented Italy from a famous win over their foes – can they produce something similar in Rome?
Kick off is at 3pm GMT.
(Getty Images)