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Italy tweak victorious XV with two changes for France visit

Italian Rugby player Simone Gesi in action during the Italian Rugby team training session at Sport Centre Giulio Onesti on January 22, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Federugby/Federugby via Getty Images)

Italy have made two changes from the XV that were victorious over Wales in round two of the Guinness Six Nations for the visit from France on Sunday to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

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Head coach Gonzalo Quesada has been forced into one change, with winger Simone Gesi, who featured from the bench against Scotland, replacing the injured Monty Ioane on the wing.

The second change is a swap between hookers Gianmarco Lucchesi and Giacomo Nicotera, with the former starting on this occasion having previously been on the bench.

The previously banned Mirco Spagnolo has returned to take his place as the replacement loosehead, with tighthead Giosuè Zilocchi and lock Riccardo Favretto being the other two changes among the substitutes.

Fixture
Six Nations
Italy
24 - 73
Full-time
France
All Stats and Data

The two sides head into the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy contest with one win and one loss to their names. The hosts will be looking to back up their 22-15 win over Wales, while Les Bleus will be looking to bounce back from a 26-25 loss to England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.

The match will also been a significant occasion for lock Niccolò Cannone and loosehead Danilo Fischetti, who will both be earning their 50th caps.

Italy XV
15 Tommaso Allan (USA Perpignan, 83 caps)
14 Ange Capuozzo (Stade Toulousain, 25 caps)
13 Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Rugby, 43 caps)
12 Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby, 25 caps)
11 Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma, 2 caps)
10 Paolo Garbisi (Toulon RC, 44 caps)
9 Martin Page-Relo (Lyon Olympique, 15 caps)
8 Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 25 caps)
7 Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby, 45 caps) – captain
6 Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby, 60 caps)
5 Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby, 61 caps)
4 Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby, 49 caps)
3 Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby, 61 caps)
2 Gianmarco Lucchesi (Toulon RC, 30 caps)
1 Danilo Fischetti (Zebre Parma, 49 caps)

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Replacements
16 Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Francais, 30 caps)
17 Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)
18 Giosuè Zilocchi (Benetton Rugby, 22 caps)
19 Riccardo Favretto (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
20 Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby, 29 caps)
21 Ross Vintcent (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps)
22 Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Rugby, 15 caps)
23 Jacopo Trulla (Zebre Parma, 13 caps)

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'France may leave top players at home but will still be serious contenders in New Zealand'

The country turned septic on Foster for losing a series to what was arguably the best Irish side in history and one that may not have been ranked number one in the world when they arrived, but were by the time they left.

Imagine how feral the nation will be if Robertson’s All Blacks lose to what is supposedly going to be a French ‘B’ team?

This author proving he has less of an understanding of rugby than the general population.


The country was septic because of how easily they got beat Paul. The country is smart enough to rate the relative level of performances, and if Razors team goes backwards like Fosters the criticism you suggest might come will be fully deserved. If France B perform as good as France A and win by the same margins then those with the criticism the team should be winning every game will also be deserved. But the inference that the public didn’t give Ireland the credit they deserved couldn’t be further from the truth imo.

France have beaten the All Blacks on the last three occasions the two sides have met, and that the former has used 38 players in the process.

France could leave 40 players at home in July and still be a serious contender

And to the vibe of this article, it provides abosolutely zero reason to believe the next 38 best French are going to be as good as these first 38. Paul got one thing right, it’s no joke that France will be leaving behind 40 players.


France have a 45 man squad for 6N (well using Wiki), the team could be made up of these leftovers from the teams not likely to get close to Toulouse and Bordeaux, given that just the third place team is doing commendably well not to be in negative for and against like the rest.

Uini Atonio ——— Prop

Giorgi Beria ——— Prop

Georges-Henri Colombe ———- Prop

Jean-Baptiste Gros ——— Prop

Dany Priso ——— Prop

Rabah Slimani———- Prop

Hugo Auradou ——— Lock

Mickaël Guillard ——— Lock

Matthias Halagahu ——— Lock

Romain Taofifénua ——— Lock

Esteban Abadie ——- Back row

Grégory Alldritt ———- Back row

Paul Boudehent ———- Back row

Oscar Jégou ——— Back row

Nolann Le Garrec ——— Scrum-half

Gaël Fickou ——— Centre

Antoine Frisch ——— Centre

Émilien Gailleton ——— Centre

Noah Nene ——— Centre

Théo Attissogbé ——— Wing

Gaël Dréan ———- Wing

Gabin Villièren —— Wing

Léo Barré ——— Fullback


One wouldn’t think Atonio is going to come (I’d be surprised if Fickou is still not rested or he and Le Garrec aren’t involved in a relegation playoff game) but a few good players there like Leo Barre, Le Garrec, Taofifénua, and that back row, but also a distinct lack of a spine with the 3 best playmakers playing in the Final at home.


What are the possibilities to fill out these missing spots? looking at Opta’s stats hub Serin and Couilloud provide good back up for Le Garrec by fact of having the highest try involvements in the Top14 (along with Michael Ruru). And Serin’s partner Herve looks the most threatening to carry on the teams style with his elusiveness?

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