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Italy v France: Everything you need to know
A game between the two bottom sides in the Six Nations would normally not provide too much intrigue, but there should be plenty of spectators interested in Italy’s tactics when they host France on Saturday.
Italy remain without a point having lost each of their three games to start the campaign.
But the Azzurri head into their penultimate match having provoked both admiration and anger with the tactics they used in a 36-15 defeat to holders England.
For long periods it looked as if Italy were in position to stunningly end England’s 16-match winning run as they baffled Eddie Jones’ men by not committing men to the ruck, meaning there was no offside line and the Azzurri forwards were free to step across and cut down the space available to their opponents.
The ploy left Jones furious, and a France side whose only win so far came against Scotland will not be taking Italy lightly as a result.
Defeats against England and Ireland have left France’s hopes of regaining the title looking extremely slim, but Les Bleus will be keen to finish strongly regardless and prove the signs of progress they displayed in the end-of-year internationals in 2016 were not false dawns.
“We want to feel like we’re making constant progress…”
It’s onwards and upwards for @FFRugby boss Guy Noves #RBS6Nations pic.twitter.com/1hFbzGFu8G
— RBS 6 Nations (@SixNationsRugby) January 25, 2017
HEAD TO HEAD
Italy: 3
France: 35
Draw: 0
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2016?
France started their previous Six Nations campaign with an unconvincing victory over Italy at the Stade de France. Jules Plisson’s late penalty salvaged a 23-21 win for Les Bleus after Sergio Parisse and Carlo Canna had edged the Azzurri ahead.
KEY PLAYERS
Maxime Mbanda (Italy)
It was Italy’s controversial defensive tactics that caught the eye at Twickenham, and if they are to keep France at bay then flanker Mbanda will be key. He has made the third-most tackles (46) in the competition, while the two players above him on the list – Jonny Gray and Kevin Gourdon – have played 57 minutes more than him.
Louis Picamoles (France)
France’s game is built on their massive pack and the star among the forwards has been back row Picamoles, who leads the way in defenders beaten (13) and offloads (9) in the Six Nations this year. His 235 metres gained are the most by any forward in the tournament.
THE LINE-UPS
Italy: Edoardo Padovani, Angelo Esposito, Michele Campagnaro, Luke McLean, Giovanbattista Venditti, Carlo Canna, Edoardo Gori; Andrea Lovotti, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Lorenzo Cittadini, Marco Fuser, Dries van Schalkwyk, Braam Steyn, Simone Favaro, Sergio Parisse (captain).
France: Brice Dulin, Noa Nakaitaci, Remi Lamerat, Gael Fickou, Virimi Vakatawa, Camille Lopez, Baptiste Serin; Cyril Baille, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Rabah Slimani, Julien Le Devedec, Yoann Maestri, Fabien Sanconnie, Kevin Gourdon, Louis Picamoles.
COACH COMMENTS
Conor O’Shea (Italy): “The great Italian side of the ’90s was a horrible side to play against. It was physical, it was in your face. We have to be horrible to play against and then we can evolve. By the 2019 World Cup I want us to be the team that no one wants in their pool.”
Guy Noves (France): “We don’t have the means to boast, to be a bit like England; to play Italy and look down on them. Our results don’t let us do that. Therefore I hope that the players are well aware that Italy have got this match marked down. That’s normal, especially after their performance in England.”
OPTA STATS
– Italy have lost their last 10 games in the Six Nations, only once have they gone on a longer such run (14 – 2000-2002); in fact only four times in the history of the Five/Six Nations has any team gone on a longer losing run (France 17, Scotland 15, France and Italy 14).
– Italy have lost their last nine home games in the Six Nations, this after winning four of six in Rome immediately before that; another defeat would equal the Five/Six Nations record for consecutive home defeats (France – 10, 1911-1921).
– Les Bleus’ last away win in the Six Nations came in Rome in 2015. Since then they have lost five on the bounce away from home, their worst run since losing the same amount between 1956 and 1958.
– France have scored just two tries in total so far. They have never scored fewer than six in a Six Nations campaign.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Absolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
5 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
5 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to comments