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Key occasions
37 min: Dupont’s field kick doesn’t go far however it lands in Bielle-Biarrey’s breadbasket. The winger kicks, that doesn’t make a lot floor and dribbles out of contact. Italy win the line-out and Web page-Relo field kicks. Bielle-Biarrey gathers. Dupont box-kicks. Web page-Relo gathers and counters. Italy forming one thing round midway however their runners don’t fairly have the punch of the French heavies who’re beginning to dominate the shut contest.
33 min: Capuozzo has simply unfurled a exceptional spinning again kick – unsure tips on how to describe it to be sincere – and virtually gathered on the chase. Barre needed to rapidly collect and dot down for a goal-line drop-out. Italy are again at them however spill the ball. Ramos has a kick charged down and Italy have it once more. That is frenetic! What a sport of rugby that is. Italy forming an assault, Garbisi kicks for a chasing winger from midway. It bobbles out. No dangerous consequence that for the Italians who weren’t actually getting over the gainline there.
TRY! Itasly 17-28 (Boudehent, 31)
Bonus level secured! They had been profligate in London, they’re ruthless in Rome! Dupont has upped the tempo in the back of the breakdown and his zipping balls has French forwards steaming into contact. A brief cost from Atonio obtained over the gainline and extra waves of white crashed over tacklers in blue. Quickly Boudehent had it and was powering over from shut vary. Relentless stuff. Easy however oh so efficient. Ramos provides two extra.
TRY! Italy 17- 21 France (Brex, 28)
It’s raining tries! It’s Brex with the rating however it’s a luxurious group attempt. Capuozzo obtained issues shifting with a zig-zagging run earlier than the ball went down the road, left to proper. Garbisi straightened issues up and located assist in Cannone who stepped off his proper foot, held onto the ball after which delivered a sensational inside ball for Brex who burst onto it from a blind run. Beautiful rugby from Italy, shifting the angle of assault. Ramos with two extra and we now have a traditional brewing right here.
27 min: Italy win a penalty shortly after the restart. Somewhat than take a shot at aim they kick to the nook. They arrange a maul however it goes nowhere. Issues splinter and shortly France win the turnover on the bottom. Dupont hoofs it lengthy.
TRY! Italy 10-21 France (Dupont, 25)
Too straightforward. Arrange by Barre who has lightning toes and wriggled previous the primary onrushing defender. His move extensive proper for Bielle-Biarrey was good, as was the following inside ball for Dupont who cantered over. Italy’s defenders over zealous I feel and the French hot-steppers had all of the area to make their transfer. Ramos with the extras.
TRY! Italy 10-14 France (Mauvaka, 22)
Monstered over! Guillard has his second Mauvaka has his first after a second drive from the line-out has him crashing over within the nook. A easy line-out routine and lots of French meat will get the job performed. Ramos with an excellent conversion from the whitewash on the correct opens up a 4 level lead.
21 min: France win the scrum penalty so have a free shot. Moefana’s direct run makes yards. It’s a easy strategy from the French till Dupont places in a kick for Bielle-Biarrey on the left wing however it’s too lengthy and bobbles out of bounds. Not like Dupont that. He had room to select his spot. Brex receives some remedy after feeling the total drive of Moefana’s run. Ramos nudges the penalty out for a 5 metre line-out.
20 min: One other slick exit from Web page-Relo from the restart however France are on the assault from a stable line-out. Barre nudges a grubber into the correct nook the place Allan has to collect however he’s swiftly bundled over the road by the chasing Attissogbe. 5 metre scrum to France on the correct. Can the substitute prop Spagnolo maintain for Italy?
Penalty! Italy 10-7 France (Allan, 18)
Sweetly struck. He doesn’t miss many and this one, from straight in entrance about 40m out, sneaks inside the correct publish.
16 min: It is a cracking sport. Italy are attacking with nice zip, Their midfield is profitable the gainline battle and Capuozzo, with a little bit of room on the correct wing, wriggled previous a defender and off-loaded to maintain the transfer going. Sturdy runs from Lamaro and Negri. There’s a late problem off the ball from Boudehent and it’s a penalty for Italy inside vary. Fischetti hobbles off. That’s a giant loss early on for the house group.
TRY! Italy 7-7 France (Guillard, 14)
France reply! It’s Guillard who notches his first Take a look at attempt by sheer power and energy, carrying three Italians over 5 metres to the road. France are maybe just a little fortunate as Dupont appeared to have knocked on within the construct up in the back of the ruck. Not so in accordance with the officers. Direct operating with a contact of wizardry on the wing from Barre. Traditional French attempt. Ramos brings us degree from the tee.
13 min: Italy’s exit sport has come on leaps and bounds. A Web page-Relo field kick lands over midway after the restart. They seem like a slick outfit. However France are again of their territory with Dupont conducting quick and direct runners. Into the 22 now with some heavy carries.
TRY! Italy 7-0 France (Menoncello, 11)
BANG! Italy reply with a belter. They win a free kick from the scrum and Web page-Relo ignites the transfer. It appeared so easy with Menoncello operating onto a brief move towards the grain from Brex and he exploded by the road and sprinted away from Allan. The French defence was nowhere to be seen. Allan provides the extras. Italy are up and operating.
10 min: Barre has dotted down after some wonderful construct up, however we’re taking a look at a possible ahead move on midway. Yup! No attempt! A disgrace for the French. Attissogbe had performed brilliantly on the correct tram with a grubber, choose up and move for Barre on his inside, who then jinked up subject and beneath the poles. However a Ramos move drifted ahead so we’re again for an Italian scrum simply inside French territory.
9 min: Allan misses the 50m shot at aim.
8 min: Italy’s line-out is neat, they usually’re enjoying with confidence. Garbisi reveals bravery to take it flat on the line. The midfield is protecting France sincere and their relentless tempo means French defenders are everywhere. Aldritt, who misplaced the contact, is off-side by the point Web page-Relo picks up on the base of the ruck and milks the penalty on midway.
6 min: After an age Italy win the scrum and launch a strike play from their very own 22. Capuozzo on the wraparound and Gesi has it on the other wing. They kick down subject, get it again after which return it with curiosity. France take the mark in their very own 22 which suggests a giant web acquire for Italy. Ramos hoofs it out on midway. Slick exit work there from the house group.
4 min: France hammer the road however Italy’s defence holds they usually drive the knock-on as Barre’s grip on the ball is unfastened. Web page-Relo’s clearing kick is charged down however they do get it away. France are again within the purple zone although with Moefana charging by a spot in midfield off a line-out. Now they’re looking for a gap down the left tram. Guillard is about seven metres out in entrance of the poles. Ramos finds area on the sting down the left however there’s a incredible steal on the bottom. Ramos was remoted and Italy swarmed. They’ll have the scrum feed in their very own 22 on the correct contact.
1 min: Ramos kicks off and Guillard wins a turnover on the bottom. France kick to the nook and win it as they arrange an early drive inside Italy’s 22.
Sergio Parisse, flanked by his two children, brings out the match ball to heat applause. If the Italians can match his requirements they’ll romp to a victory.
Anthems performed. Not lengthy to go now.
Italy need to make it three straight residence wins for the primary time within the Six Nations.
This is able to maybe be their finest ever consequence.
Anthems now….
The gamers are assembling within the tunnel now. Rome appears to be like an image in wonderful sunshine! I’ve obtained a mate who has simply despatched an image from the stadium and I need to say I’m extremely jealous.
France’s defence coach, Shaun Edwards, a person of few phrases, says that “There’s undoubtedly a renewed depth” to the group after the loss to England.
“I’m a giant believer that when the blokes lose it’s essential to give them assist.”
I guess there have been some harsh phrases spoken in personal although.
“Whenever you play among the best groups on the earth, it’s a must to be actually correct with every little thing you do.”
So says Italy’s coach Gonzalo Quesada.
Easy, eh?
Regardless of final yr’s 13-13 draw, France have had all of it their very own means towards Italy in recent times.
Within the 2023 World Cup Le Bleus thumped their neighbours by 53 factors. It was tighter the final time they performed in Rome with a late attempt settling the sport by 5 factors, however it was one other thumping the yr earlier than that as France claimed the slam, and once more the yr earlier than that.
The common rating between these two over the past 5 conferences is Italy 13-38 France. My ten cents? It’ll be a lot nearer than that this afternoon.
Whereas we wait, right here’s a bunch of tasty writing from yesterday’s Six Nations motion:
Rob Kitson displays on Scotland’s agony:
Andy Bull sings the praises of England’s “iron-chinned boxers”:
Michael Aylwin loved watching Scotland, however laments their incapacity to ship on their promise:
Gerard Meagher charges England’s and Scotland’s gamers:
And Luke McLuaghlin heard from Wales’ interim coach, Matt Sherratt, who managed to awaken a response from his beleaguered squad:
France group
The French are going for energy over panache as Fabian Galthié has loaded his bench with seven forwards.
There are 4 adjustments from the group that began within the defeat to England with Thibaud Flament making his first look of the match within the second row alongside Mackael Guillard who got here off the bench in Twickenham two weeks in the past.
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 shifting to fifteen. Theo Attissogbe begins on the correct wing.
There are extra adjustments on the bench with Georges-Henri Colombe changing Dorian Aldegheri because the substitute tighthead prop whereas lock Romain Taofifenua joins the get together. Anthony Jelonch provides further heft whereas Maxime Lucu is the only again among the many 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 group
Gonzalo Quesada has made two adjustments from the beginning XV that comfortably beat Wales a fortnight in the past.
One is a pressured change with the injured winger Monty Ioane making means for Simone Gesi, who began on the bench in Warren Gatland’s final sport answerable for Wales.
There’s additionally a change at hooker with Gianmarco Lucchesi shifting to the bench and Giacomo Nicotera beginning.
The beforehand banned loosehead Mirco Spagnolo has returns to the match-day 23 with tighthead Giosuè Zilocchi and lock Riccardo Favretto among the many substitutes in a 6-2 cut up.
In any other case it’s a settled backline with maybe essentially the most potent midfield within the competitors. It’s a query of whether or not or not their tight 5 can win the arm wrestle up entrance.
Italy: 15 – Tommasso Allan; 14 – Ange Capuozzo, 13 – Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 – Tommaso Menoncello, 11 – Simone Gesi; 10 – Paolo Garbisi, 9 – Martin Web 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 losing a golden technology of French expertise? It’s a harsh query, however a good one contemplating a group stacked with sport changers, one supplemented by the very best home league on the earth, has just one Six Nations crown to point out for all their dazzle.
Now, with England beating Scotland, and Eire protecting their grand slam ambitions alive, we’re coming into must-win territory for France. A loss immediately would see their slim hopes of a title evaporate.
In years passed by this is able to be a gimme. From 9 February 2011 to six October 2023, France beat Italy 14 occasions in a row. However final yr, a malfunctioning kicking tee denied the Azzurri a deserving victory in Lille. As an alternative the edges settled for a 13-13 draw however it was the Italians who left with enhanced reputations and the French questioning if their quarterfinal exit in a house World Cup in 2023 constituted a excessive water mark.
Italy will fancy their probabilities towards the one group they need to beat greater than the remainder. There’s a little bit of a little-brother-big-brother vibe to this rivalry and the fratellini have all of the instruments for an upset on residence soil.
Can they do it? We’ll discover out as soon as issues kick off in Rome at 3pm.
Groups and extra updates to return.
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