Italy vs France, Sun 3 Feb 3pm, match thread; RTÉ/BBC

thomond2006

Italy:
15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovambattista Venditti, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Tobias Botes,
8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Francesco Minto, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.

Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Alberto De Marchi , 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Antonio Pavanello, 20 Paul Derbyshire, 21 Edoardo Gori, 22 Kristopher Burton, 23 Gonzalo Canale.

France:
15 Yoann Huget, 14 Wesley Fofana, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Benjamin Fall, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Pascal Papé (c), 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Yannick Forestier

Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Luc Ducalcon, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Francois Trinh-Duc, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud

Date: Sunday, February 3
Venue: Stadio Olimpico
Weather: 20 percent chance of rain. Max 12°C
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_8460071,00.html

Allez la France! Some interesting stats here (in French).

A lot of attention in France has focused on the return of Thierry Dusautoir, with Yannick Nyanga failing to retain his spot despite outstanding performances in November. A big selection call comes at scrumhalf with Maxime Machenaud in ahead of Morgan Parra. Machenaud is an excellent player with a superb kicking game. If you recall Racing v Munster in Paris this season, that was a game that Machenaud dominated.

Italian prop Andrea Lo Cicero earns his 99th cap for Italy, he's retiring at the end of the season but not before he makes 100 caps it seems!

A good personal battle will be between the number eights, IMO Picamoles is the top number eight in Europe at the moment. He is a monster with ball in hand. Parisse has been a top performer for Italy for years, the guy oozes class.

Italy will be a tough prospect in front of a large home crowd but France will have too much quality, their bench could be the difference. In they can reproduce their autumn form, France will come out on top. France by 10-15 points.

durkadurka

Don't think I can summon up the energy to watch it. Totally spent.

thomond2006

durkadurka wrote: »

Don't think I can summon up the energy to watch it. Totally spent.

Have a bet on it, that usually helps! :pac:

lologram

I predict a titanic battle between... the best two anthems in the game. (honourable mention to Argentina).

I'm holding out hope for a repeat of 2011 though. That was a great result for Italy.

PhatPiggins

I know you're a stickler for attention to detail thomond, the thread title is wrong.

lologram

Also, while I don't want to be a pedant, Italy are the only home team this weekend not to be listed as the home team in their match thread. Prejudice! Anti-Italy, Pro-France bias

funtime93

France must have some depth if Rougerie,Malzieu,Poitrenaud,Fickou,Palisson and Jauzion
cant even make the 23.From Ireland's POV i'd be more worried against these guys than the backs that are named today.

funtime93

Not forgetting Clerc aswell who always scores against us.

tolosenc

Have money on a French GS, but at the same time, wouldn't mind seeing Italy win.

thomond2006

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I know you're a stickler for attention to detail thomond, the thread title is wrong.

Merci! :eek:

duckysauce

hope Freddy has a cracking match

who_me

Forza Italia!

youreadthat

Man those anthems are epic.

Kiwi_knock

Come on Italy

ednwireland

french asleep :eek:

lologram

What a start!

copacetic

Great try.

Kayless

What a try for Italy!!!

19543261

HOLY ****TT

thomond2006

stunning try

megapixel

Well done italy

who_me

Wooooooooooooot! Italy's composure and slickness of passing is so much better than some previous years. (Still worry France will be too good in the end).

efb

And everyone's Italian on their fantasy team!

Cool_CM

Wow!

Funk It

Great start for Italy, hope they can capitalise on it now.

Kiwi_knock

That try was coming, even though it was pretty easy.

thomond2006

There's a statement and a half from Picamoles, scores a try and fends off Parisse!

deise_boi

What in the name of Christ are they doing with the cameras during the kicks!

who_me

Confident goal!

Burgo

"This man pareezeee." Ryle isn't the only one who can't pronounce names to save his life.

Cool_CM

13-5 to Italy after 18 mins: I think I might still be asleep!

Burgo

18 mins gone Italy 13- 5 France.
mon the italians!

efb

Great positive stuff from Italy!

Lapin

Just in the door.


Is that scoreboard correct ?

Its not meant to be the other way round no ?

Alicat

This is a very pleasant surprise.

lologram

Lapin wrote: »

Is that scoreboard correct ?

Its not meant to be the other way round no ?

Italy have beaten France more recently than we have. Just sayin'.

who_me

Crowd seem a bit quiet, I'd be yelling my head off if I were Italian. Nerves, or do Sunday afternoon kick-offs just suck?

Lapin

lologram wrote: »

Italy have beaten France more recently than we have. Just sayin'.

I know, but I wasn't expecting this today.

I doubt many were if the truth be told.

Long way to go yet though.

grohlisagod

Parisse as always is a joy to watch

Cool_CM

"You're in a football stadium but don't behave like it"
Nice one Nigel!

Funk It

Lapin wrote: »

Just in the door.


Is that scoreboard correct ?

Its not meant to be the other way round no ?

S - E1 wouldn't make much sense, I'll get my coat

Italy are doing very well to take their chances and are playing with confidence, question is, how long can they keep the defense from leaking tries.

Kiwi_knock

That looks like it should be a try

Burgo

No try, couldnt see a grounding.

NoelJ

Cool_CM wrote: »

"You're in a football stadium but don't behave like it"
Nice one Nigel!

Ha did he say that?

irishbucsfan

Score?

NoelJ

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Score?

13 8 to italy

Lapin

There's some gulf in strength between our defence yesterday and the Italian's today.

duckysauce

13-8 italy

Burgo

Italy 13 - 8 France.

sydthebeat

Probably said already but George Hamilton hasn't a bloody clue about rugby... Is rte that badly off that they cannot get someone with a decent knowledge of the game as commentator.

Cool_CM

NoelJ wrote: »

Ha did he say that?

Yup!