Match Thread: Italy vs France, Stadio Olimpico, Sun March 15th, RTÉ/BBC

TheGoldenAges

France Team to face Italy:
15. Scott Spedding 14. Yoann Huget 13. Gael Fickou 12. Maxime Mermoz 11. Noa Nakaitaci 10. Camille Lopez 9. Sebastien Tillous-Borde

1. Eddy Ben Arous 2. Guihem Guirado 3. Nicolas Mas 4. Alexandre Flanquart 5. Yoann Maestri 6. Thierry Dusautoir 7. Bernard Le Roux 8. Loann Goujon

Replacements:
16. Benjamin Kayser 17. Rabah Slimani 18. Vincent Debaty 19. Romain Taofifenua 20. Damien Chouly 21. Rory Kockott 22. Jules Plisson 23. Mathieu Bastareaud

Italy Team to face France:
15. Luke Mclean (Sale Sharks) 14. Leonardo Sarto (Zebre) 13. Luca Morisi (Benetton Treviso) 12. Andrea Masi (Wasps) 11. Giovanbattista Venditti (Zebre)10. Kelly Haimona (Zebre) 9. Edoardo Gori (Benetton Treviso)

1. Matias Aguero (Zebre) 2. Leonardo Ghiraldini (Leicester Tigers) 3. Dario Chistolini (Zebre) 4. George Biagi (Zebre) 5. Josh Furno (Newcastle Falcons) 6. Francesco Minto (Benetton Treviso) 7. Samuela Vunisa (Zebre) 8. Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais)

Replacements:
16. Andrea Manici (Zebre) 17. Alberto De Marchi (Sale Sharks) 18. Lorenzo Cittadini (Wasps) 19. Quintin Geldenhuys (Zebre) 20. Matteo Barbini (Benetton Treviso) 21. Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre) 22. Tommaso Allan (Perpignan) 23. Enrico Bacchin (Benetton Treviso)

From an Irish point of view (And the outlook of the tournament really) is the dead rubber tie on Sunday afternoon between France and Italy. Both sides are really playing for pride at this stage with both teams out of the running for the title.

The French Perspective

France have totally underdelivered so far this tournament with three abject displays in succession against Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Public confidence in French head coach Monsieur Saint Andre has quickly diminished. Despite having a decent Autumn which included a win over Australia, momentum was lost in the loss against the magnificent drop goal kicking of Argentina. Coming into this tournament many had fancied France to at least be in the running coming into the final two tests and were even many peoples favourites for the tournament.

France are playing for the future of their head coach. Despite the FFR never in their history have sacked the national team coach, Serge Blanco and his cohort of buddies must be on the verge of doing so. From an Irish point of view, France being in disarray with Saint Andre still in charge will do nicely around the time of the World Cup. As a last ditch effort to try and turn things around, he has made 8 changes from the debilitating loss at home to Wales in the previous round with Sebastien Tillous-Borde, Scott Spedding, Noa Nakaitaci and a new centre partnership with Gael Fickou and Maxime Mermoz starting. In the forwards Rabah Slimani, Romain Taofifenua and Damien Chouly come into the pack.

The Italian Perspective

With their first away win in 8 years against Scotland at Murrayfield, the Azzuri come into this game high on confidence. Italy's ambition coming into this tournament would have been to target a home win and be competitive away from home. With France in a state of disarray, Italy have a real chance to take another scalp like they did in Rome 2 years ago. This will also be a precursor to the sides meeting in Ireland's World Cup Group so that might give you a reason to watch if you needed one.

What to watch out for
Look out for France's new centre partnership in Fickou who I rate highly and Mermoz against Masi and Morisi. Although I'm slightly disappointed we'll not get a chance to see Fofana and Fickou as a partnership.
As always watching the massive packs of both sides go up against each other is entertaining especially seeing 18 stone Ben Arous.

Prediction
I'm not gonna bull****, expect a error ridden game with France having so many new partnerships and Italy's prior performances. Despite this being a great chance for the Italians, France's superior players make the difference and they will surely win out in the end. In saying that I wouldn't put a cent near on the outcome.

France by 8

(Picture credits to the Six Nations website)

thomond2006

How on earth is Haimona starting again?!

Sangre

In terms of the WC, a French loss is probably a bad thing. Might lead to a new coach.

stephen_n

if Haimona gets injured in the first 5 mins, I'd give Italy a decent chance.

Losty Dublin

The one area where France have been halfway reasonable this season has been in their loose pack play. Everywhere else, from their set piece to their back line has been dreadful, and they know it. I don't know if there is some nonchalance going on with the 6N from PSA and his back room but certainly there is a lot more wrong with the team than bad management; this is probably saving his bacon this far in. With yet another sweeping change from them last time round, I can't see France gelling it all down this weekend, not based on the performances of the last few years.

Bad and all that Italy appear to be on paper, they aren't a bad team when they get their act together. I mentioned last week that they desperately need to start looking for new talent and it's games like this at a high level with little in the way of risk where they need to blood them in. If/when they sorted out their best partnership/s at fly half then there is no reason why the likes of the Scotland win can't become a more common occurrence; they certainly have the tools and know how to win games and they know it.

I'm going to go mad here and opt for an Italy win.

Talib Fiasco

French rout.

thomond2006

Where's Haimona? Allen is starting now.

Larbre34

thomond2006 wrote: »

Where's Haimona? Allen is starting now.

Pulled out yesterday, Tommi Allan hurt the groin in the warm up too but is playing, so Orqeura may be needed early. Ouch.

Stheno

Is Allan Irish?

Larbre34

Stheno wrote: »

Is Allan Irish?

Scottish born to Italian Mamma (Mia)

Losty Dublin

thomond2006 wrote: »

Where's Haimona? Allen is starting now.

The Guardian are saying that he has a "genital trauma", make what you will out if it.

Thomasso Allen is a better player but he's not 100% fit either, hurting his groin in the warm up today. Even still, it makes the 11/4 odds for an Italy win that bit more tempting.

Larbre34

Only Leo Cullen knows true genital trauma.

Buer

Larbre34 wrote: »

Only Leo Cullen knows true genital trauma.

Buck Shelford disagrees.

Losty Dublin

And Tommys gone.

Buer

A running theme of matches in Italy is brutal camera work. The director uses ridiculous camera angles, far too close to the play and misses loads. They nearly missed the shot at goal there.

Stheno

Losty Dublin wrote: »

And Tommys gone.

Still on

Stheno

Hrs off now unfortunate misses for the Italians so far should be six nil up

pajor

Three missed penalties between the two sides now. Really a case of nothing doing.

sydthebeat

This is a rubbish game.

England could absolutely destroy this French side if they play it tight

pickarooney

This is a truly dreadful game of rugby

pajor

Woooo a score!

pickarooney

17 handling errors in half an hour

thomond2006

I don't like this match....



Penalty to Wales

molloyjh

This isn't a rugby game. It's a comedy. And as comedies go it's excellent.

Stheno

God this is dire

penybont exile

Hope Italy are in the same mood next week ....... nice open game would do us fine.

Sunny day would help too .......

Losty Dublin

sydthebeat wrote: »

This is a rubbish game.

England could absolutely destroy this French side if they play it tight

It's seriously dire, isn't it? I don't think I've seen a game as dour and sloppy since I was pack leader for the SCT seconds the day we lost to St. Conleths.

sydthebeat

Is there a sniper in the crowd shooting the ball out of their hands?
Or did they soak it in suet before the game? The handling is ridiculous

thomond2006

Two dreadful offloads from France. This is dire stuff.

pickarooney

Thought I was seeing things for a minute when France made that break but thankfully normality was restored with another handling error.

ssaye2

9 nil meh

matthew8

This is the worst 6 nations game I've ever seen by a distance. It's like a bad training match.

molloyjh

I have never laughed so much at a game. This is hilarious.

corny

Huget delayed the pass beautifully there.

Buer

I still didn't think Wales would be a threat after yesterday and that England would win the tournament but this is awful. Wales could carve open Italy and win by 30.

Talib Fiasco

Buer wrote: »

I still didn't think Wales would be a threat after yesterday and that England would win the tournament but this is awful. Wales could carve open Italy and win by 30.

France will probably win by 30 too which is shocking in itself

corny

'Orquera rather do anything than take contact'. Sad but true.

Felexicon

This game is awful. It's like they're playing hot potato with the ball

corny

Is Jackman saying Salami and not Slimani?

thomond2006

I'm not sure what to make of this, it's a comfortable margin but a very poor match. Can we have any hope of an upset at Twickenham?

matthew8

With decent weather Wales could put any score on the Italians but they're far enough behind that any margin we get to get past the English should get past Wales also.

Talib Fiasco

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm not sure what to make of this, it's a comfortable margin but a very poor match. Can we have any hope of an upset at Twickenham?

They could easily beat any team in the world on their day but at the same time they could easily lose to any team. The beauty of French rugby.

matthew8

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm not sure what to make of this, it's a comfortable margin but a very poor match. Can we have any hope of an upset at Twickenham?

The way they played against Ireland should give us heart they can stifle England similarly. I think they play down (and up) to their opposition a little bit.

sydthebeat

corny wrote: »

Is Jackman saying Salami and not Slimani?

He was calling orquera "auggera" before he came on. ....

irishbucsfan

Birch is hilarious because hes well capable of speaking multiple languages but his pronunciation makes him sound like he's never been outside of the Midlands.

molloyjh

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm not sure what to make of this, it's a comfortable margin but a very poor match. Can we have any hope of an upset at Twickenham?

The England-Scotland game gave me hope yesterday. This one is doing the opposite. Wales would murder this Italian side by 40 easily. And I have a sneaking suspicion that given England inability to convert their chances that could well be enough to see Wales win the tournament. We will struggle to beat the Scots by more than 15. Starting to think we need to beat them by 20.

matthew8

The sad thing for the Italians is they could have been in a great position to win this if they had done alright with their chances in the first 20 minutes.

vienne86

Italy really really dreadful and next week they won't give a damn.....Wales will murder them and run up a cricket score....unfortunately for us.

marco_polo

molloyjh wrote: »

The England-Scotland game gave me hope yesterday. This one is doing the opposite. Wales would murder this Italian side by 40 easily. And I have a sneaking suspicion that given England inability to convert their chances that could well be enough to see Wales win the tournament. We will struggle to beat the Scots by more than 15. Starting to think we need to beat them by 20.

I was pretty bullish yesterday that the likelyhood of Wales putting in such a score was pretty slim, not so sure now either. Can't imagine England winning by much more than 10 though.

Realistically neither us or Wales should have had a prayer of catching England if they had taken their chances yesterday so the glass is still half full for me.

aimee1

that was painful, but on the plus side MOC has left leinster to coach italy and france today

40 handling errors in 80 minutes is criminal.