France versus Italy match thread.

[Biltong]

Date: Saturday, February 4
Venue: Stade de France, St. Denis (Paris)
Weather: Sunny. Daytime high -1°C
Referee: Nigel Owens


France: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 François Trinh-Duc, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Vincent Debaty.
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Yoann Maestri, 19 Imanol Harinordoquy, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Lionel Beauxis, 22 Maxime Mermoz.



Italy:15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Kristopher Burton, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (c) 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Cornelius van Zyl, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice, 17 Lorenzo Cittadini, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Simone Favaro, 20 Fabio Semenzato, 21 Tobias Botes, 22 Gonzalo Canale


France will want to take revenge for last year's loss, I expect a 24 point victory.

[ChequeredJersey]

I will dart in and out, money on France winning, though with Treviso getting much better the past couple of years I don't think it will be a drubbing

[Cari]

Oh I hope it's not a drubbing, but who knows with both teams having new coaches.

[Cari]

Good grief - you would've thought that the BBC would give Keith Wood and Lawrence Dalaglio woolly hats in this weather!

[Notch]

Anyone else feel Italys wingers could both be badly exposed?

[eirebilly]

Absolutely Notch.
I didnt want a drubbing but i feel that France will have enough points on the board at halftime to win this.

[Notch]

Really looking forward to seeing Fofana here.

[HQ matt]

would love to see a close game here, the impact from the 2 italian teams joining the pro 12 needs to bear some fruit and i think, ultimately, it will.

[eirebilly]

It is a very strong French side on paper.

[Guest]

Got Fofana in my dream team so hoping he has a scorcher!

[Shifty]

10 seconds in, the score is still 0-0 just an update ^

[eirebilly]

Excellent mutton chops on Medard

[slartibartfast]

Wife out, Kids out, TV on, Surrond sound on.

Sweet

[slartibartfast]

Looks like they've taken the millenium turf to france...

[eirebilly]

Picomoles is a beast isnt he. He hits so hard

[ChequeredJersey]

Picamoles is a monster. Great tackle

[ChequeredJersey]

Looks like they've taken the millenium turf to france...

beat me to it

[Golden]

Some nice italian back play and a few huge hits by the french

[Biltong]

The french defence looks very well organised.

They rush up slowly but drift in to create less space for Italy.

[eirebilly]

Good kick. Italy are suprising me here, they are playing a very strutured game.

[Biltong]

Itlay does look structured but they aren't gaining any rythm in attack.

[eirebilly]

Thats a rule i dont really like. Yes France held the ball up but Italy were driving and the team going forward.

[eirebilly]

Itlay does look structured but they aren't gaining any rythm in attack.

I dont know, i think that tey are attacking quite well.

DG 3-3

[Biltong]

Excellent drop kick by italy. wow

[Golden]

3-3 nice drop goal and italy fully deserve it.

They look much better in possession than previous years

[eirebilly]

Horrible restart

[Morgannwg]

Who is the Azzuri scrum half? He is a very good player and is the one controlling the game. I don't think Burton's been very good.

[Biltong]

Easy try for france.

[eirebilly]

Terrible defence that. Absolutely aweful

[Notch]

Aw man! Big gap.

Italy have worked very hard, but the rapier will always beat the bludgeon.

[eirebilly]

Good idea from Burton, shame he could'nt control it as it looked like the try was on.

[Pat_Mustard]

The pigeons missed their tackles there.

[ChequeredJersey]

Italy have always needed a fly half, ever since Domingo

[slartibartfast]

why didnt he pass?

[Biltong]

Italy waits too long to pass or offload. they find themesleves caught with possession too often and then all momnetum and rythm is gone.

[eirebilly]

That they have Chequered, with a decent 10 they would be more competitive.

For waiting too long to offload biltong, they are certainly putting the French defence under a lot of pressure.

10-6 now. Good game

[Gibson]

They are having a go, Italy. Looking to run the ball more and attack, It will give a lot of pain at 1st, but its the right way to go. Big ask to do it v France, but they will trouble other teams with it.

YES! Mon Italia!

[slartibartfast]

Are the french pack asleep?

[eirebilly]

Not all that convinced by Burtons decision making out there. Really kicking at the wrong moments and not finding touch.

[ChequeredJersey]

Italy looking feisty and actually rather good

[Notch]

Ooooh, Malzieu. That's a bit special. Great score from nothing.

[Biltong]

That they have Chequered, with a decent 10 they would be more competitive.

For waiting too long to offload biltong, they are certainly putting the French defence under a lot of pressure.

10-6 now. Good game

Blly at the moment they look like a poor version of SA against an australian team that only needs the smallest of gaps to score. and as I say that france scores another try.

[eirebilly]

Again woeful defence. Good run but seriously he should have been tackled.

Picomoles again the instigator, he is having a great game.

[slartibartfast]

Butler, what's a "Fan Try?"

[Gibson]

Great try. Now thats the France of old. Great to see it back.

[Biltong]

Italy is looking very good in the tight phases, they are well drilled , but no venom in their attack and no line breaks.

[ChequeredJersey]

Wish i had put yachvili as my kicker in the fantasy league

[Golden]

Loving the pidgeons on the pitch.

Picamoles is a beast

[Notch]

Italy is looking very good in the tight phases, they are well drilled , but no venom in their attack and no line breaks.

Well, they don't chance their arm in attack. They keep the ball but France will defend their crash ball all day.

[Gibson]

Italy kicking to the corner looking for a try? This is magnificent to watch.

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