Italy v France Match Thread

[Sugarlump]

Bonjour and Ciao.

After the best opening two matches of a 6N tournament for many years I'm particularly looking forward to what our counterparts from the continent can produce today.

France will be looking to crush the Azzurri after the upset two years ago while Italy will be looking to prove that the result was no mere fluke.

Too many potential French match winners to mention them all (TV coverage about to start) I'll update the teams in a mo. Hoping to see a big game from Masi and for Benvenuti to continue his progress and there's debut for lock Francesco Minto.

Lets hope it's another cracker!

Italy Team

Andrea Masi, Giovanbattista Venditti, Tommaso Benvenuti, Alberto Sgarbi, Luke McLean, Luciano Orquera, Tobias Botes, Sergio Parisse (captain), Simone Favaro, Alessandro Zanni, Francesco Minto, Quintin Geldenhuys, Martin Castrogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lo Cicero.

Replacements: Davide Giazzon, Alberto De Marchi, Lorenzo Cittadini, Antonio Pavanello, Paul Derbyshire, Edoardo Gori, Kristopher Burton, Gonzalo Canale.

France Team

Huget; Fofana, Fritz, Mermoz, Fall; Michalak, Machenaud; Picamoles, Dusautoir, Ouedraogo, Maestri, Pape (capt), Mas, Szarzewski, Forestier. Replacements Kayser, Debaty, Ducalcon, Taofifenua, Chouly, Parra, Trinh-Duc, Bastareaud

[Cari]

Afternoon All

Looking forward to this. I hope it's a cracking match. Apparently Michelak is starting.

[Cari]

Here come the teams. I'm liking the new stadium

Benvenuti

[Sugarlump]

Good afternoon Cari, I watched yesterdays matches with a rather enchanting Argentinian lady who confessed to liking the rugby purely for the players legs and torsos, I was happy because the ends justified the means, in that I got to watch both games and flirt outrageously with a beautiful woman!

Any preferences or are you just rooting for a good game?

[Cari]

WOAH!!! Parisse is in!!!! The crowd are going nuts!! What a start!!!

FORZA ITALIA!!!

[GunsGerms]

Wow go Italy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[IanBru]

OH my goodness.

Bravo Italy - beautiful hands for that try!

[nathan]

great try by Italy!

[Pal Joey]

Fantastic try!

[nathan]

france over confident?

[sensisball]

Now really, really not looking forward to the game next weekend!!!!!!!!

[Cari]

7-0 at six minutes. What a start!

All right Sugarlump. I like the game and players. Sadly my most favourite player in the world at the moment is injured and won't be in this year's tournament, but I love this all the same

[Cari]

I'm finding the slightly lighter blue French kit a bit confusing at times...I forget the Italians are in white.

[maestegmafia]

Italy looking very impressive.

[Sugarlump]

What a start indeed! Great stuff by Italy, Parrise is a legend and gives balding men some confidence that they can still have sex appeal!

Cari, I know you're serious fan, I wasn't suggesting you're here purely for the aesthetics!

[PenfroPete]

Sontuoso

[nathan]

how come the Italians arnt in blue as its played in Italy?

[Cari]

Ah OK Sugarlump, I misread the comment...

France on the attack now...they could get a score here.

[Cari]

Picamoles is over for France. Good try.

[Sugarlump]

France looking strong, Italy offside a lot

[Cari]

Conversion missed by Michelak!

7-5 at 12 minutes.

[Sugarlump]

I think think my pooter feed is slow Cari. You called that one quickly!

[majesticimperialman]

I would be very surprised if France dont win this.

Having said that 12 minutes in to the game and Italy are in the lead 7-5.

[Cari]

Sorry Sugarlump...I do have good broadband

Whoever wins this, it will be a close score if the first quarter is anything to go by.

Drop Goal from Orquera!!!!!!

10-5 at 15 minutes.

[Sugarlump]

Nice DG!

[GLove39]

Good drop goal, starting to sweat thinking about the game at Murrayfield now!

[GunsGerms]

Great play Orquera. Really what Italy have been lacking for a long time. An OH that can chip away.

[Sugarlump]

You do have good broadband, damn that charleton Mr Branson

[maestegmafia]

Great rugby by the Italians...! Really impressive all over the team...

[kingjohn7]

Come on Italy. 2013 6 nations champs

[asoreleftshoulder]

how come the Italians arnt in blue as its played in Italy?

The home team always changes strip,it's a rugby tradition.

[GunsGerms]

Jeebus some ridiculously smart and good play from Italy. I like the way they are using the blind side with numbers a lot and also some very good decision making from their 9 and 10.

[LeinsterFan4life]

Come on Italy!!!! Great start.

[Cari]

Good drop goal, starting to sweat thinking about the game at Murrayfield now!

I'm not looking forward to Wales playing out there either!

Orquera kicking for a penalty.

13-5 at 18 minutes.


It's great to see Italy improving so much. Shows what the Pro-12 is doing for their development.

[GunsGerms]

Very impressed with Italy 9 and 10. Playing the perfect game so far.

[Cari]

Hard to believe Orquera plays for Zebre, he's been great so far.

[wales606]

I do not look forward to Wales' trip to Paris

Italy's 9/10 axis is working for once, their centres and wingers and big, strong and committed, working at the breakdown keeping possession well.

Parisse is the best or second best 8 in world rugby.

I am more worried about travelling to Rome than Murrayfield.

[Cari]

I hope the Italians can keep up the momentum. It's been all them so far. France will be back second half though.

[GunsGerms]

Michelak has made a few mistakes now. Not having a great game so far.

[wales606]

I don't think anything that I have seen this weekend would be able to break the Italian so far. Who else goes to Rome this year?

[Sugarlump]

JD has just been praising the half backs. Great to see, 9 and 10 are such technical positions with so many specialist skills, are these two guys playing in the Rabo, France or the Italian League?

[wales606]

JD has just been praising the half backs. Great to see, 9 and 10 are such technical positions with so many specialist skills, are these two guys playing in the Rabo, France or the Italian League?

Both play in the pro12

[Cari]

I don't think anything that I have seen this weekend would be able to break the Italian so far. Who else goes to Rome this year?

Ireland and Wales I think?

[Pal Joey]

I'm glad the Wallabies got out of there with a win... just.
Albeit with great chunks of fur missing.

Good for the Italians to have a decent side to cheer for. Their standard has really improved in recent years.

[GunsGerms]

Bad mistake Botes.

[Cari]

Michelak has made a few mistakes now. Not having a great game so far.

Isn't he playing out of position cause Trinh Duc is on the bench?

[Sugarlump]

I'm glad the Wallabies got out of there with a win... just.
Albeit with great chunks of fur missing.

Good for the Italians to have a decent side to cheer for. Their standard has really improved in recent years.

Haven't they just!

[GunsGerms]

I don't think anything that I have seen this weekend would be able to break the Italian so far. Who else goes to Rome this year?

Ireland and Wales I think?

Ireland go there alright. Italy are usually very tough though Ireland have never lost to them in the 6N. hopefully that wont change this year.

[Cari]

Scrappy lineout Italy...need to watch that.

[mystiroakey]

JUST TURNED OVER.

Come on Italy!!!

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