Italy v France Match Thread

[Sugarlump]

First topic message reminder :

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

[George Carlin]

Drop goal Italy!

[GunsGerms]

Italy so far are playing the perfect game v France.

[Cari]

Burton on with the DG! Well executed.

23-18 at 68 minutes...it's still a while to go...

[wales606]

One more penalty and I think this game is Italy's.

[Pot Hale]

This Italian team is transformed. Astonishing play and perseverance.

[Cari]

One more penalty and I think this game is Italy's.

But they also have to keep France back and not concede penalties. I'll be gutted if Italy don't win.

[wales606]

Excellent turnover by Italy, and Parisse is the first one up chasing the kick.

8 minutes to make a but more Italian rugby history.

[GunsGerms]

One more penalty and I think this game is Italy's.

But they also have to keep France back and not concede penalties. I'll be gutted if Italy don't win.

Me too.

[nathan]

How many times were france in at the side!

[Knackeredknees]

8 min to go!

Grandstand finish!!

God I love the 6n

[HammerofThunor]

They've been here before and lost. Fingers crossed

[wolfball]

The way France are playing right now is an insult to rugby and the passion we all have for the sport. Go for it Italy!!

[wales606]

One more penalty and I think this game is Italy's.

But they also have to keep France back and not concede penalties. I'll be gutted if Italy don't win.

3 more points and France will need a try to win, and then another penalty. They won't get 3 penalties in 8 minutes Italy need 3 more points.

But it's France with the penalty.

[Cari]

Trinh-Duc is at FB and he hasn't played there for two years!

No silly penalties Italy...not with Para on!

[maestegmafia]

Italy are going to do well this year

[Cari]

COME ON ITALIAN 14 RUN LIKE YOUR ARRRSE IS ON FIRE MAN!!!

[wales606]

Another knock on by France.

Italy counterattacking well, and some excellent offloading skill

[Cari]

France slowing things down now...they're getting pished off.

[GunsGerms]

Drop goal Italy.

[wales606]

Italy won't mind a scrum, use up time.

[George Carlin]

Cannot believe how well Italy have contained them in the set piece and how good the Italian offloading game is. Brilliant.

[Cari]

Guns - will an Italian win put pressure on Ireland for next week though - England will be the favourites after this surely?

[Knackeredknees]

COME ON ITALIAN 14 RUN LIKE YOUR ARRRSE IS ON FIRE MAN!!!

Thought he was going to head for the corner and just run out the ground

[kingjohn7]

Frak!!!!@!!!!!!!

[wales606]

French scrum dominating with castro off.

And Italy give away the penalty.

This won't be easy

[GunsGerms]

Key to Italy's performance.

-9&10 great performances
-Brilliant tactic to flood the blindside
-Excellent counter attack

Must win now though or its all for nothing

[nathan]

Lovely run and offload!

[Cari]

Oh Schitt. We're in Paris next week. Man, they'll be pished off...

Orquero is MOTM Deserved.

[wales606]

Another Italian turnover, and the advantage

[Cari]

THREE MINUTES!!! Hang in there Italy, BELIEVE!

[maestegmafia]

Offloading in every tackle

[eirebilly]

France will have to win from here

[Knackeredknees]

Well that was no advantage nigel

[eirebilly]

Yellow card

[Cari]

Italy just defend like your life depends on it. ONE MINUTE TO GO.

Penalty France. Yellow card for Italian 16. They'll have a scrum now.

[nathan]

Nigel, stupid decision to card him!??

[maestegmafia]

Jesus France don't deserve the win here, Italy are the better team today

[Knackeredknees]

Thanks nige ruin the game at the end

[George Carlin]

Crying shame if that yellow costs them the game.

[Cari]

Nigel there is not one minute left. There was 30 seconds.

[wales606]

I can't see Italy holding on now, France making a mistake would help

[maestegmafia]

What a scrum...

[Cari]

Please Italy just get the ball away. What an end to this match.

Knock on!

[Knackeredknees]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kingjohn7]

YES!!!!!

[Cari]

YAY!!!! What tackling from Italy!!!

FT 23-18.

[maestegmafia]

They've done it.....

Bellisimo italia

[PenfroPete]

Fratelli d'Italia,
l'Italia s'è desta

(Brothers of Italy,
Italy has woken)

[George Carlin]

FORZA ITALIA!

[nathan]

Get in there, well done Italy. Well deserved playing attractive rugby!

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