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

[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?

Both play in the pro12

Cheers Wales!

[Pal Joey]

Held up?

[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?

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.

I hope not Guns. This is BOD's last Six Nations and I would love it for him if Ireland did well....not mentioning the you know what...

Possible try for France...TMO.

[Cari]

Good grief I can't see what happened to the ball there! Inconclusive I reckon.

[Sugarlump]

I don't think you can give it

[Sugarlump]

5m attacking scrum, must be

[wales606]

Inconclusive and the advantage was over. Bit of luck for Italy.

[Cari]

No try says the TMO. French scrum at five metres.

[wales606]

Italy giving away a lot of offside penalties, they could face a YC unless they are careful

[Cari]

French penalty and Michelak kicks an easy one.

13-8 at 27 minutes.

[Cari]

Italy giving away a lot of offside penalties, they could face a YC unless they are careful

Sounds like their club matches...

[Cari]

Good driving maul from Italy.

[Sugarlump]

Italy need to steady the ship, some good forward work there

[Sugarlump]

Always one step ahead of me Cari!

[Cari]

Good grief...what was with that kick, France?!

[Cari]

What a try from the French 11!!

13-15 at 34 minutes.

[Sugarlump]

That was a beaut!

[wales606]

That's a pity, well worked French try

13 - 15

[mystiroakey]

france ahead..

but good to see abit of fight froom the italians- shown that france are very vunerable..


england will be big favs after this

[Pal Joey]

The Fall guy scores!

[wales606]

Not much of a penalty advantage by Owens

[Sugarlump]

Awful pass by Michelak, can Italy punish the mistake?

[GunsGerms]

Michelak is showing why he will never be a great OH, way too flaky.

[Cari]

Awh I wanted Benvenuti to score...

[Cari]

Good run from Fofana but it went forwards.

[GLove39]

Surely that should have been a 5m scrum to Italy? Michalak kicked ball off the back of the pitch

[wales606]

Fofana is dangerous

Parisse is all over the pitch

[Pal Joey]

A good break from Fofana... poor pass though!

[Sugarlump]

Score with whom Cari?!

[Sugarlump]

Apologies...

[wales606]

Surely that should have been a 5m scrum to Italy? Michalak kicked ball off the back of the pitch

That's what I thought.

[Cari]

Scarbi was lucky to hang on to that, but it's lost now...the French will be looking to score just before half time...psychological advantage.

[Cari]

Parisse is all over the pitch

I know, I forget he's an 8 sometimes!

[Cari]

HT 13-15 I need something to eat...


Great start for Italy, but I'm not sure they can keep France at bay second half. Too many mistakes...

[wales606]

I had a couple of quid on Italy+4 at HT

I also had money on Ireland to lead at HT

Unfortunately Scotland didn't help me by being thrashed at Twickernam.

[HammerofThunor]

Surely that should have been a 5m scrum to Italy? Michalak kicked ball off the back of the pitch

That's what I thought.

Ball played into the try area by Italians, doesn't matter who puts it into touch

[Sugarlump]

Not a bad 40mins of rugby, far from perfect from either teams but they're both up for it and providing some good entertainment on the way

[Duty281]

Italy doing pretty well, 13-5 up at one stage! Now 13-15 at HT, Italy need to go back to basics, they've been very careless with the ball as the first half came to an end. France do look a bit jittery, if Italy get the first score in the second half then I think they can cause an upset.

[whocares]

Italy has often great starts but can they keep up for 80 minutes?
Orquera is an interesting find : because he's not really big, he switches with Masi and go to fullback when france has the ball. Makes him a good target under high ball and france already looking at it. Great composure from him though.

[GLove39]

Surely that should have been a 5m scrum to Italy? Michalak kicked ball off the back of the pitch

That's what I thought.

Ball played into the try area by Italians, doesn't matter who puts it into touch

I know that Italy kicked it in, but thought as the defensive player you were meant to dot it down.

[George Carlin]

OMG - how intelligent and erudite is Bertolami? Get that man in a studio now.

What has happened to Inverdale's face? He's looking increasingly like a cartoon of himself.

[Cari]

Italy has often great starts but can they keep up for 80 minutes?

Depends on how they handle pressure from France. They're certainly fit enough to.

[Cari]

OMG - how intelligent and erudite is Bertolami? Get that man in a studio now.

What has happened to Inverdale's face? He's looking increasingly like a cartoon of himself.

I think they could do with a regular Italian pundit on the team anyway in fairness.

Inverdull's had a haircut and I think he's been to the same partially sighted barber as some of the English squad...

[whocares]

Italy has often great starts but can they keep up for 80 minutes?

Depends on how they handle pressure from France. They're certainly fit enough to.

Discipline might be key from them. Lets see...

[Cari]

A few little errors creeping in from both sides now...

Did Jiffy just open a can of beer then over the mic?

[Cari]

Great Italian scrum!

[GunsGerms]

Think Owens is letting France away with a lot at the breakdown.

[wales606]

A few little errors creeping in from both sides now...

Did Jiffy just open a can of beer then over the mic?

It was just some lemonade...honest

[Cari]

Oh Italy...watch it!

[Pal Joey]

Did Jiffy just open a can of beer then over the mic?

He must have a pretty dry throat with all that talk.

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