France versus Italy match thread.

by **Biltong** Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:39 pm

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.

by ChequeredJersey Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:42 pm

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

by Cari Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:48 pm

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

by Cari Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:10 pm

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

by **Notch** Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:12 pm

Anyone else feel Italys wingers could both be badly exposed?

by eirebilly Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:23 pm

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

by **Notch** Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:25 pm

Really looking forward to seeing Fofana here.

by HQ matt Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:28 pm

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.

by eirebilly Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:30 pm

It is a very strong French side on paper.

by Guest Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:31 pm

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

by Shifty Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:32 pm

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

by eirebilly Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:33 pm

Excellent mutton chops on Medard Very Happy

by slartibartfast Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:34 pm

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

Sweet

by slartibartfast Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:35 pm

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

by eirebilly Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:37 pm

Picomoles is a beast isnt he. He hits so hard

by ChequeredJersey Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:38 pm

Picamoles is a monster. Great tackle

by ChequeredJersey Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:38 pm

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

beat me to it

by Golden Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:38 pm

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

by **Biltong** Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:42 pm

The french defence looks very well organised.

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

by eirebilly Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:43 pm

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

by **Biltong** Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:45 pm

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

by eirebilly Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:46 pm

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

by eirebilly Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:49 pm

biltongbek wrote: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 Very Happy

by **Biltong** Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:49 pm

Excellent drop kick by italy. wow

by Golden Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:49 pm

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

They look much better in possession than previous years

by eirebilly Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:49 pm

Horrible restart Very Happy

by Morgannwg Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:51 pm

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.

by **Biltong** Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:52 pm

Easy try for france.

by eirebilly Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:52 pm

Terrible defence that. Absolutely aweful

by **Notch** Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:53 pm

Aw man! Big gap.

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

by eirebilly Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:54 pm

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

by Pat_Mustard Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:55 pm

The pigeons missed their tackles there.

by ChequeredJersey Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:56 pm

Italy have always needed a fly half, ever since Domingo

by slartibartfast Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:58 pm

why didnt he pass?

by **Biltong** Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:58 pm

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

by eirebilly Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:00 pm

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

by Gibson Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:00 pm

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!

by slartibartfast Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:02 pm

Are the french pack asleep?

by eirebilly Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:04 pm

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

by ChequeredJersey Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:05 pm

Italy looking feisty and actually rather good

by **Notch** Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:06 pm

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

by **Biltong** Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:06 pm

eirebilly wrote: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.

by eirebilly Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:06 pm

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

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

by slartibartfast Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:06 pm

Butler, what's a "Fan Try?"

by Gibson Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:07 pm

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

by **Biltong** Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:07 pm

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

by ChequeredJersey Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:08 pm

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

by Golden Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:09 pm

Loving the pidgeons on the pitch.

Picamoles is a beast

by **Notch** Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:09 pm

biltongbek wrote: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.

by Gibson Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:09 pm

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

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