France versus Italy match thread.

[Biltong]

First topic message reminder :

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.

[Gibson]

Mon Italia! Keep this up.

They look like they believe in their coach and will progress.

Man I phooking love the 6-N.

[ChequeredJersey]

If even these two scrims are collapsing you know something has to change

[Gibson]

Ah bollix! Pressure is telling now.

[Gibson]

Fofana will be a World Star.

[eirebilly]

It was coming, well done Fofana, deserved for him

[ChequeredJersey]

This might sound a tad racist, it's really not meant to be but (both in terms of looks and play) does anyone think Fofana looks like Billy Whiz?

[HammerofThunor]

I had France for 32-13 so wanted that conversion to go over. No more scores for me

[Gibson]

Man. We have to go to Paris next week and these encules are warmed up now.

[Gibson]

This might sound a tad racist, it's really not meant to be but (both in terms of looks and play) does anyone think Fofana looks like Billy Whiz?

Yup. Why is it racist?

[ChequeredJersey]

Italy don't look discouraged at least

[Pal Joey]

I had France for 32-13 so wanted that conversion to go over. No more scores for me

I had 28-12 so didn't want that last try... a penalty would have been perfect though!

[Gibson]

SO close Italia. These little moves will come off in the 6-N, if they persist.

[ChequeredJersey]

This might sound a tad racist, it's really not meant to be but (both in terms of looks and play) does anyone think Fofana looks like Billy Whiz?

Yup. What is it racist?

Was worried it was all because of the mixed-race colouring

[Gibson]

Really like Dayglo's attitude. Mon Italia givvis a TRY.

[ChequeredJersey]

Parisse on the wing?

[Golden]

So close would have loved a try there

[eirebilly]

What a shame for Italy, at least 3 chances now gone for a try for them

[Gibson]

This might sound a tad racist, it's really not meant to be but (both in terms of looks and play) does anyone think Fofana looks like Billy Whiz?

Yup. What is it racist?

Was worried it was all because of the mixed-race colouring

Phhok PC man. Say it like it is. Good lookin boy. Is that gayish?

I dont care. Cos Im an Irish Ladyboy.

[Redrage]

Fofana not living up to the hype so far, Rougerie showing how it is done.

Always said Fofana was a player. In my defence I have both Fofana and Rougerie in my Fantasy 6N side.

[ChequeredJersey]

Why didn't France kick into touch!?

[ChequeredJersey]

Ah too late

[Golden]

Good game to kick of a great tournament.

Italy will pose the other nations some problems.

[eirebilly]

I had France winners at 28-10. Pretty close.

Well done France but what an effort away from home by Italy

[Gibson]

Great start to the 6-N. France on a roll.

So happy with Italy. Just need to hone it and put it up to England in their new ground next week. And, I suspect they will.

[majesticimperialman]

Italy looking dangerous today. I know the score looks impresive for France, but realy France had to did deep to win today.

[Notch]

Yeah definitely going to be an interesting game between Italy and England next week.

A pretty decent start for France, average enough performance but you can see they still have several gears to go up. Which is ominous.

[Cari]

Well done France. I hope Ireland can beat them next week though.

[ChequeredJersey]

Italy in Rome when their backs finding that final bit of finishing (so close!) and they start to use the forwards more to draw in defenders to create gaps is going to be very very hard for any of the home nations if the can keep running the balk like that.

[HQ matt]

disappointed italy didnt get a try at the end, i feel they deserved it.

with the exception of Masi the italian backs seem so limited. glimpses from gori and benvenuti but they really need a 10 to run the game. botes looked ok when he came on.

[Golden]

Hook just said Italian back play had gone backwards

Is there a more ridiculous pundit out there?

[Shifty]

Italy just defending Alan? Are you watching another game or wot? Jesus.

It's more a reference to the same old Italy we always see, decent pack, normally defend hard, but have no idea how to use their backs and are only in the game if you let them kick penalties.

It doesnt matter how much ball Italy have they just don't seem to be able to score points.

If only they had an Ivan Francescatto or a Cristian Stoica these days...

[Notch]

Hook just said Italian back play had gone backwards

Is there a more ridiculous pundit out there?

I don't know, their back play was basic at best. Most of the time it was just an inside pass to a guy running hard and straight.

[Gibson]

France play like Leinster. Every chance they get - they take.

[whocares]

yep great effort from Italia, they are so much better structured than last year and were the best team on the basics (scrum, line out and probably in the rucks as well) which clearly shows the progress made. I like how they changed a bit their game plan in the 2H and tried to play more. unfortunately for them their backs didnt use the ball very well and were let down in the defense.
Parisse should have been MOTM. cant believe he keeps playing t this high level week in week out.

[Gibson]

Italy v New England, next week - will be fascinating to watch.

[Gibson]

Cheika waffle for the BEEB. Glad he's gone to France.

[eirebilly]

France play like Leinster. Every chance they get - they take.

Only you could get a Leinster plug in during a 6N game not involving Ireland

[Pal Joey]

I hope not Gibbo... Oz walloped them 59-16 last meeting.

[ChequeredJersey]

Backs play might have been simple but in terms of making yards and breaking the line it was effective- it was handling into contact, support (too many turnovers...) and finishing that let the backs down. It might only be an inside pass but it was clearly working, they just can't score tries.

[ChequeredJersey]

Just read the BBC match report. Not sure I agree with half of what's in it. They overestimate how easy it was for France and underestimate Italy's ability in attack and I wonder what they'll say when Italy beat one of the home nations (possibly though I hope not England)?

[Gibson]

France play like Leinster. Every chance they get - they take.

Only you could get a Leinster plug in during a 6N game not involving Ireland

Bu88er! Thought I'd got way with it Billy.

[rhino-dragon]

Italy are the same team they were under Mallett and beforehand. They still only have two players Parisse and Masi who offer any cutting edge whatsoever. None of the current crop are good enough and until a generation of players come through who are up to the task they will always be plucky losers i am afraid.

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