Italy vs France, Six Nations 2023: kick off time, TV channel, where to watch, team news, rosters, odds today

The Blues swept everything before them last year for the first time in 12 years and overtook England to clinch glory in Paris on the final day.

Antoine Dupont and Co will be intent on repeating that feat seven months from a World Cup on home soil, although injuries and a relentless schedule have raised doubts, with defeats to Australia and South Africa South in the fall, two very tight cases. In effect.

They were also in Japan this summer while arch-rivals Ireland were busy making history by winning an away series against the All Blacks for the first time ever.

But France should surely get off to a good start here against Italy, who are mostly backing another wooden spoon despite clear improvements and some massive results in 2022.

The debate over the Azzurri’s place in the competition was silenced when they stunned Wales 22-21 in Cardiff last March, ending a 36-game Six Nations losing streak.

Kieran Crowley’s side then fell to Georgia in the summer but responded by demolishing Samoa and beating Australia for the first time ever in the fall before being beaten by Australia. South Africa.

Italy v France kick-off date, time and venue

Italy v France is the last match to take place in the 2023 Six Nations first round, following Wales v Ireland and England v Scotland on Saturday.

The game takes place at 15:00 GMT on Sunday February 5, hosted by Rome’s famous Stadio Olimpico.

How to watch Italy vs France

TV channel: In the UK, Italy v France is broadcast live and free on ITV1, with coverage starting at 2.15pm.

Direct: Rugby fans can also watch the action live online via the ITVX app or the ITV website.

Italy vs France Team News

France will be without center Jonathan Danty for the full Six Nations with a knee injury, while influential striker Cameron Woki is also missing with a broken hand.

Gabin Villière, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Peato Mauvaka, Pierre Bourgarit, Maxime Lucu, Arthur Vincent, Killian Geraci and Florian Verhaeghe are among the other absentees.

Lock keeper Paul Willemse is back in form after his injury, while Lyonnais Ethan Dumortier makes his debut in place of Villière on the wing.

Thomas Ramos is preferred over Melvyn Jaminet at the back, with Jaminet not even among the substitutes on Sunday.

There were eight unselected players in coach Fabien Galthie’s original training squad, with Dumortier joined by Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Emilien Gailleton, Paul Boudehent, Romain Buros and Julien Delbouis, as well as scrum-half Leo Coly and Nolann LeGarrec. The latter will replace Dupont this weekend in the absence of Lucu.

For Italy, key fly-half Paolo Garbisi could return sooner than expected after a knee injury that has sidelined him since early December, but Harlequins’ Tommaso Allan starts here. Monty Ioane, Toa Halafihi, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Leonardo Marin and David Sisi are all injured.

Matteo Nocera, Luca Rizzoli, Mirco Spagnolo and Marco Manfredi are all uncapped players called up by Crowley, while Gloucester flanker Jake Polledri is hoping to earn his first caps since 2020, despite not being in the squad this weekend -end.

Lineups Italy vs France

Italy XV: Capuozzo; Bruno, Brex, Morisi, Menoncello; Allan, Varney; Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari; N Cannone, Ruzza; Negri, Lamaro (c), L Cannone

Replacements: Bigi, Zani, Ceccarelli, Iachizzi, Pettinelli, Zuliani, Fusco, Padovani

XV of France: Ramos; Penaud, Fickou, Moefana, Dumortier; Ntamack, Dupont (c); Baille, Merchant, Atonio; Flament, Willemse; Jelonch, Ollivon, Alldritt

Replacements: Barlot, Wardi, Falatea, Taofifenua, Lavault, Macalou, Le Garrec, Jalibert

Italy vs France head to head (h2h) history and results

Italy have won just three of their previous 46 meetings with France – in the 1995-97 FIRA Trophy and then again twice in three years in the Six Nations in 2011 and 2013.

France have won all of their last 12 games, including a 50-10 defeat on their last trip to Rome in 2021 and last year’s 37-10 victory in Paris which featured a classy hat-trick from Villière.

Italy win: 3

France wins: 43

Draws: 0

Italy vs France prediction

Italy are finally making progress and now boast a litany of dangerous attacking threats led by French-born Toulouse star Ange Capuozzo.

Victories over Wales and Australia in 2022 will have boosted confidence in the Azzurri’s ranks considerably and they will now be aiming to cause further significant upheavals.

However, their 63-21 thrashing by the Springboks in November and a historic defeat at Georgia were clear signs that more progress still needed to be made.

A first draw against the French is an incredibly tough first mission and Italy would do well to keep things respectable as the Blues look to start their title defense on a high.

Victory for France, by 21 points.

Italy vs France odds

Italy win: 14/1

France winner: 1/25

Draw: 45/1

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).