Italy v France - Teams and Prediction

PREVIEW ROUND ONE: Ange Capuozzo faces a “big challenge” in Italy’s Six Nations opener against defending champions France after bursting onto the Test scene last year, coach Kieran Crowley said.

The 23-year-old France-born fullback will face several of his Toulouse teammates at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Sunday.

He is the danger man in an Italy XV announced on Friday which is hoping for another surprise scalp following recent successes.

Capuozzo scored two tries in his senior Test debut against Scotland last March.

His most noteworthy display, though, came against Wales in Cardiff on the final day of the Six Nations.

His individual brilliance inspired Italy to a 22-21 victory, ending their 36-match Six Nations losing streak.

He then scored two of Italy’s three tries in their first-ever win over Australia, a single-point triumph in Florence in November.

“He has a big challenge this Six Nations, let’s not hide from it,” said Crowley.

“He burst onto the scene last year and he has continued that form with Toulouse and now for this week the French players know him.

“But he works hard at his game, he’s developing his game even further I think… Hopefully it’s an opportunity for us to show how good he is. That will be great if he can.”

Capuozzo says that he wants to use the attention that his play is garnering to kick on, rather than let it weigh him down.

“It’s a year with a lot of pressure because last year was a good year for me personally and collectively, probably as a good as year as I could have had,” he told reporters.

“It’s true that this year there’s a bit more pressure on my shoulders but I want to use that pressure to become an even better player, to be more motivated in my work. I want this to be a positive sort of pressure rather than negative – it’s easy to say it but that’s my objective.”

Paolo Garbisi misses out at flyhalf as the Montpellier man continues his recovery from a knee injury suffered at the start of the year.

Garbisi, 22, had been named at the weekend in the 30-man squad for Italy’s first two matches with France and England but was left out for the clash with Les Bleus, who are Crowley’s pick for this year’s World Cup.

“We hope we can be competitive with them, because let’s face it they are probably the World Cup favourites,” said Crowley.

“[What we want] is that we can be competitive with them, stay in the game, that we are able to put our game on the paddock and play the way we want to play. If that is good enough to win the game that is great.

“If it’s not good enough to win the game but we have performed to those expectations then that is great too.”

Harlequins’ Tommaso Allan lines up in Garbisi’s place, alongside Gloucester scrumhalf Stephen Varney.

Benetton Treviso wing Tommaso Menoncello starts on the left for the first time since the Azzurri’s July tour last year, with Zebre’s Pierre Bruno at right wing after his positive performances in the November Tests.

🎙️ “𝘙𝘶𝘨𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳” 🌅

The wait is over. Hello #GuinnessSixNations 🍿#AwakenAnticipation | @MrAndrewCotter pic.twitter.com/1Qt4Z5rdTH

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 3, 2023

Players to watch

For Italy: Fullback Ange Capuozzo is certainly one of the most exciting players in the world right now. He seems to have the skills and technique to unlock any defensive system and that is what Italy will need if they want to cause a massive upset. The halfback combination is an interesting one. Tommaso Allan has a good boot on him, but Italy will need more from him out wide. Scrumhalf Stephen Varney has shown what he is made of in the Premiership and he will need to play out of his skin to outplay his opposite number Antoine Dupont. In the pack, Italy has a dynamic loose trio in the form of Lorenzo Cannone, Michele Lamaro (captain) and Sebastian Negri and they could be the game-changers in the 80 minutes.

For France: Lyon wing Ethan Dumortier will be making his international debut and he has the pace to trouble Italy out wide. flyhalf Romain Ntamack is one of the best playmakers in the world and he is integral to Fabien Galthié’s game plan. Ntamack’s halfback partner Antoine Dupont has incredible vision on attack and will target Italy’s weaknesses out wide. In the pack, Charles Ollivon is one of the best around the rucks and his work rate with ball in hand and on defence is eye-catching. France will also have their South African-born lock Paul Willemse, who plays an important role in the physical exchanges and the line-outs.

Head to head

Prediction

@rugby365com: France by 15 points.

Teams:

Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Pierre Bruno, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Tommaso Menoncello, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Edoardo Iachizzi, 20 Giovanni Pettinelli, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Alessandro Fusco, 23 Edoardo Padovani.

France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Ethan Dumortier, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille.
Replacements: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Thomas Lavault, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Nolan Le Garrec, 23 Matthieu Jalibert.

Date: Sunday, February 5
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 16.00 (16.00 France time; 15.00 GMT)
Expected weather: Sunny skies with a high of 11°C and low of -1°C.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)