Head-to-head
Italy and France have played each other 49 times, with France claiming 45 wins with Italy winning three (1997, 2011 and 2013).
The 2024 match between the two sides will go down as one of the most memorable between the two, with the Azzurri a post-width away from their first victory over France on French soil in the Six Nations era.
France have led at half-time in 24 of their 25 Guinness Men’s Six Nations games against Italy, including their 12 clashes on Italian soil - only failing to do so in 2006.
France and Italy have been playing for the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy since 2007. France have won the trophy on 15 occasions, with Italy winning two. France currently hold the trophy despite the two sides drawing in 2024.
Current form
Despite losing their opening game to Scotland, they showed promising signs in attack and followed it up with an impressive 22-15 win at the Stadio Olimpico against Wales in round two.
Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada said after the win versus Wales: "Today is an important day for this squad. We played at home and had the pressure of starting as favourites and had to face a difficult match because of the weather, because we are a team that likes to attack and play with the ball," Quesada told the news conference at a rainy Stadio Olimpico.
"We’ll bring a lot of confidence and serenity, we have taken a big load off our shoulders with this win. Nobody expects us to do anything against France and this could yet prove an advantage for us."
Italy have won their last two home games in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations - only the second time they have managed this feat (2012-13) - but they have never won three in a row. Overall they’ve lost just one of their last five matches in the Championship (W3, D1); this after just one win in 44 efforts between 2015 and 2024.
The Mathieu Bastareaud Column
France, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from a mixed start to their campaign. Fabien Galthié’s side cruised past Wales in round one, but suffered a last-minute defeat in ‘Le Crunch’ versus England in round two. France will be determined to right the wrongs of the previous game, and head into a potential Championship decider versus Ireland on good form.
Team news
France have received a huge double boost with lock Thibaud Flament and centre Gaël Fickou both added to the wider 42-man squad to prepare for Italy after missing the opening two rounds through injury.
Anthony Jelonch, Reda Wardi and Léo Barré are among the other players back in the fold, while props Dorian Aldegheri and Sipili Falatea have replaced Georges-Henri Colombe and Tevita Tatafu.
Lock Emmanuel Meafou has been struggling with illness, while fly-half Romain Ntamack is still suspended following his red card against Wales.
Italy made just one change to face the Welsh, with Niccolò Cannone replacing Harlequins’ Dino Lamb in the second row.
Lamb has a knee injury and won’t face France, with wing Monty Ioane also missing with a knee problem of his own. Young Mirko Belloni has earned a call-up and prop Mirco Spagnolo is also back from a ban.
Stats dive
France suffered a defeat to England in round 2 (26-25) of this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations. They’ve not lost consecutive matches in the Championship since a three-game run across the 2018 and 2019 Championships.
France have conceded just 1.7 points per entry into their 22 on average in this year’s tournament - the best record of any side. Italy have conceded the most (3.6). Conversely, France have also scored the most points per entry into the opposition 22, averaging 3.1 points per foray so far. Italy have the second worst rate (1.8, Wales 1.5).
Louis Bielle-Biarrey has scored in five consecutive Tests for France (8 tries in total) and has scored 14 in 16 caps overall since making his debut in August 2023. Among Tier 1 men’s players only New Zealand’s Will Jordan (15) has scored more in that time.
Damian Penaud beat six defenders against England in Round 2, taking his overall Guinness Men’s Six Nations tally to 100 (same as Gaël Fickou). Only Duhan van der Merwe (102), Rob Kearney (104), George North (142), Stuart Hogg (162) and Brian O’Driscoll (163) have beaten more in the Championship. Penaud is now just one try away from equalling Serge Blanco (38) as France’s all-time top try scorer (37 currently).
Italy duo Danilo Fischetti and Niccolo Cannone will win their 50th caps if they appear this weekend. Both players made their debuts for the Azzurri in a 42-0 defeat to Wales in round one of the 2020 Guinness Men’s Six Nations.