Giovanni Raineri’s Italy arrive in Paris a fortnight removed from their 27-21 win over Ireland at the RDS Arena in Dublin.
Vittoria Vecchini, Beatrice Rigoni, Valeria Fedrighi and Aura Muzzo were all on the scoresheet as the Azzurre played exciting, expansive rugby to register their first win of the tournament.
Two weekends ago France locked up their second win of their Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign, grinding out a 15-5 win against Scotland.
France trailed at the break in Edinburgh, but second half scores from Kelly Arbey and Emeline Gros to keep Les Blues in the race for top spot and they will hope to keep that momentum going with victory in the French capital this weekend.
TEAM NEWS
France have made three changes to the side that narrowly beat Scotland a fortnight ago, with Charlotte Escudero and Emeline Gros coming into the back row.
They replace Axelle Berthoumieu and Gaëlle Hermet in an otherwise unchanged pack, with captian Manae Feleu and Madoussou Fall joining again for an imposing second row.
The other change comes in the back three as Mélissande Llorens comes in for Kelly Arbey, with Marine Ménager swapping wings to accommodate.
Giovanni Raineri makes just two changes to his winning formula from Dublin, naming the exact same seven in the backs.
Both changes come in the pack, with Gaia Maris coming in for Silvia Turani at loosehead prop and Isabella Locatelli getting the nod over Francesca Sgorbini in the back row.
There are more changes on the bench, as Emanuela Stecca and Alessia Pilani come into the matchday squad.
WHAT THEY SAID
France's Gaëlle Hermet said: “I think it’s been a good week for us to recuperate and the squad is in good heart,” she said. “It is going to be a fierce match with lots of contact and will be very physical. We’ll have to be very effective with our attack, especially close to their line.
“Italy versus France is always a special match as there are lots of Italians who play in France. I think they will bring a lot of pressure and be very motivated for the match.
“Italy have a good mix with their forward pack and backline. They will want to move the ball when they have the chance or put pressure on us with their kicks.”
KEY BATTLE - Gabrielle Vernier v Beatrice Rigoni
Gabrielle Vernier and Beatrice Rigoni going toe-to-toe in Paris will be must-watch entertainment.
Both are natural entertainers on the rugby pitch, with that uncanny ability to seem as though they are moving in slow motion while in full flow and are the lynchpins that each of their teams are built around.
Following a heavy opening round defeat to England, Italy and Rigoni bounced back superbly to get past Ireland 27-21 in Dublin.
A key performer from the kicking tee and in open play, the 28-year-old is at the centre of everything good that Italy do, with Rigoni a key part of the confident and cohesive side Giovanni Raineri is looking to mould Italy into.
Much the same can be said about Vernier; the reigning Guinness Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship almost unstoppable and scored five tries over the course of the 2023 Championship.
Only experiencing Guinness Women’s Six Nations glory once in 2018, Vernier has the drive and ability to take her team back to a first-place finish.
Getting the better of Rigoni and stymying Italian attack as well as making her own impression with ball in hand will be key to her side notching a third win.
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STAT ATTACK
France have won 13 of their previous 16 Guinness Women’s Six Nations matches against Italy, including each of their last three and all eight of their meetings on French soil by margins of 29+ points – France have held Italy scoreless in four of their last six home Championship encounters.
France have won 12 of their last 15 Guinness Women’s Six Nations matches (L3), with their only defeats during that time all having come against England; however, they scored just 15 points during their most recent win (15-5 v Scotland), their fewest in a match they’ve won in the Championship since 2015 (10-5 v Ireland).
Italy won their most recent Guinness Women’s Six Nations match (27-21 v Ireland) after losing three in a row previously – each of Italy’s last four games in the Championship have seen an aggregate total of between 46 and 50 points scored.
Three of Italy’s last four Guinness Women’s Six Nations away games have been decided by single-digit margins, with the Azzurri having won two and lost two during that period – Italy have scored over 20 points in each of their last two away matches in the Championship, after doing so just once across their previous 10.
FANTASY WATCH
After the first two rounds of fixtures, France’s top performer is back-row forward Romane Menager who can be purchased for 18.8 stars.
Starting each of France’s opening two fixtures, the 27-year-old has excelled and already rack up 79 fantasy points thanks to her all-round game.
Vittoria Vecchini’s one outing of the Six Nations has yielded 68 points for the hooker as a result of the 22-year-old crashed over the whitewash twice as Italy beat Ireland two weeks ago.
Available to add to your team for just 14.7 stars, the hooker scored a brace last time out and will be relied upon more heavily by Italy as the Guinness Women’s Six Nations continues.
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TEAMS
France: 15 Émelie Boulard, 14 Marine Ménager, 13 Nassira Konde, 12 Gabrielle Vernier, 11 Mélissande Llorens, 10 Lina Queyroi, 9 Pauline Bourdon-Sansus; 1 Annaëlle Deshaye, 2 Agathe Sochat, 3 Assia Khalfaoui, 4 Manae Feleu, 5 Madoussou Fall, 6 Charlotte Escudero, 7 Emeline Gros, 8 Romane Ménager
Replacements: 16 Elisa Riffonneau, 17 Ambre Mwayembe, 18 Clara Joyeux, 19 Gaëlle Hermet, 20 Teani Feleu, 21 Alexandra Chambon, 22 Lina Tuy, 23 Morgane Bourgeois
Italy: 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Beatrice Rigoni, 12 Emma Stevanin, 11 Alyssa D'Inca 10 Veronica Madia, 9 Sofia Stefan; 1 Gaia Maris, 2 Vittoria Vecchini, 3 Sara Seye, 4 Valeria Fedrighi, 5 Giordana Duca, 6 Sara Tounesi, 7 Isabella Locatelli, 8 Ilaria Arrighetti
Replacements: 16 Laura Guriolo, 17 Emanuela Stecca, 18 Lucia Gai, 19 Alessia Pilani, 20 Beatrice Veronese, 21 Alessandra Frangipani, 22 Francesca Granzotto , 23 Beatrice Capomaggi
