France vs Italy, Six Nations 2024: Kick-off time, TV channel, team news, lineups, venue, odds today
France and Italy go head to head today in the final match of Six Nations round three.
Having opened the competition in Marseille while renovation work continues on the Stade de France ahead of this summer’s Paris Olympics, Les Bleus head to Lille this afternoon as they look to make it back-to-back wins to get their campaign firmly back on track.
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Fabien Galthie’s side followed a classic but painful Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat by eventual champions South Africa on home soil in the autumn with a punishing loss to title rivals Ireland on opening night.
The emphatic manner of that loss was galling for a side expected to compete closely with the defending Grand Slam champions once again this year, with the loss of talismanic leader Antoine Dupont particularly noticeable as he prepares to play Olympic sevens.
France bounced back against Scotland in round two, but their 20-16 success at Murrayfield was more than slightly fortuitous as the hosts were controversially denied a last-gasp winning try.
Italy made a positive start to a fresh era under new head coach Gonzalo Quesada as they lost by only three points to England in Rome, before being brushed aside by Ireland and failing to register a single point in Dublin last time out.
France vs Italy date, kick-off time and venue
France vs Italy takes place today on Sunday February 25, 2024, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm GMT.
The match is being hosted at the Decathlon Arena - AKA the Stade Pierre-Mauroy - in Lille.
How to watch France vs Italy
TV channel: In the UK, today’s game is being televised live and free-to-air on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 2:15pm.
Live stream: The ITVX website and ITVX app will also offer a free live stream service to fans online.
Live blog: Follow the match live with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog.
France vs Italy team news
France are without captain Gregory Alldritt, who suffered a nasty cut to his left thigh against Scotland that required stitches.
That means that ex-skipper Charles Ollivon leads the side against Italy in Lille, with Francois Cros moving to No8 and Paul Boudehent coming into the back row.
France also hand a first Test start to powerful teenage lock Posolo Tuilagi, part of the Tuilagi rugby dynasty and nephew of current England centre Manu, replacing Paul Gabrillagues.
Fellow towering lock Romain Taofifenua is back on the bench after illness, while Toulon flanker Esteban Abadie is set to make his Les Bleus debut as a replacement.
France were forced into a late change to their first XV on Saturday, when Louis Bielle-Biarrey withdrew and was replaced on the wing by Matthis Lebel.
There are six changes in total to the Italy team that started the 36-0 shutout loss in Dublin, meanwhile.
There are first Azzurri starts for both the South Africa-born Ross Vintcent of Exeter and Riccardo Favretto in the back row, while at the front of the pack the injured tighthead Pietro Ceccarelli is replaced by Giosue Zilocchi and Giacomo Nicotera is preferred at hooker to Gianmarco Lucchesi.
Martin Page-Relo, who, like star back Ange Capuozzo, was born and raised in France, becomes Italy’s third starting scrum-half in as many games as he replaces Stephen Varney of Gloucester.
The other change is in the centres, where Federico Mori comes in as Tommaso Menoncello shifts to the wing and Lorenzo Pani drops out.
Zebre lock Matteo Canali is set to become Italy’s newest debutant from the bench, where he is joined by the fit-again prop Simone Ferrari.
Italy remain without the likes of Lorenzo Cannone, Sebastian Negri and Edoardo Iachizzi, while Tommaso Allan has now taken a step back from international rugby.
France vs Italy lineups
France XV: 15-Thomas Ramos, 14-Damian Penaud, 13-Gael Fickou, 12-Jonathan Danty, 11-Matthis Lebel, 10-Matthieu Jalibert, 9-Maxime Lucu, 8-Francois Cros, 7-Charles Ollivon (c), 6-Paul Boudehent, 5-Posolo Tuilagi, 4-Cameron Woki, 3-Uini Atonio, 2-Peato Mauvaka, 1-Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16-Julien Marchand, 17-Sebastien Taofifenua, 18-Dorian Aldegheri, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Alexandre Roumat, 21-Esteban Abadie, 22-Nolann Le Garrec, 23-Yoram Moefana
Italy XV: 15-Ange Capuozzo, 14-Tommaso Menoncello, 13-Ignacio Brex, 12-Federico Mori, 11-Monty Ioane, 10-Paolo Garbisi, 9-Martin Page-Relo, 8-Ross Vintcent, 7-Michele Lamaro (c), 6-Riccardo Favretto, 5-Federico Ruzza, 4-Niccolo Cannone, 3- Giosue Zilocchi, 2-Giacomo Nicotera, 1-Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16-Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17-Mirco Spagnolo, 18-Simone Ferrari, 19-Matteo Canali, 20-Andrea Zambonin, 21-Manuel Zuliani, 22-Stephen Varney, 23-Leonardo Marin
France vs Italy head to head (h2h) history and results
Italy toppled France twice in three years in Rome between 2011 and 2013, but their only other victory in this fixture to date came all the way back in 1997 in Grenoble.
Les Bleus have won all 42 other games, including the last 14 in a row. France had to come from behind to win 29-24 at the Stadio Olimpico 12 months ago, before thrashing Italy 60-7 in the pool stage of their home World Cup in the autumn.
France wins: 45
Italy wins: 3
Draws: 0
France vs Italy prediction
We certainly haven’t seen vintage France in this Six Nations so far, with that heavy loss to Ireland followed by a very fortunate win over Scotland.
A home tie against Italy should offer them the chance to produce a far more comfortable victory ahead of their trip to Cardiff and a Super Saturday showdown with England in Lyon.
Italy were much improved for the most part against England and made things scrappy at times against Ireland, but it would be a huge shock to see them in contention for what would be a first win in France for some 27 years this weekend.
They might be able to keep things close and competitive in the early going, but expect France to quickly pull away and run up the scoreboard in style.
France to win, by 20 points.
France vs Italy match odds
France to win: 1/50
Italy to win: 22/1
Draw: 50/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
