Six Nations, Italy awaits France and dreams of two victories

Tomorrow the Six Nations starts with Wales-Ireland and England-Scotland (respectively at 3.15pm and 5.45pm, live on Sky) while on Sunday Italy returns from two wins out of three in the November test matches (Samoa in Padua and Australia in Florence), and still with the historic success in Cardiff in mind in the last match of 2022, against France at the Olimpico he decided to continue to dream big. «We want to win two games», says the President Fir Innocenti, re-proposing the right prediction in the autumn. «We can win three or four of them», echoes Ange Capuozzo, Angelo (guardian) in name and in fact given that both against Wales and against Australia it was he who left his mark with overwhelming tries and actions.

But be careful not to get caught up in the enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Georgia’s home beatings in Batumi (28-19 last summer) and the third test match with South Africa in Genoa (21-63) shouldn’t be forgotten, then if it’s right to have big dreams, it shouldn’t be forgotten though the reality principle. In the first three days we will see it against 3 of the 5 strongest national teams in the world: on Sunday France (n.2 in the ranking) at the Olimpico; the following week England (number 5) in Twickenham, on 25 February Ireland (number 1) again in Rome. Disappointed by the performances of the Whites, who torpedoed Eddie Jones and put Steve Bortwick on the bench, some foreign observers have even ventured that 2023 could be the year of the first blue victory against England – whose performance in the scrum according to statistics is collapsed to levels never seen before – but watch out for the Masters’ desire for redemption. The same one that will also have the Dragons in the belly, and in the head, scheduled at the Olimpico on March 11 and again led by the New Zealand magician Warren Gatland. The fifth appointment is with Scotland in Edinburgh on 18 March, and there it will be better to present yourself at your best, because the highlanders are no longer the vice-Italy (in the sense of candidate for the Wooden Spoon…) of a few years ago, but the seventh team in the world capable of frightening anyone.

On paper it will be a tournament of the highest level, an expression of rugby in the best form, that of the northern hemisphere, strengthened by an Italy that after an almost infinite series of setbacks presents itself with a balance of 5 victories in the last 10 international matches, and he knows how to field, in addition to unprecedented ambitions, an airy and fun game. But be careful not to wake up quickly from the dream. Another Six Nations of only defeats, against oval battleships of the kind, is not a hypothesis to be excluded. To be avoided rather are the collapses, the defeats of 30, 40 points that would send us back to the basement.

“We must demonstrate the same mentality that we had in November,” says coach Crowley. «The opponents studied us, so we tried to change something. To be able to exploit the space with three quarters we will have to win the battle with the forwards, this is the big challenge for us. France are very competitive in match points, strong in scrum and touchline attacks. The goal is to be competitive with all opponents. But let’s be realistic: we’ll have the favorites of the next World Cup ahead of us. Staying in the game, playing our rugby, we have to succeed in this: if it’s enough to win, fine, otherwise we’ll be satisfied anyway, because we’re still growing and they’re the best in the world».

Italy still has to do without starting number 10 Paolo Garbisi, out due to injury, and deploys Menoncello in the unprecedented role of winger. On the bench the rookie Iachizzi.

The formations of Italy-France (Sunday, Stadio Olimpico in Rome, 4 pm, live TV on Sky)
Italy: 15 Capuozzo; 14 Bruno, 13 Brex, 12 Morisi, 11 Menoncello; 10 Allan, 9 Varney; 8 L. Cannone, 7 Lamaro, 6 Negri; 5 Ruzza, 4 N. Cannon; 3 Ferraris, 2 Nicotera, 1 Fischetti.
Available: 16 Bigi, 17 Zani, 18 Ceccarelli, 19 Iachizzi, 20 Pettinelli, 21 Zuliani, 22 Fusco, 23 Padovani. Coach: Kieran Crowley.

France: 15 Ramos, 14 Penaud, 13, Fickou, 12 Moefana, 11 Dumortier, 10 Ntamack, 9 Dupont, 8 Alldritt, 7 Ollivon, 6 Jelonch, 5 Willemse, 4 Flament, 3 Atonio, 2 Marchand, 1 Baille.
Available: 16 Barlot, 17 Wardi, 18 Falatea, 19 Taofifenua, 20 Lavault, 21 Macalou, 22 Le Garrec, 23 Jalibert. Coach: Fabien Galthiè.

Referee: Matthew Carley (England)