SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP France v Italy:"NOBODY'S THINKING about England, nobody's thinking about the Grand Slam," said France coach Marc Lievremont before tomorrow's match against Italy in Paris – suggesting quite the opposite. France can almost touch a third Six Nations Grand Slam and a fifth championship since Italy joined the club in 2000.
“We are not taking anything for granted,” said Lievremont. “We know the match against Italy is a potential trap.”
History, however, shows Italy to have conceded an average of 39 points in 10 Six Nations meetings with the French.
After beating Wales a fortnight ago to lay the bogey of never having won three matches on the trot, Lievremont’s men seem set for a “final” against the only Northern Hemisphere country to have lifted the Webb Ellis Cup.
That, however, is unlikely to stop the coach’s search for talent, which tomorrow sees a first start for the wing Marc Andreu.
Lievremont is not short of wings, but Andreu, a lightweight 11st and 5ft 5in, replaces Julien Malzieu after playing four minutes in Cardiff.
The other change against an unchanged Italy side sees the Perpignan centre David Marty replace Mathieu Bastareaud.
GuardianService
REPLACEMENTS
FRANCE: D Szarzewski (Stade Français), J-B Poux (Toulouse), S Chabal (Racing-Metro), A Lapandry (Clermont Auvergne), D Yachvili (Biarritz), M Bastareaud (Stade Français), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne).
ITALY: F Ongaro (Saracens), M Aguero (Saracens), CA Del Fava (Viadana), P Derbyshire (Padova), P Canavosio (Viadana), R Bocchino (Rovigo), K Robertson (Viadana).
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland).
