France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has warned his team against complacency in their Six Nations opener in Rome today, claiming traditional makeweights Italy are “no longer a little team.”
France were stunned by the Italians two years ago when a 22-21 loss sent shockwaves through the sport and Saint-Andre is wary of becoming another French fall-guy.
“They are no longer a little team even if public opinion thinks they are. Italy are progressing, they have evolved in their structure and organization,” the French coach said. “This will be a complicated match. We respect the Italians. We have watched them and we know that if we do not play at a high level then it will be difficult.”
Photo: Reuters
“Statistics made France the favorites two years ago, but the loss created a tsunami in France. We can only think of this game, not the ones to come,” Saint-Andre said.
Former skipper Thierry Dusautoir has been recalled to the France team.
The 31-year-old flanker, who captained France in the 2011 World Cup final against New Zealand, last played for the national side in last year’s Six Nations tournament.
He was then rested for the tour of Argentina and was ruled out of last year’s November Test matches with an injured knee.
In that time, Saint-Andre handed the captaincy over to Stade Francais lock Pascal Pape and he impressed in the job in the wins over Australia, Argentina and Samoa.
Other changes see Racing Metro’s Benjamin Fall come in on the wing for the injured Vincent Clerc, while Yoann Huget gets the nod at fullback ahead of the injured Brice Dulin.
Saint-Andre said the toughest choice had been in the back row, where Yannick Nyanga, who impressed on his return to the team in November, was left out of the final 23-man squad to make way for the return of Dusautoir alongside his Toulouse teammate Fulgence Ouedraogo.
Italy’s French coach Jacques Brunel’s hopes of making his team believe they can gain at least two wins in this year’s tournament will face a significant hurdle against France at the Olympic Stadium.
Brunel led Italy to a fifth-place finish last year thanks to a closing 13-6 victory over Scotland in Rome, having produced one of their best-ever performances in a 15-19 loss to England.
However, the jury remains out on whether those feats, as well as two promising displays against New Zealand and Australia in November last year’s Test series, are a sure sign that Italy is ready to rock the big boys of European rugby.
Heading into today’s match against the World Cup finalists, Italy should be boosted by their win in 2011.
That, says captain and No. 8 Sergio Parisse, means France have no option but to take Italy seriously.
“France are a great team, but there’s no doubt about the fact they have respect for us. In 2011 we beat them at Flaminio,” said Parisse, who plays at French Top 14 side Stade Francais. “We all know their individual qualities, but we’ll be going into this match with no fear, as we do every time.”
Tobias Botes has been named at scrumhalf for Italy in place of Edoardo Gori, while Luke McLean replaces injured Mirco Bergamasco on the left wing.
Also featuring today will be fullback Andrea Masi, who scored the try in the 22-21 win two years ago, while Brunel has also gone for youth elsewhere in the backs with Giovanbattista Venditti, 22, on the wing and Tommaso Benvenuti, also 22, at center.
Luciano Orquera, who shone in last year’s November Tests against New Zealand and Australia, remains at flyhalf.
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
TIGHT FINISH: Napoli only needed to do the same as or better than Inter, who won their game against Como 2-0 on the same day, leaving Napoli with a one-point lead The two players who Antonio Conte wanted more than any others secured Napoli their second Serie A title in three years on Friday. Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick before halftime and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead with a solo goal after the break in the decisive 2-0 home win over Cagliari. Conte became the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different teams. “Everyone contributed to this — but the coach most of all,” Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said. “Napoli needed him to get back on top. He’s phenomenal.” Comparing it to his three Serie A titles won
The journey of Taiwan’s badminton mixed doubles duo Ye Hong-wei and Nicole Chan at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur came to an end in the semi-finals yesterday after they suffered a 2-0 loss to China’s Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping. Ye, 25, and Chan, 20, teamed up last year and are currently ranked No. 23 in the world. The Taiwanese shuttlers took on China’s second seeds in the mixed doubles event, but proved no match for Feng and Huang, losing the match 10-21, 7-21. In the first half of the first game, the pairings were neck and neck at 6-7 until Ye
SSC Napoli coach Antonio Conte has dragged the team back from disaster and restored them to the top of Italian Serie A, but his future at the Scudetto winners is in doubt even after a triumphant season. The fiery 55-year-old has exceeded preseason expectations and bolstered his reputation as a serial winner by guiding Napoli to their fourth Scudetto, and second in three seasons. However, he might well be on his way in the summer after just one season at the helm as his charged relationship with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has simmered throughout the campaign. Conte has said
RSS