Will last season’s grand slam winners France open their campaign with victory in Rome, or could Italy produce a shock? Join Lee Calvert
Italy are without Paolo Garbisi, their Montpellier superstar, who is sidelined with injury and replaced with Tommaso Allan. Last year’s Cardiff hero Padovani is on the bench, with Coach Crowley preferring Pierre Bruno and Tommaso Menoncello as his starting wings.
Galthie’s France have some absentees of their own to address, with Jonathan Danty and Cameron Woki injured. Yoram Moefana and Thibauld Flament replace them at centre and lock, respectively. Former captain Charles Ollivon continues his return from a long injury layoff by slotting into his seven shirt.
Much of this remains work in progress, with the U20s looking stronger than ever, the continued development of their strongest senior playing group since their previous peak in the late 2000s, and a sensible coach in Kieran Crowley. They’d do well to reflect on all this after they inevitably lose today; they are playing the 2022-23 vintage of France, after all.
Fabien Galthie’s men will certainly be looking to make winning an all time thing, right up to the World Cup Final in Paris this October.
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