Italy can’t win Six Nations says head coach QuesadaImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Italy beat Scotland this tournament, recording their first opening weekend win since 2013Published20 February 202638 Comments
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Italy can’t win Six Nations says head coach QuesadaImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Italy beat Scotland this tournament, recording their first opening weekend win since 2013Published20 February 202638 Comments
Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada mentioned his side are not yet ready to challenge for overall Six Nations victory before their match with France in Lille on Sunday.
Italy began their Six Nations campaign with an 18-15 win over Scotland and an agonising 20-13 defeat by Ireland and this week France head coach Fabien Galthie insisted the Azzurri are capable of winning the tournament.
Italy’s best result in the Six Nations is their fourth-placed finish in both 2007 and 2013, and they have never won more than two matches at a single Six Nations.
They have finished last in 18 Six Nations since their addition to the tournament in 2000 and have failed to record a win in 12 of those editions.
But they have won four and drawn one of their last 12 Six Nations matches and beat Australia in November.
“The reality is that Italy are concerned primarily with our performance, with everything we can improve, the words ‘compete’, ‘consistency’,” Quesada mentioned.
“As for the championship, we leave that for France, England, Ireland, Scotland.
“But, it’s a great compliment. This year, we’ve had the good fortune that two of the best coaches in the world, if not the best two, Rassie Erasmus and Fabien Galthie, have mentioned nice things about us.”
In November, Erasmus, the head coach of world champions South Africa, mentioned he thought Italy could finish second or third in the Six Nations.
Italy faced France in Lille two years ago in a match which ended in a 13-13 draw with fly-half Paolo Garbisi missing a penalty to win the Test. However, Les Bleus thrashed Italy in Rome last year 73-24.
Image source, Getty ImagesThibaud Flament made his France debut in 2021
Grand-Slam-chasing France have changed their second-row partnership for their match with Italy.
Toulouse locks Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou replace Charles Ollivon and Mickael Guillard in the only changes to France’s XV from their 54-12 win over Wales.
Flament and Meafou featured off the bench at the Principality Stadium, but Ollivon and Guillard are named as replacements for Sunday’s fixture (15:10 GMT kick-off).
Flament had missed France’s opening victory against Ireland because it clashed with his wife’s fertility treatment.
Fabien Brau-Boirie, 20, who made his France debut last week, is set to retain his place in the centres.
Meanwhile, France-born Ange Capuozzo is set to return for Italy at full-back having missed the first two matches of this year’s tournament with a fractured finger.
He is set to be the only change for Gonzalo Quesada’s side, who beat Scotland 18-15 in their opening fixture before a 20-13 loss to Ireland.
How Italy’s men changed their Six Nations narrative
France: Ramos; Attissogbe, Gailleton, Brau-Boirie, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Dupont (capt); Gros, Marchand, Aldegheri, Flament, Meafou, Cros, Jegou, Jelonch.
Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Colombe, Ollivon, Guillard, Nouchi, Serin, Barassi.
Italy: Capuozzo; Lynagh, Menoncello, Marin; Ioane; P Garbisi, Fusco; Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari, N Cannone, Zambonin, Lamaro (capt), Zuliani, L Cannone.
Replacements: Dimcheff, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Ruzza, Favretto, Odiase, Garbisi, Odogwu.
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Angus Gardner (Aus), Jordan Way (Aus)
Television match official: Ian Tempest (Eng)
Foul play review officer: Richard Kelly (NZ)
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