[ad_1]
Ah the rubber game dead. The contest ultimately made no sense with little but pride at stake. For Italy, looking for its first win at Six Nations since 2015, visiting a French team with only one win in the championships of this year and only four total under the reign of Jacques Brunel is the opportunity to end a barren race that dates back to 2015.
For France, maybe there can be a late flowering. Brunel only has three players who played in France's 34-17 victory over the Azzurri in Paris last year. This win finally allowed France to rank above England last year. Once again, fourth place is within reach of Guilhem Guirado and his teammates if Scotland were to fall to Twickenham.
The return of Wesley Fofana after an injury is one of six changes made by Brunel. The 31-year-old makes his final appearance at Six Nations before retiring from international rugby after the World Cup. The Toulouse backer Maxime Medard is preferred to Thomas Ramos and Etienne Falgoux, powered in Clermont, takes a first start.
Italy head coach Conor O'Shea gives Marco Zanon, 21, in Treviso, his debut on a team with five changes since the defeat against England. Zebre striker David Sisi replaces wounded Dean Budd at the lock, while Gloucester flanker Jake Polledri also returns to the bottom row.
Italy: Hayward; Padovani, Zanon, Morisi, Esposito; Allan, Tebaldi; Lovotti, Ghiraldini, Pasquali, Sisi, Ruzza, Steyn, Polledri, Parisse (Capt)
replacements: Bigi, Traoré, Ferrari, Zanni, Negri, Palazzani, McKinley, Sperandio
La France: Medard; Penaud, Bastareaud, Fofana, Huget; Ntamack, Dupont; Falgoux, Guirado (Capt), Bamba, Lambey, Willemse, Alldritt, Camara, Picamoles
replacements: Cat, Priso, Aldegheri, Gabrillagues, Iturria, Serin, Lopez, Ramos
Source link
