French fancy kicking on...
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v Italy Today, 3pm 7 FRANCE are in bullish mood despite starting
7 their Six Nations campaign with Covid-hit disruption.
Head coach Fabien Galthie will miss today’s opening game in Paris after testing positive, while captain and world player of the year Antoine Dupont has only just returned from isolation.
Italy are on the longest losing run in Six Nations history with 32 defeats, and Les Bleus – with three home games at the Stade de France – are widely tipped for this year’s title.
France beat New Zealand in November and ahead of his third Six Nations at the helm, Galthie said: “There is a trophy to win. We will approach it with more certainty, more confidence. There will be fewer surprises in our squads and how we play.
“Since the beginning, our ambition has been to win matches and competitions we are involved in. The first Six Nations we lost on pointsdifference to England; the second by a small margin to Wales.
“The objective is always the same. The staff and players are growing, improving their preparation and their methods. Our objective is to build on the latest step.”
Perennial wooden-spoon winners Italy are set to hand debuts to No.8 Toa Halafihi and winger Tommaso Menoncello in another inexperienced side, as new head coach Kieran Crowley looks to the future. Crowley has
France
selected 18 players in the squad from his former club Benetton.
The Kiwi said: “The work we have done in recent weeks in preparation for the Six Nations was intense and high-quality.
“There is a lot of energy in the group and an awareness that they are taking to the pitch in one of the most important tournaments in the world of rugby and sport.”
Italy conceded 239 points in last season’s Six Nations, their most since joining the tournament in 2000, and Crowley is eyeing long-term gain rather than simply trying to dodge short-term pain over the coming weeks.
The Italy chief added: “The focus will be on our performance – it will be important to stay calm in the key moments.”