France's head coach, Fabien Galthie, has announced changes to the lineup ahead of Sunday's match against Italy in the third round of the Six Nations Championship. The main modification is the introduction of the duo Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou to the second row of the scrum. Despite a high-scoring victory over Wales, the French approach their opponents with respect, warning of the improving form of the Italian national team led by Gonzalo Quesada.

Changes in the Second Row

Head coach Fabien Galthie has introduced Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou to the starting lineup, replacing Ollivon and Guillard.

Respect for the Italian National Team

The French coaching staff warns of the progress of Squadra Azzurra, led by Gonzalo Quesada, who is achieving the best results in the 21st century.

Stabilization of the Attack Formation

Despite changes in the scrum, France retains its proven attacking setup with Dupont and Jalibert in key half-back positions.

The French national team is preparing for its third appearance in this year's edition of the Six Nations Championship, facing Italy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq. Head coach Fabien Galthie has decided on two significant adjustments to the starting fifteen, which involve the second row of the scrum. Returning to the lineup are players from Stade Toulousain: Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou, who is making his tournament debut as a starter. They will replace Charles Ollivon and Mickael Guillard, despite both receiving praise for their performances in previous rounds against Ireland and Wales. Flament was previously absent from the squad for personal reasons. The French coaching staff emphasizes that these changes are not due to poor performances by the replaced players but rather a desire to refresh the formation and utilize the physical potential of the Toulouse duo. The rest of the lineup, including key half-backs Antoine Dupont and Matthieu Jalibert, remains unchanged. During a press conference, Galthie warned against underestimating the opponent, pointing out that Italy, under the leadership of Gonzalo Quesada, is achieving its best results in years. The French remember last year's 70-point victory, but Italy's current form—a draw with Ireland and a win over Scotland—commands due respect.The rivalry for the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy, awarded to the winner of the France-Italy match, was established in 2007 to commemorate the bicentennial of the birth of the hero of both nations. Although France dominates these encounters, the Italians have regularly sprung surprises since joining the tournament in 2000.The atmosphere in the Bleus camp is focused on continuing an offensive style of play. Statistics show that the team has significantly improved its kicking game, which has become one of the foundations of Galthie's tactics. The back row, featuring Francois Cros, expects an intense physical battle. „Italy can win the Six Nations Championship; it is a team that is constantly making progress and should not be underestimated.” — Fabien Galthie The match will take place at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, and the hosts are counting on maintaining their winning streak after triumphing in Cardiff. [{"side1": "France", "side2": "Wales", "score1": 52, "score2": 12, "round": "Round 2"}, {"side1": "France", "side2": "Ireland", "score1": 17, "score2": 13, "round": "Round 1"}]42% — is the win rate of Italy's coach Gonzalo Quesada

Mentioned People

  • Fabien Galthie — Head coach of the French national rugby team, responsible for selecting the lineup and team strategy.
  • Thibaud Flament — French rugby player in the second row of the scrum, returning to the lineup after a break.
  • Gonzalo Quesada — Argentine coach currently leading the Italian national team, achieving record results with them.