ITALY
No.Name
15Luke McLean, FB
14Leonardo Sarto, W
13Luca Morisi, C
12Andrea Masi, C
11Giovanbattista Venditti, W
10Tommaso Allan, FH
9Edoardo Gori, SH
1Matias Aguero, P
2Leonardo Ghiraldini, H
3Dario Chistolini, P
4George Fabio Biagi, L
5Josh Furno, L
6Francesco Minto, FL
7Samu Vunisa, FL
8Sergio Parisse, N8
Replacements
16Andrea Manici, H
17Alberto de Marchi, P
18Lorenzo Cittadini, P
19Quintin Geldenhuys, L
20Marco Barbini, N8
21Guglielmo Palazzani, SH
22Luciano Orquera, FH
23Enrico Bacchin, C

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Stadio Olimpico
3:00 PM, March 15, 2015
Attendance: 67,127
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

83'0-29 End of half
83'0-29 End of half
82'And the conversion is good from Plisson, who has impressed since coming on. That brings a poor, uninspiring end to a game in which France dominated but never really impressed.
81'Or not. Italy nick the ball illegally, and France get another penalty. They go for the tap and go and it's palmed into the hands of the substitute Basteraud, who crashes over and gives France a nice flourish to finish with.
81'+20-29 End of second half
81'+10-27 Try - Mathieu Bastareaud , France
81'+20-29 Conversion - Jules Plisson , France
79'Another penalty for France, and it looks like their forwards have got their eyes on the five points here. Last play of the game.
78'It hasn't been pretty at all. But France have performed better this half and now have a scrum a few metres out with just two minutes left.
77'It's coming to an end, so it's fitting that another knock-on slows any sort of rhythm down and we get another scrum. Le Marseillaise rings out around the Stadio Olimpico as the French fans start to cast the memories of their last two trips to Rome into the past.
75'It goes from bad to worse for Italy, as the talismanic Parisse - who hasn't had his finest day - limps off with a nasty gash on his right leg.
75'Substitute on - Marco Barbini , Italy
75'Player substituted - Sergio Parisse , Italy
74'Italy do well to defend the scrum and stop the French legs pumping. It slows down once more.
73'Substitute on - Damien Chouly , France
73'Player substituted - Loann Goujon , France
73'Player substituted - Edoardo Gori , Italy
73'Substitute on - Guglielmo Palazzani , Italy
71'France now happy to work their way through the phases in the Italian half. The pressure eventually forces Italian hands to go rummaging in the ruck and France get another penalty, which quickly turns into a lineout via the boot of Plisson. Scrum down now, right on the edge of the Italian try-line once more.
70'Substitute on - Mathieu Bastareaud , France
70'Player substituted - Gael Fickou , France
69'But it doesn't last long as France reclaim it just as it looks like the scoreboard was in danger. The crowd in Rome remain firmly in their seats.
67'Italy win a penalty in the perfect position for the three points, but Parisse decides to go for the corner - and the five points - instead. They win the lineout and start a maul, which is stopped illegally and they have another penalty, which is sent back out for another lineout. At last some quality from the Italians.
65'The move ends with Plisson spooning a loopy cross kick towards Huget but Italy claim it and can clear their lines temporarily. You can't help but get the feeling that it will be heading back towards the Italian posts very soon, though.
65'Player substituted - Yoann Maestri , France
65'Substitute on - Romain Taofifenua , France
64'It gets worse for Italy. Blatant crossing in the midfield ends with another penalty for France which is again sent long and high into Italian territory, and provides another chance for the French from the lineout. They win it and now they are moving slowly but menacingly towards the try line.
64'Player substituted - Sebastien Tillous-Borde , France
64'Substitute on - Rory Kockott , France
62'But France continue in a similar vein to how they have played all game and waste the lineout before a series of knock-ons and fumbles end with an Italian scrum on their own 5-metre line. They win a penalty and clear comfortably.
60'Italy build through seven or eight phases, but then it slips from their grasp and into the gleeful hands of the French. The Italians then concede another penalty and Plisson boots it out for a lineout in a very, very dangerous position...
59'Player substituted - Leonardo Ghiraldini , Italy
59'Substitute on - Andrea Manici , Italy
58'This game seems to be as good as over now, but the number of handling errors will still be hugely frustrating for the coaches of both sides. This time it's Nakaitaci, who bundles it forwards after a promising move from the French backs.
58'Substitute on - Vincent Debaty , France
58'Player substituted - Eddy Ben Arous , France
58'0-22 Penalty goal - Jules Plisson , France
57'And it's another lovely kick. That's three from three for him, which may heap more pressure on the stricken Camille Lopez in the long run.
56'France with another penalty near the half-way line now. They could have gone for the lineout considering the relative security they are in, but Plisson is going to try his luck again...
54'Substitute on - Benjamin Kayser , France
54'Player substituted - Guilhem Guirado , France
53'That said, France have just driven the Italy scrum a good ten metres back before winning another penalty. Plisson punts it out and the momentum is back with Philippe's Saint-Andre's men in blue. And they knocked on so, like most things this afternoon, it comes to nothing.
51'Credit to Italy, they have managed to keep hold of the ball for a fair amount of time since the France try. They haven't yet been able to threaten the France back-line but it's certainly a step in the right direction for Parisse and his team-mates.
51'Substitute on - Lorenzo Cittadini , Italy
51'Player substituted - Dario Chistolini , Italy
51'Substitute on - Quintin Geldenhuys , Italy
51'Player substituted - George Fabio Biagi , Italy
51'Substitute on - Rabah Slimani , France
51'Player substituted - Nicolas Mas , France
49'Italy have got a sniff of an opportunity here with a lineout right on the French try-line after France enter a ruck from the side... And they utterly waste it once more as France steal the ball from Ghiraldini's wayward throw.
47'Out of nowhere, France are now 19 points up. It doesn't feel like they have played well, though. They have just made less silly errors than their opponents.
47'0-19 Conversion - Jules Plisson , France
46'Plisson adds the icing to the cake with a lovely conversion from the right-hand side.
46'0-17 Try - Yoann Maestri , France
45'Which ends in the first try of the game! A moment of class from Spedding as he surges through the Italian defence. His run is brought to an end but Huget sets up Maestri from the breakdown to run in a simply try from 10 metres out.
44'Fair play to France, at least they're starting to try something a bit different here. An extravagant offload doesn't work but it's the start of a decent move...
42'0-12 Penalty goal - Jules Plisson , France
41'Forget your dreams of an exciting, accurate second half... Parisse has just made another mistake and it's a penalty to France... Plisson sort of mishits it but it still worms its way through the posts and France extend their lead. They're building a healthy points difference here, despite not playing well at all.
41'Substitute on - Jules Plisson , France
41'Player substituted - Camille Lopez , France
41'0-9 End of first half
41'0-9 Penalty goal - Scott Spedding , France
40'Lopez hasn't made it through half-time - clearly that little knock was worse than it first looked. Jules Plisson is on for him and he sends it miles downfield from the kick-off. That's both fly-halves who have been replaced in just 41 minutes of rugby.
40'...and then they concede another penalty. Just on the edge of the Italy 22, this is an easy kick. But Lopez - who has scored both of his - is limping. Spedding will take.. and makes no mistake. A nine point lead will please France, but a knock to Lopez will not. That brings an end to a cagey and error-strewn first half in which both sides failed to find any sort of creative spark.
40'0-9 Start of second half
39'Italy seem determined to shoot themselves in the foot at every opportunity right now. A turnover presents them with plenty of space to break into but, with the open grass gaping, it all breaks down. Again.
38'Luca Morisi has come off here with what looks like a head injury. It's hard to tell exactly what's happened to him, but he certainly looked dazed, confused and a little bit shattered.
38'Substitute on - Enrico Bacchin , Italy
38'Player substituted - Luca Morisi , Italy
37'Another penalty given away by Italy, and France have a lineout on the 22. This could be a good chance to get the maul going here for Philippe Saint-Andre's men.
36'That kick seems to have inspired the French backs, as first Lopez then Spedding dance through the Italy back-line. They can't get within reach of the try-line, but the last two minutes have given us the most exciting attacking play of the game so far. Both moves were undermined by mistakes but we're getting there...
35'0-6 Penalty goal - Camille Lopez , France
34'Lopez with the kick from a similar range to his first one... and it's an absolute beauty which disects the posts. He's had to deal with a lot of criticism recently, and he's hardly set his game alight , but two fine kicks from Lopez have put France on their way to a half-time lead.
33'Italy come in from the side of a ruck and give away another penalty. They'll need to cut this out soon if they want to build any momentum in front of this home crowd.
33'Player substituted - Matias Aguero , Italy
33'Substitute on - Alberto de Marchi , Italy
30'Gori's box kick is sent up to Nakaitaci who looks like he's caught it, but then fumbles, and then desperately reaches out for as it spins out of his fingers. Agonising moment for him, amusing moment for everyone else. Predictably, Italy can't make the most of the loose ball.
29'0-3 Penalty goal - Camille Lopez , France
28'Finally! Points on the board as Lopez sends it straight through the posts. You can't say France have deserved it, but then Italy have hardly been playing the most cohesive game either.
27'Yet another silly error, and Italy concede a penalty on the ten-metre line, right in front of the posts after being caught offside. Surely we have the breakthrough now... Lopez to kick.
25'Sebastian Tillous-Borde's clearance box kick is charged down by France and suddenly Italy have an opportunity to spread it wide and attack the space. But no. It's worked back inside, inexplicably, and Italy's Luca Morisi drops it. Scrum down again.
24'France just starting to stretch their legs and get the ball moving, but they have made absolutely no progress and Italy take it away after a sloppy knock-on. The Italians are upping the tempo but a forward pass slows it down again. Still no flow to either team's attacking play.
22'Italy seem to have the upper hand in the scrums here, as France number 8 Loann Goujon tries to spin free but is wrapped up. The French get another scrum but it's not put in straight and Italy win the penalty, which is too far out to kick (probably a good thing considering the quality of kicking so far).
20'First penalty for France after Italy bring a scrum down just past the half-way line. It's a long, long way out and full-back Scott Spedding is taking the kick instead of Lopez, interestingly. Way out near the right-hand touchline, he's going to need to smash his boot right through this one... ... He has the distance but he misses too. Three penalties, three kickers and no points so far.
17'France breath a sigh of relief after those two missed penalties and enjoy their first spell of possession, but it comes to nothing as Italy regather and McLean sends it right back to the away side's 22. A scrappy start here. It's gloomy, rainy and there have been a number of mistakes which are stopping the players get into any sort of rhythm at the minute. Italy are the better side, it must be said.
15'Penalty for Italy as Sergio Parisse is handled illegally as he jumps for the ball. First kick for Orquera... and he hits the post. New kicker, same result for a wasteful Italy.
14'Here's the change we all expected. Tommy Allan clearly wasn't in any state to play 70 minutes of Test rugby, and he has finally limped off to be replaced by Luciano Orquera.
14'Player substituted - Tommaso Allan , Italy
14'Substitute on - Luciano Orquera , Italy
13'Italy will be delighted with the ease with which they dominated a scrum near the half-way line and work the ball out to Sarto on the left wing. Unfortunately for them, his grubber kick down the line is off-target and shoots out for a lineout.
11'It has been a messy start to the game, and Allan is plugging away still. It looks like place-kicking may be his biggest problem, but he isn't moving with any freedom at all out there.
10'Allan's opposite number Camille Lopez isn't having a much better time of it either, as he drops the ball after a routine tackle. It is still raining, but that's unforgivable from the under-pressure fly-half.
9'Allan isn't in good shape here. He's now limped away from playing a simple pass out to his centres. At this stage, it would be surprising to see him stay on the pitch for much longer.
8'And it's gone wide. Allan doesn't look happy as he grimaces and rubs the same leg he injured in the warm-up. This could be a worry for the Italians.
7'Parisse wins the lineout but the French drive the resulting maul away from their own 22. Good defending from the visitors but they have lost their discipline again and given away a penalty in very kickable range for Tommy Allan, mid-way into the France half...
6'There's a bit of a scuffle as France concede a penalty in Italy's 22, giving the home side a chance to put boot to ball again and send it out for a lineout, which Italy win well as France give away a second penalty in the space of one minute and Luke McLean gains another 40 yards. Italy right in enemy territory now...
3'Italy look very happy to make the most of the weather by sending the ball soaring into the sky. Allan's high cross-kick is claimed by debutant Nakaitaci, though, and he storms about 60 yards downfield before Sergio Parisse - who else - clears up the danger. A nice burst by Nakaitaci and an encouraging start for him.
1'Tommy Allan sends it long and deep into the French 22, and we get an early glimpse of the slippy conditions the players will be dealing with as France winger Noa Nakaitaci slides off his feet immediately. Tommy Allan tests his groin out with a big up-and-under but it's slightly overcooked and Scott Spedding makes a mark and sends it back where it came from.
1'Hello and welcome to ESPN's coverage of the Six Nations clash between Italy and France in the Stadio Olimpico on a gloomy, rainy day in Rome. The big talking point coming into this game was the huge number of changes made by France. Coach Philippe Saint-Andre has swung the axe after their defeat to Wales, with eight players replaced overall. Under-fire fly-half Camille Lopez has kept his place, though. For Italy, as ever, Sergio Parisse is the main man. Today marks a record 112th cap for the legendary captain, and he should be relishing the opportunity of facing up to Loann Goujon, who is playing his first test match at number 8. Italy have won the last two games they have played against France at home, but have only won consecutive Six Nations games once before, in 2007. Can they do the same again today? The early news coming out of the Stadio Olimpico is that Italy's fly-half Tommy Allan - who was selected instead of Kelly Haimona - has picked up a muscle strain in the warm-up. It looks like he'll still be starting, but his leg may well be heavily bandaged. The anthems have been blasted out with all the passion and verve that you would expect, and a minute's silence in honour of the three French athletes who died in a helicopter crash this week was immaculately observed. An emotionally-charged start, then, and it will be Italy who get us going as the rain squirms its way down onto the players.
1'0-0 Start of first half

Six Nations Championship 2015 News