France vs Italy Prediction: Azzurri to push Les Bleus in Lille
France will continue their bid for Six Nations Grand Slam glory on Sunday (15:10, ITV1) when they host Italy at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Alex Jack provides his best bets in his France vs Italy prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the encounter in Lille.
France vs Italy Betting Tips
*odds correct at time of publication
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Team News
Starting with France, the hosts have gone with a front row of Jean-Baptiste Gros, Julien Marchand and Dorian Aldegheri, with locks Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou in the engine room.
Francois Cros, Oscar Jegou and Anthony Jelonch complete the pack, while Antoine Dupont and Matthieu Jalibert go again in the half-backs.
Fabien Brau-Boirie and Emilien Gailleton pair up in the centres, while Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Theo Attissogbe and Thomas Ramos form an electric back three for the French.
As for Italy, Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera and Simone Ferrari start in the front-row, with Niccolo Cannone and Andrea Zambonin in the second row.
Skipper Michele Lamaro, Manuel Zuliani and Lorenzo Cannone form the back row, with Alessandro Fusco and Paolo Garbisi in the half-backs.
Leonardo Marin and Tommaso Menoncello pair up for the first time this tournament in the centres, while the Azzurri have a back three of Monty Ioane, Louis Lynagh and Ange Capuozzo.
France are the overwhelming favourites at 1/80 for the win, while Italy are 14/1 to turn the Six Nations on its head with a victory in Lille.
A draw at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy is currently 28/1, while Italy with a +14.5 first-half handicap are 8/11.
Italy +24 handicap @ 6/5
Beating Scotland in Rome and earning a losing bonus point against Ireland in Dublin, Italy have already shown progress in this Six Nations.
When France and Italy last crossed paths at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy two years ago, the Azzurri missed a last-gasp penalty to draw 13-13 with Les Bleus.
While France have reached new levels since that game and should win on Sunday, the +24 handicap for Italy looks to be too generous.
Italy will take the fight to France in the forwards and have threats out wide in Lynagh and Capuozzo to score tries that should make this a tighter game than some might predict.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey first tryscorer @ 4/1
France will be intent on stamping their authority on the contest from the first whistle, and few players embody that fast-start approach better than Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who catches the eye in the first-try scorer betting.
The dynamic winger has made a habit of making an immediate impact in this year’s Six Nations.
Bielle-Biarrey dotted down first against Ireland and then added France’s second score in their commanding win over Wales at the Principality Stadium.
With Les Bleus eager to shift the ball wide early and exploit space, Bielle-Biarrey catches the eye in the first tryscorer market.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
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