France Aim to Continue Six Nations Dominance Against Italy in Lille
– France will look to maintain their strong form and potentially secure back-to-back Six Nations championships when they host Italy at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille today.
Fabien Galthie’s side delivered a dominant performance last weekend, defeating Wales 54-12 at the Principality Stadium with an impressive eight tries. Italy, meanwhile, suffered a narrow 20-13 loss to Ireland in Dublin, a tightly contested match that followed their opening weekend victory over Scotland.
France won the Six Nations title in 2025 and are favorites to repeat that success this year. They are seeking their first consecutive championships since 2007 and, having already defeated Ireland and Wales, appear well-positioned to achieve that goal. The team is also aiming to replicate their 25-point grand slam success from 2022.
Les Bleus have a formidable home record in the Six Nations, having lost only three of their previous 22 matches, with just one of those defeats occurring at the Stade de France. They are currently on a 16-match unbeaten run against Italy, most recently securing a commanding 73-24 victory in Rome last year.
According to Sports Mole, France currently boast both the most prolific attack and a stubborn defense in this year’s competition. They have scored a total of 380 points against Italy while conceding only 134 in their previous nine encounters.
Italy’s recent form has shown significant improvement. Following an impressive win against Scotland in Rome, they pushed Ireland hard in Dublin, demonstrating a level of competitiveness that has earned them respect within the tournament. Planet Rugby notes that this Italian side represents a significant jump in quality compared to teams of four years ago, absorbing defeats and focusing on individual performances.
Fabien Galthie acknowledged Italy’s progress, stating that they are “clearly taking up a strong position in world rugby” and describing their development as a “success story.” He also drew parallels with Argentina’s emergence as a competitive force in the sport.
Gonzalo Quesada, the Italy coach, spent much of his playing career in France, coaching at Racing 92, Biarritz, and Stade Francais, whom he led to the Top 14 title in 2015. His familiarity with the French game could prove valuable for Italy as they seek to challenge France on their home turf.
The match takes place at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, a venue described as amplifying noise and creating a challenging atmosphere for visiting teams. The stadium was also the site of a controversial 13-13 draw between the two sides in 2024, a result Italy feels they should have won after a late penalty decision went against them. That memory, according to Planet Rugby, remains fresh in the minds of the Italian players.
Despite Italy’s improved performances, France remain overwhelming favorites. Planet Rugby predicts that Italy will be “pulverised,” despite Galthie potentially giving them something to aim at with his team selection.
The game represents another step up in competition for Italy, who are looking to sustain their improved form across 80 minutes against what is considered the most complete squad in the Northern Hemisphere.
