The final game of the penultimate Six Nations round sees a much changed France team travel to Rome to take on an Italy side fresh from a win over Scotland. Irate French coach Philippe Saint-Andre has brought in eight new players as he guts the team that went down to Wales. Meanwhile Italy have made three changes with veteran Andrea Masi returning at inside centre.
To gather an insight into the minds of the two sets of fans we asked UAE club rugby players from the respective countries to share with us their predictions and players to watch.
Do you agree or have they missed the mark? Use #360Fans to share with us your thoughts.
LUCA MENE – ABU DHABI SARACENS (ITALY)
Italy improved their clinical play in the final stages of the match. With great discipline coupled with a little bit of luck we made it! I did not like the first half where Italy made their usual numerous silly mistakes.
We exploited our greatest strength in the scrum against Scotland and that gave Italy the mental strength to close out the game.
After the first two games many English media were already discussing about the possibility to remove Italy from the tournament. This win is the best way to answer the attacks, and the best way to remind why we deserve to be one of the six nations.
France are an unpredictable team. One day they look awful and the week after they play the best rugby of the year. The game against our 'cousins' is always particularly exciting for us, and we would love to put one over them again.
This week I would like to see improved attacking play in the back line while the scrum should provide another strong platform for the rest of the team to play.
ITALY LINE-UP: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Edoardo Gori, 1 Matias Aguero, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3 Dario Chistolini, 4 George Biagi, 5 Josh Furno, 6 Francesco Minto, 7 Samuela Vunisa, 8 Sergio Parisse (c).
ITALY PLAYER TO WATCH: I am not a huge fan of fly-half Kelly Haimona due to his inconsistency and look forward to seeing Tommaso Allan in the second half.
PREDICTION: I will be risky and say Italy by three.
ETIENNE MASSON – DUBAI SHARKS (FRANCE)
I think we should congratulate Wales for their victory last week as they executed their game plan and we were just not able to step up ours to even consider a win.
Philippe Saint-Andre stresses the improtance of continuity but out of the victorious French Six Nations U20 team last year, only three are playing at top level in the Top14, let alone for the national team. We are not nurturing our home-grown talent.
I remain hopeful as France often produce their best performance when their backs are to the wall. We cannot expect anything else but a great result for France this weekend. I woul like to see us speed up the game making use of the fast wingers and devastating centre power. Italy usually have a strong scrum, so let us try to avoid that area.
FRANCE LINE-UP: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1 Eddy Ben Arous, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Nicolas Mas, 4 Alexandre Flanquart, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 7 Bernard Le Roux, 8 Loann Goujon.
FRANCE PLAYER TO WATCH: Some players have not proved themselves up to an international standard. Players like Gael Fickou and Yannick Nyanga must now look to replicate their fantastic club form for the national side.
PREDICTION: France win.
