Italy Hungry for Victory as They Prepare to Face France in Six Nations Showdown
Italy’s determination to defeat France on Sunday in Rome during the third round of the Six Nations tournament was made clear by Martin Page-Relo, the team’s scrum-half. "We want to beat France," he emphasized on Thursday.
"Last year, we had an incredible tournament, but we want to do even better," declared the Lyon scrum-half during a virtual press conference. "We lost our first match against Scotland (31-19), but we won the next one against Wales (22-15), but we are still very hungry, we want to beat France and we will do everything to achieve it," he continued.
Before this 50th duel between the two nations, France holds a significant lead in the head-to-head record with 45 victories to Italy’s three successes and one draw last year in Villeneuve d’Ascq (13-13).
"In our first two matches, there was a lot of rain, which made it difficult for us to control the ball and for me to put speed into the exits, we hope it will be different against France, that’s what we’ve worked on a lot," said Page-Relo.
The Italian team, selected by their Argentinian coach Gonzalo Quesada, will be unveiled on Friday early afternoon, shortly before that of the French XV, which was defeated in the second match by England (26-25).
Italy’s Ambitions and Preparations
Italy enters this third round of the Six Nations with a mixture of confidence and determination. After a disappointing loss to Scotland in their tournament opener, they bounced back with a hard-fought victory against Wales. Now, their sights are firmly set on claiming a historic win over France.
Page-Relo’s comments reflect the collective belief and motivation within the Italian squad. Despite the formidable challenge posed by France, Italy is eager to prove that they are a force to be reckoned with.
To achieve their goal, Italy has been meticulously preparing for the upcoming match. They have identified areas where they need to improve, particularly in handling the ball in wet conditions. They have also focused on executing their game plan with precision and maintaining their intensity throughout the 80 minutes.
France’s Formidable Track Record
France, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from their narrow defeat to England. Les Bleus boast a formidable track record against Italy, having won the vast majority of their previous encounters.
However, Italy is confident that they can break the trend and secure a famous victory. They believe that their recent performances have demonstrated their growing competitiveness and that they have the potential to upset the established order.
A Match of Intrigue and High Stakes
The upcoming match between Italy and France promises to be an intriguing battle between two teams with contrasting styles and ambitions. Italy’s determination to create history will collide with France’s desire to maintain their dominance.
The outcome of this match could have significant implications for both teams. A win for Italy would boost their confidence and propel them into contention for a top-half finish in the Six Nations. Conversely, a defeat for France would further dent their hopes of claiming the title.
Regardless of the result, this match is sure to provide plenty of excitement and drama as two proud rugby nations go head-to-head on the hallowed turf of Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
