Sport

Rugby, Capuozzo returns in Italia expected by super-France

Italia seeks to surprise France in crucial Six Nations match

by Giacomo Bagnasco

20 February 2026

L'italiano Ange Capuozzo. ANSA/FABIO FRUSTACI

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Needless to get around it: at least on paper, the confrontation with France - on Sunday 22 February in Lille - is for the Azzurri the most prohibitive appointment of the Six Nations 2026.

The hosts are coming off two resounding victories, at home against Ireland and in Cardiff against a still struggling Wales, and are the only ones to have won two out of two, even putting the load on the number of goals scored: 13 in all (with the two phenomenal Bielle-Biarrey and Attissogbe having already scored three each).

The team revolves around a dream midfield. Leading the scrum, after a serious injury, is the return of Antoine Dupont, simply the strongest active player in the world. He is joined as opening halfback by Mathieu Jalibert, who is perhaps going through the best moment of form of his career. Let's put in the security of a fullback like Ramos, who is also close to infallibility in set pieces, and scrum-halves players as rough as they are capable of pandering to the plays of the two directors.

Moreover, head coach Fabien Galthié largely re-proposes the XV that was victorious eight days earlier. The only thing that changes is the second line, where two men of class like Ollivon and Guillard are replaced by another talent, Flament, and Emmanuel Meafou, for whom stature and weight speak: 203 cm and 145 kg.

And Italia? Only one change in the starting line-up, with Ange Capuozzo (of French birth and training) recovering from physical troubles in time to be deployed at fullback in a match he will surely feel more than the others. A change among the front row players on the bench: Spagnolo is confirmed while, for the hooker and right prop roles, Dimcheff (another French 'oriundo') and Zilocchi take over from the youngsters Di Bartolomeo and Hasa, who were nevertheless promoted with full marks for what they showed in the second half against Scotland and Ireland.

As in 2024 it is played in Lille, and not in Paris, where the Bleus usually host their opponents during the tournament. And the Azzurri coach Gonzalo Quesada does not seem to like it so much, even though two years ago the Azzurri came close to success in the final: on 13 draws a kick by Paolo Garbisi ended up on the post. To be forgotten, however, was the 24-73 suffered last year at the Olimpico.

Quesada nipped in the bud an alleged controversy over the stadium roof. "About ten days ago we were asked whether we preferred the roof open or closed. I argued for playing outdoors. This week, however, we were told that the weather forecast was bad and asked if we could change. I replied 'that makes sense, let's play with the roof closed'. That's all, I don't see any conflict. The only thing I want to point out is that if we had said no, we would have been entitled to play with the roof open'.

It will be the first in the Six Nations to play the third consecutive match in three weekends, without a break after the first two. "Something has been changed. In the meantime, we did not return to Rome from Dublin and avoided the fatigue of an extra trip. Because the intensity of the Six Nations is not comparable to that of club matches and we were coming from two big battles in the first two rounds, on Sunday and Monday the players rested and on Tuesday we had a training session... walking."

And now we have to face a France..

"...which has no weaknesses, is strong in all phases of the game and in all individuality. In the November tests they had some problems and, in agreement with the team leaders, the coaching staff changed something in the game and inserted young players who are doing very well in the Top 14. We see a team that can move in many different ways, and all this without a 'structure', but relying mainly on instinct. We will first have to try not to let them play too freely and with too much confidence.

So in the field

France-Italy (Lille, Saturday 22 February, 4.10pm)

Ireland: Ramos; Attissogbe, Gailleton, Brau-Boirie, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Dupont (cap.); Jelonch, Jegou, Cros; Meafou, Flament; Aldegheri, Marchand, Gros. Available: Mauvaka, Neti, Colombe, Ollivon, Guillard, Nouchi, Serin, Barassi. Ct Fabien Galthié

Italia: Capuozzo; Lynagh, Menoncello, Marin, Ioane; P. Garbisi, Fusco; L. Cannone, Zuliani, Lamaro (cap.); Zambonin, N. Cannone; Ferrari, Nicotera, Fischetti. At disposal: Dimcheff, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Ruzza, Favretto, Odiase, A. Garbisi, Odogwu. Ct Gonzalo Quesada

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

The Six Nations 2026 schedule

First round. France-Ireland 36-14; Italia-Scotland 18-15, England-Wales 48-7.

Second round. Ireland-Italy 20-13; Scotland-England 31-20; Wales-France 12-54

Third round. Saturday 21 February: England-Ireland (3.10pm); Wales-Scotland (5.40pm). Sunday 22: France-Italy (4.10pm)

Round 4. Friday 6 March: Ireland-Wales (9.10pm). Saturday 7: Scotland-France (3.10pm); Italia-England (5.40pm)

Round 5. Saturday, 14 March: Ireland-Scotland (3.10pm); Wales-Italy (5.40pm); France-England (9.10pm)

Ranking* after the second round

France 10 points; Scotland 6; England and Italia 5; Ireland 4; Wales 0

* Four points for a win, two for a draw, a bonus point to the team that scores at least four goals and to the team that loses by less than eight points