6N: France applying safety-first buildup for Italy opener

France’s playing philosophy under coach Fabien Galthie is to embrace taking risks.

Off field it is a different story, though, with preparations for Six Nations opener against Italy on Saturday in Rome being performed in most strict and risk-free way possible amid ongoing coronavirus concerns.

It took rigorous safety protocols by France and Six Nations organizers to persuade French sports minister to waive quarantine rules and allow team to play amid a closed border, night curfews, and fears over a third national lockdown.

France is keeping same 31-man squad for whole tournament in an eight-week bubble that will be broken only for injuries. It means injured star backs Romain Ntamack and Virimi Vakatawa are on outer.

“ health protocol seems quite heavy," team manr Raphael Ibanez says. “But you have to understand that it’s also a real privilege for us to be able to prepare for such a mythical tournament, given context.

“We’re living in an ultra-strict health bubble. We privatized hotel, hotel’s staff are regularly tested. Everyone around France team is tested (every three days), weights room is disinfected after players have been in.”

While on a team boat trip from ir camp in sourn city of Nice, French players talked more about staying safe than facing Italians. One positive test for virus could jeopardize entire squad, though Six Nations organizers have said y prefer to reschedule games rar than cancel any.

“We all kw that it's important to be careful," lock Baptiste Pesenti says. “We’re all conscious of how lucky we are to be toger."

As for game itself in an empty Stadio Olimpico, a French team shorn of two of its standout backs should still be far too strong for Italy.

Italy has lost every game for five consecutive Six Nations. Its last victory was six years ago in Scotland, and its last home win was eight years ago, when it beat Ireland and France.

Italy's starting XV totals only 134 caps, less than great Sergio Parisse earned on his own. Only four players, all in forwards, have double-figure caps. re's a debut for Argentina-born center Juan Ignacio Brex, one of 10 Benetton players starting.

“We are following our development plan to continue introducing a new generation,” coach Franco Smith says.

Galthie has also been refurbishing France with new talent for past year, and it netted him second place in Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup, both times by a hair.

In place of Ntamack and Vakatawa will be 22-year-old Matthieu Jalibert at flyhalf and 21-year-old Arthur Vincent at center.

Jalibert was outstanding when he was pitched into Autumn Nations Cup final lost in extra time, and Vincent started every match in his first Six Nations. This time, he has mercurial Gael Fickou inside him.

“Of course (Vakatawa) will be a big loss for us, he's our X-factor who can make difference,” Fickou says. "But you have to learn to adapt and that is a strength of this French team, at every position we have six good players who can step in and make up for absence of Virimi. Younger than Virimi as well.”

___

Lineups:

Italy: Jacopo Trulla, Luca Sperandio, Marco Zan, Juan Ignacio Brex, Montanna Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Michele Lamaro, Johan Meyer, Sebastian Negri, David Sisi, Marco Lazzaroni, Marco Riccioni, Luca Bigi (captain), Cherif Traorè. Reserves: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Danilo Fischetti, Giosuè Zilocchi, Niccolò Canne, Federico Ruzza, Maxime Mbandà, Guglielmo Palazzani, Carlo Canna.

France: Brice Dulin, Teddy Thomas, Arthur Vincent, Gael Fickou, Gabin Villiere, Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont; Gregory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon (captain), Dylan Cretin, Paul Willemse, Bernard Le Roux, Mohamed Haouas, Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille. Reserves: Pierre Bourgarit, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Anthony Jelonch, Baptiste Serin, Louis Carbonel, Damian Penaud.