France vs Italy - Rugby World Cup 2023
Date: 06/10/23
Time: 09:00 CET
Venue: Groupama Stadium
In a match where the home team appears to have a strong advantage, France will face Italy on Friday, October 6th, at 9 pm local time at the OL Stadium. The French team is well-positioned for success, with approximately 60,000 spectators expected to attend. Italy's chances of advancing to the quarter-finals in the Rugby World Cup seem to have dwindled. Pool A also includes New Zealand, Namibia, and Uruguay as the other three participating teams.
France vs Italy Preview - Rugby World Cup 2023
Despite finishing second in the 6 Nations with 20 points, trailing Ireland by 7 points in the title race, Galthié's team is regarded as one of the world's top-performing rugby teams. However, Italy's recent track record in the 6 Nations has been less impressive, as they ended up in the last place during the 2022 Rugby 6 Nations without securing a win, earning the infamous wooden spoon, and struggling against all their opponents.
Looking back at their history, there was a previous encounter between France and Italy in a Rugby World Cup, which took place on September 19, 2015, during the World Cup in England. This match, part of Pool D, was won by France with a score of 32 to 10.
Under the coaching of Kieran Crowley, Italy has participated in 31 matches since the tournament's inception, achieving 13 victories and suffering 18 losses, resulting in a 42% effectiveness rate. From 1987 to 2019, they scored 627 points while conceding 977. Italy has consistently competed in World Cups but has yet to progress beyond the group stage.
On the other hand, France has a rich World Cup history, playing in 53 matches. They have secured victory 36 times, drawn twice, and faced defeat on 15 occasions, boasting an effectiveness rate of 68%. Scoring a total of 1585 points and conceding 966, France has participated in all World Cups and reached the final three times but without clinching the championship (in 1987, 1999, and 2011).
France vs Italy Prediction - Rugby World Cup 2023
Crowley's team faces a challenging assignment if they intend to disrupt the host's aspirations in the Rugby World Cup 2023. France vs. Italy is expected to yield a positive outcome for Galthié's squad, especially if they aim to approach the quarterfinals with the intent of maintaining their status as strong contenders for the tournament's ultimate match on Saturday, October 28.
Prediction: France 38-12 Italy. A win for the French team.