Thomas Darracq has announced his 23 to take on Italy in the first of two encounters; this one in Nice.
Rather like England’s side to face the USA, there are one or two unexpected names (listed below). Of course, a few regulars may have picked minor knocks during their intensive sessions at Marcoussis and Font Romeu high in the Pyrenees, but Darracq knows he can keep his tinder dry. This squad is quite strong enough to undo the Azzurre. He can delay revealing his hand till after the return fixture a week later.
After a long absence Rose Bernadou still has to wait on the bench. The rest of the pack looks very strong; just the one less familiar name at No 6, Charlotte Escudero from Blagnac.
Emeline Gros has to give way to Romane Ménager at No 8 – no surprise.
Out behind Laure Sansus keeps Pauline Bourdon waiting on the bench. Bourdon may be the only person in France to welcome Sansus’ announced retirement after the World Cup. At last she will be able to regain the No 9 shirt that looked like hers for keeps three years ago.
Neither of the two star wingers appear, Caroline Boujard and Cyrielle Banet. In their place it’s the younger Ménager on the left and Melissande Llorens (two tries in just three caps) on the right.
To fit in both the oustanding young prospects, Chloé Jacquet and Emilie Boulard, Gabrielle Vernier is forced to wait on the bench. Jacquet takes the No 12 shirt alongside Maëlle Filopon.
The Squad:
1 Annaëlle Deshayes; 2 Agathe Sochat; 3 Clara Joyeux; 4 Céline Ferer; 5 Madoussou Fall; 6 Charlotte Escudero; 7 Gaelle Hermet (captain); 8 Romane Ménager; 9 Laure Sansus; 10 Caroline Drouin; 11 Marine Ménager; 12 Chloe Jacquet; 13; Maëlle Filopon; 14 Melissande Llorens
Bench: 16 Céllia Domain, 17 Coco Lindelauf,18 Rose Bernadou, 19 Safi N’Diaye, 20 Julie Annery, 21 Pauline Bourdon, 22 Lina Queyroi, 23 Gabrielle Vernier
Italy
This is the squad that Andrea Di Giandomenico has selected:
15 Manuela Furlan (captain), 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Alyssa D’Inca; 11 Maria Magatti, 10 Beatrice Rigoni, 9 Sara Barattin, 1 Silvia Turani, 2 Melissa Bettoni, 3 Lucia Gai, 4 Valeria Fedrighi 5 Giordana Duca, 6 Illaria Arighetti, 7 Giada Franco, 8 Elisa Giordano
Bench: 16 Vittoria Vecchini, 17 Gaia Maris, 18 Sara Seye, 19 Isabella Locatelli, 20 Francesca Sgorbini, 21 Sofia Stefan, 22 Emma Stevanin, 23 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi
However well they have played in the past year, the Azzurre have rarely lasted the pace into the last quarter. With intensive World Cup training behind them, they will have to avoid that momentum drop or the French will make mincemeat of them. At their best they can play a thrilling off-loading game, but it is high-risk stuff.
