France have refreshed their second row partnership as they continue their Six Nations grand slam pursuit with a match against Italy in Lille. Toulouse lock duo Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou are reunited after featuring off the bench against Wales last week, in an otherwise unchanged starting line-up named by head coach Fabien Galthie.
Flament missed the opening win over Ireland due to his wife undergoing fertility treatment. The club colleagues displace Charles Ollivon and Mickael Guillard, despite the pair impressing in the first two rounds. They are part of a six-forward bench unit primed to make an impact, with last week’s debutant Fabien Brau-Boirie retaining his place in the centres.
Italy welcome back their own Toulouse star in full-back Ange Capuozzo after he overcame an injury. Leonardo Marin remains Tommaso Menoncello’s midfield partner in the continued absence of Juan Ignacio Brex, while there are no changes to a starting pack that has performed well so far in the tournament.
An impressive France have established themselves as tournament favourites but will be wary of an Italy side that have beaten Scotland and pushed Ireland close. The Azzurri should have won on their last visit to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, with fly-half Paolo Garbisi missing a penalty that would have won a match that ultimately ended in a 13-all draw.
