Capuozzo Returns As Italy Target France Six Nations Shock In Lille
Capuozzo Returns As Italy Target France Six Nations Shock In Lille
Ange Capuozzo returns from injury as Italy face France in Lille, targeting a first Six Nations win on French soil after 13 - 13 draw in 2024.
Italy have been handed a timely boost ahead of Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations showdown with France as Ange Capuozzo returns from injury to start at fullback in Lille.
The 25 year old has not featured in this Championship after suffering a broken finger while playing for Toulouse in December, but he is now set to win his 32nd cap against a French side chasing a third straight victory and a potential Grand Slam tilt in the Six Nations Championship.
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Capuozzo’s reintroduction is the only change to Gonzalo Quesada’s starting XV following last weekend’s 20 - 13 defeat to Ireland. Lorenzo Pani drops out, while Juan Ignacio Brex remains unavailable for family reasons, a continued absence that weakens Italy’s midfield leadership.
The venue adds another layer of intrigue. The last meeting between these sides at Stade Pierre Mauroy ended in a 13 - 13 draw in 2024, when Paolo Garbisi struck the post with a late penalty that would have secured a historic Italian victory. That memory lingers within the Azzurri camp.
France arrive with 10 points from two commanding wins, their attack orchestrated by Thomas Ramos, Theo Attissogbe and Louis Bielle Biarrey proving among the most dangerous in the Northern Hemisphere. Italy, however, travel north with belief. They beat Scotland in Rome and pushed Ireland deep into the second half in Dublin. The question is no longer whether they belong at this level, but whether they can sustain accuracy and physicality for 80 minutes against the Championship’s most complete side.
Tactically, the contest shapes around territory and the scrum. Italy kick more than any team in this tournament, building pressure through field position before striking through structured phase play. Capuozzo’s counter attacking threat offers a different dimension, particularly against a French back three that thrives in broken play.
Up front, Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera and Simone Ferrari have anchored one of the most cohesive scrums in the competition. They will target a French tight five that has been reinforced but not fully tested under sustained pressure.
“France is one of the best teams in the world. It’s clear to everyone,” Fischetti said. “They have great individual qualities and play a high level game. I dream of finishing as high as possible, but we always think game by game.”
Italy Team To Face France
Starting XV: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Michele Lamaro, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Pablo Dimcheff, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosue Zilocchi, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 David Odiase, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Paolo Odogwu
How To Watch Six Nations 2026
The 2026 Six Nations Championship will be broadcast on different networks all over the world.
If you live in the USA, you can watch the games on Peacock.
- UK: BBC / ITV
- USA: Peacock
- Ireland: RTÉ / Virgin Media
- Wales (Welsh-language): S4C
- France: France Télévisions
- Italy: Sky Sport / NOW (all matches); TV8 (Italy matches free-to-air)
- South Africa: SuperSport
- Australia: Stan Sport
- New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
Professional club rugby in Europe all streams on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.