The board of the oldest rugby tournament in the world has published the program for next year’s edition which will be opened by the France–Ireland match at 9pm on Friday 2nd February, while Italy’s debut is scheduled for the following day – Saturday 3rd February – at 3.15pm at Stadio Olimpico in Rome against England.
Italrugby will close the second round on Sunday 11th February by facing Ireland at 3pm local time – 4pm Italian time – at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Third day scheduled – again on Sunday – February 25th with the Azzurri who will challenge France at the Stade de France in Paris at 4pm. In the fourth round, Italy will return to the Olympic Stadium for the second and final home round scheduled for Saturday 9th March at 3.15pm against Scotland.
Azzurri will open the “super Saturday” on Saturday 16th March at 2.15pm local time – 3.15pm Italian time – at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff by facing Wales.
Therefore, in the Six Nations, the Azzurri will once again find themselves facing France, who in the World Cup overwhelmed the Italian national team who, after the heavy defeat against the All Blacks 96-17, had also lost in Lyon against France, who had eliminated the Italian national team from the World Cup beating them with a score of 60-7. The results of the match saw the Blues triumph with eight to one in terms of tries, the French had effectively dominated every phase of the game and had qualified as top of Pool A for the quarterfinals.
The French national team together with Ireland are the bookmakers’ favourites, according to the betting odds on the Six Nations. France victory is quoted at 6/5, Ireland at 11/8, England is given at 6 /1, Scotland are priced at 14/1, Wales’ win is given at 20/1, while Italy’s win is the most unlikely at 500/1.
The Azzurri in Lyon had tried to stay in the game until the end, showing a different attitude compared to the defeat against New Zealand. However, a generous defense against the very strong home team was not enough. The Blues had distanced themselves by increasing the result gap thanks to a surgical defense, the skill in counterattacks and the precise footing of Thomas Ramos. The match that was supposed to decide the second team in the group to qualify for the quarterfinals had smiled on France. Despite the absence of Antoine Dupont, the French had created chances and scored eight tries. For Michele Lamaro and his companions only the satisfaction of a try.
At the Six Nations the Italian national team will have to try to do well and make up for the disappointments suffered in the World Cup, Italy will have the great opportunity to face France again, on February 25th in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower at the Stade de France in Paris, the Azzurri will challenge the Blues at 4pm.
