France is poised for another crucial test in their Six Nations Grand Slam quest as they welcome Italy to Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy this Sunday, February 22, 2026. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. GMT (4:10 p.m. local), with anticipation running high as Les Bleus look to maintain their unbeaten run and reinforce their dominance in this year’s championship.
After emphatic victories over Ireland (36-14) and Wales (54-12), France stands as the tournament’s only contender for the Grand Slam. But the path to glory is never straightforward, and Italy arrives in northern France with wind in their sails, having already notched an impressive win against Scotland and pushed Ireland hard in a narrow 20-13 defeat. The Azzurri’s resurgence under coach Gonzalo Quesada has not gone unnoticed, and memories are still fresh of their last visit to this very venue in 2024, when only a missed late kick by Paolo Garbisi denied them a famous victory in a 13-13 draw.
However, the build-up to this clash has been dominated by a late shake-up in the French camp. Star fly-half Matthieu Jalibert, instrumental in France’s earlier victories, was forced to withdraw from the squad late on Saturday due to a calf injury. Jalibert announced his disappointment on social media, stating, “A slight discomfort in my calf forces me to withdraw from tomorrow’s match. Thank you for your messages, I’ll be fully behind the teammates!” (as reported by Planet Rugby). His absence prompted head coach Fabien Galthié to reshuffle the backline, with Thomas Ramos stepping into the pivotal No. 10 role, Théo Attissogbe moving to full-back, and Gaël Dréan earning his first cap on the wing.
Despite this setback, France’s squad depth remains formidable. Ramos, now paired with captain Antoine Dupont in the halves, has a proven track record in this position and will be expected to marshal the attack with his usual poise. The back three now features Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Attissogbe, and Dréan, while the midfield partnership of Émilien Gailleton and Fabien Brau-Boirie remains intact. Up front, France has opted for a freshened second-row partnership, with Toulouse duo Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou replacing Charles Ollivon and Mickaël Guillard, who both drop to the bench. The back row sees the dynamic trio of Anthony Jelonch, Oscar Jegou, and François Cros continue their excellent form.
The front row—Dorian Aldegheri, Julien Marchand, and Jean-Baptiste Gros—remains unchanged, providing stability in the scrum. On the bench, Peato Mauvaka, Georges-Henri Colombe, and Pierre-Louis Barassi are among the new faces, with Rodrigue Neti, Lenni Nouchi, and Baptiste Serin also ready to make an impact if called upon.
Italy, meanwhile, sticks largely with the side that has impressed so far. The only change to their starting XV sees the return of Toulouse’s Ange Capuozzo at full-back after recovering from a fractured finger. Capuozzo’s creativity and counter-attacking threat will be crucial as the Azzurri look to unlock the French defense. The Italian backline also features Louis Lynagh, Tommaso Menoncello, Leonardo Marin, Monty Ioane, and the ever-reliable Garbisi-Fusco half-back pairing. Captain Michele Lamaro anchors a settled back row alongside Manuel Zuliani and Lorenzo Cannone, while the pack is rounded out by Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolò Cannone, and Andrea Zambonin.
Italy’s bench offers further options, including Pablo Dimcheff, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosuè Zilocchi, Federico Ruzza, Riccardo Favretto, David Odiase, Alessandro Garbisi, and Paolo Odogwu. With such continuity, Quesada’s men hope to build on their recent momentum and perhaps spring a surprise against the hosts.
Historically, France has dominated this fixture, boasting 46 wins to Italy’s 3, with a single draw in their head-to-head record. Yet, recent encounters have been tighter than many would expect, and Italy’s growing confidence is reflected in their improved performances this campaign. As the only team left with a perfect record, France is under pressure to deliver, but Italy’s resilience and newfound self-belief could make this a closer contest than the bookmakers’ odds suggest. At last check, France was heavily favored at 1/40, with Italy at 18/1 and the draw at 50/1 (per Betfair).
The atmosphere in Lille is expected to be electric, with fans eager to see whether Les Bleus can continue their march toward a first Grand Slam since 2022. The match is being officiated by Andrew Brace (Ireland), with Luke Pearce (England) and Eoghan Cross (Ireland) as assistant referees, and Olly Hodges (Ireland) as the Television Match Official. UK viewers can catch the action live on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 2:20 p.m. GMT, while radio listeners can tune in to BBC Radio 5Live for commentary.
France’s line-up for the match is as follows: 15 Théo Attissogbe, 14 Gaël Dréan, 13 Émilien Gailleton, 12 Fabien Brau-Boirie, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont (capt), 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros. The replacements are Peato Mauvaka, Rodrigue Neti, Georges-Henri Colombe, Charles Ollivon, Mickaël Guillard, Lenni Nouchi, Baptiste Serin, and Pierre-Louis Barassi.
Italy’s starting XV features: 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 (capt), 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti. Their bench includes Pablo Dimcheff, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosuè Zilocchi, Federico Ruzza, Riccardo Favretto, David Odiase, Alessandro Garbisi, and Paolo Odogwu.
Both teams will be eager to make a statement. For France, it’s about keeping the Grand Slam dream alive and showing they can adapt to the loss of a key playmaker. For Italy, it’s another chance to prove their progress is no fluke and perhaps to rewrite history in Lille. As the action unfolds, all eyes will be on Stade Pierre-Mauroy to see if Les Bleus can maintain their momentum or if the Azzurri can conjure an upset that would send shockwaves through the rugby world.
With the match about to kick off, the Six Nations drama is set for another compelling chapter. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and rugby fans will be glued to their screens as France and Italy battle it out for pride, progress, and a place in the tournament’s history books.