France vs Italy: Live stream details, TV channel, kick-off time and Six Nations team news
FRANCE and Italy are both in desperate need of a Six Nations win ahead of their Friday night clash.
The two teams have, since 2007, competed for the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy and twice since have the Italians upset their much-fancied French opponents.
But those wins, in 2011 and 2013, feel a long time ago and both came in Rome: Italy have not beaten France on the road since 1997.
France have two points to their name already in this year’s Six Nations but both came as a result of narrow losses to Ireland and Scotland respectively, something Italy can only dream of after thrashings by England and then the Irish too.
FRANCE vs ITALY LIVE UPDATES
France vs Italy kick-off time
Friday night rugby was first introduced to the Six Nations in 2009 and has, more often than not, been held in Cardiff.
But this time, France and Italy are taking the circus to the Marseille and the Stade Velodrome, where the two sides will kick-off at 9pm local time - or 8pm in the UK.
France vs Italy TV channel
The Six Nations coverage for 2018 has been split between ITV and the BBC once again.
ITV will show all of England’s home games as well as four others while the BBC will retain all of the other eight matches including England’s trips to Paris and Edinburgh.
BBC One will provide coverage of France vs Italy, starting at 7.30pm on Friday night.
France vs Italy live stream
Since both ITV and BBC are terrestrial and free-to-air, every game of the Six Nations will be shown live online for free.
Viewers simply need to hold a valid TV licence and may be required to sign in on the BBC website to watch France vs Italy.
France team vs Italy
Starting XV: Bonneval, Fall, Bastareaud, Doumayrou, Grosso; Beauxis, Machenaud; Slimani, Guirado, Poirot, Vahaamahina, Gabrillagues, Tauleigne, Camara, Lauret.
Replacements: Pelisse, Priso, Gomes Sa, Taofifenua, Galletier, Couilloud, Trinh-Duc, Fickou.
Italy team vs France
Starting XV: Minozzi, Benvenuti, Boni, Castello, Bellini; Allan, Violi; Lovotti, Ghiraldini, Ferrari, Zanni, Budd, Negri, Mbanda, Parisse.
Replacements: Bigi, Quaglio, Pasquali, Biagi, Ruzza, Gori, Canna, Hayward.