France massive favourites to win Women’s Six Nations opener against Italy but will have to do it without two key players

ENGLAND were not the only side to turn over world champions New Zealand twice in the autumn.

France will have taken huge confidence from their twin successes against the Black Ferns.  

Hugh Routledge - The Sunday Times

France will be without Safi N’Diaye for the visit of Italy[/caption]

Les Bleues open their TikTok Women’s Six Nations campaign at home to Italy and while they are without some key players, they will be red-hot favourites to make a winning start in Grenoble.  

The hosts will be missing both scrum-half Pauline Bourdon and lock Safi N’Diaye.

But after the success of their men’s side, the atmosphere in France is a happy one and they are making no secret of their ambitions.  

The head of the French women’s set-up Thomas Darracq said: “It’s true that the schedule is favourable with three home games, two away from home and we hope a final against England for the Grand Slam.

“But what we say to the team is that every game is important. The aim is to win the Six Nations, to win a Grand Slam. This is a game that will tell us where the team is.” 

Italy finished fourth in last year’s campaign, before winning the Rugby World Cup qualifier on home soil to book their place in New Zealand later this year.  

With limited preparation time compared to their opponents, it might be asking a lot for them to start quickly against France and then England the following week.  

But over the course of the campaign, the Azzurre should come into their own, with skipper Manuela Furlan impressed at the way they have been preparing for today’s opener.  

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Furlan said: “We are aware of the strengths that France have, as we are of ours.

“We have worked on defence and attack with the aim of destabilising our opponents focusing on our strong points and stopping them from developing their game.”

The TikTok Women’s Six Nations is more accessible than ever before. To find out how you can watch the Women’s Championship visit: womens.sixnationsrugby.com/tv/