Italy v France Prediction, Tips, & Best Bet – Six Nations Tips

We have an Italy v France prediction for you plus a breakdown of the betting odds, team news and matchups ahead of another big game in the Six Nations Championship.

How To Watch Italy v France

When is Italy v France

3 pm, Sunday, February 20th

TV Channel

ITV 1, S4C

Who are the officiating team?

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)

Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

FPRO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

Where is Italy v France

Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy

Italy v France Odds – Six Nations 2025

Italy are currently priced at 7/1 to win this game.

France are favourites with odds of 1/16 and the draw is seen as a 40/1 chance.

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Match Betting Enhanced

Italy @ 15/2

France @ 1/14

Draw @ 40/1

Handicap Betting

Italy: +18 @ 10/11

France -18 @ 10/11

Handicap Draw: +18 @ 18/1

Team News

Italy Team News

France Team News

Italy v France Preview

Italy’s Form

Italy put on an impressive showing in the 2024 Six Nations Championship only losing to England by 3 points in a 24-27 thriller defeating the Scots 31-29 in another drawing 13-13 against France and beating France 21-24. Their only poor showing was a 36-0 defeat to Ireland in their opening game.

During the summer they lost to Samoa but beat Tonga and Japan to continue their strong form and in the Autumn Internationals despite an opening 18-50 loss to Argentina they recovered to beat Georgia 20-17 and only lost 11-29 to New Zealand.

In their opening Six Nations fixture of 2025, they fell to a 31-19 defeat against Scotland at Murrayfield. However, Italy were competitive and early in the second half were only 19-12 down before falling away toward the end of the game.

One thing is for sure and that’s the fact Italy can no longer be considered as the Six Nations' designated “whipping boys” and have come on leaps and bounds since former Stade Francais coach Gonzalo Quesada was appointed last year and their status as favourites ahead of this game is borderline unprecedented but more than deserved.

France’s Form

France finished second in the 2024 Six Nations Championship coming 5 points behind winners Ireland, but it was a tournament of two halves. They opened it with a convincing loss at the hands of Ireland, a narrow win over Scotland and a shock draw with Italy. They then defeated Wales convincingly and won a thriller with England in their closing games to finish on a high.

Following the Six Nations, France played out a drawn series with Argentina and defeated Uruguay last summer. The Autumn Nations Series saw them perform brilliantly to close out the season with a 52-12 win over Japan, a 30-29 thriller against New Zealand and a 37-23 win over Argentina.

In their opening Six Nations game against Wales, they put in a dominant showing winning 43-0 which was France’s second biggest win against Wales after a 51-0 victory during the 1998 Five Nations. The ruthless nature of their performance even if against an out-of-sorts Welsh side will be a positive sign for their Six Nations Championship credentials.

Head Coach Galthié since his appointment in 2019 has achieved the remarkable feat of making the unpredictable French, predictable in a positive sense with a win rate of 77.78% I’m expecting his experience to be the ace in the pack for France this Six Nations Championship.

Italy v France Rugby Head-To-Head

All-Time Head-To-Head Record

Italy and France have played each other at rugby union in 49 matches since 1937, with Italy winning 3 times, France winning on 45 occasions and 1 draw taking place.

Head-To-Head Results Last Five Matches

2024: Draw 13-13 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy

2023: France won 60-7 at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais

2023: France won 24-29 in the Stadio Olimpico

2022: France won 37-10 in the Stade de France

2021: France won 10-50 in the Stadio Olimpico

Trends

Italy’s last win against France came during the 2013 Championship 23-18 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Key Players

Tommaso Menoncello – Italy

Italy have become a more competitive force on the Tier 1 Rugby scene in recent seasons in large part to the emergence of many talented young rugby players. One of those players is Benetton Centre/Winger Tommaso Menoncello who despite being only 22 has already amassed 30 points across his 22 Senior tests with Italy.

He is strong, fast with brilliant technique and his talents were awarded the Six Nations Player of the Tournament in 2024 becoming the youngest player to do so at 21. That form continued into their opening game against the Scots where he was constantly breaking the Scottish tackles and line. He continued that form into their victory over Wales effective in defence with his pressure helping to make Wales concede penalties.

Antoine Dupont – France

Antoine Dupont (28), France and Toulouse Captain and Scrum-Half, is the best in his position in the World and consistently shows himself to be excellent defensively with freakish strength for his size. Expect everything to go through him at the weekend and he will be the driving force behind everything good about France.

In their opening demolition of Wales, Dupont was superb becoming the first to provide a hat-trick of try assists in two separate Men’s Six Nations matches (also 4 vs Italy in 2021). While he was quieter against England he was still one of France’s stronger performers. Arguably the best player in the game at the moment.

Italy v France Prediction & Best Bet

Prediction: Italy 9-28 France

Italy can no longer be underestimated in the Six Nations and they showed that last weekend by continuing their fine run of form albeit against a Wales side low in confidence.

France were ruthless against Wales in the opening round but fell to a disappointing loss against England last time out so a poor result here would put their Championship credentials in serious jeopardy.

There was a draw in this game last year, but I can’t see it happening on this occasion.

Best Bet: Score First, Lead at HT and Win @ 4/7

*Prices are subject to fluctuation.

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