French wary of Italian slip-up

Thierry Dusautoir © Gallo Images

France will edge closer towards a first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2004 on Sunday if they can extend their 10-year winning run over Italy at the Stade de France in Paris.

France have turned in some impressive displays in the tournament so far, including a 33-10 drubbing of defending champions Ireland and a thrilling 26-20 victory over Wales in Cardiff.

Although Italy have never beaten the French in the Six Nations, the hosts are keen to downplay the hype that surrounds them.

France's captain Thierry Dusautoir says his team are not even thinking about winning a Grand Slam.

"I hear the Grand Slam being talked about everywhere, among the journalists and among the public," said the Toulouse back-row forward.

"Among us (the players), we don't dare to talk about it openly but we're not completely unaware of what people are saying. We hear what's said, we read the papers.

"What we need is a bit of perspective. I know that perspective doesn't really sell papers but we must not put the cart before the horse.

France coach Marc Lievremont has been criticised for using over 70 players since taking over from Bernard Laporte in 2007 and the 39-year-old has made two changes to his starting line-up from the Wales game, bringing in Castres winger Marc Andreu for his first start and experienced centre David Marty.

The French coach is keen to highlight the threat posed by the Italians and said his side would not taking the game lightly.

"I have always said that this match is the one where we could fall into a trap," said Lievremont, who recorded three consecutive wins for the first time during his tenure when France defeated the Welsh.

"We are not taking anything for granted. We are extremely vigilant. We saw how hard they pushed the English," he said, referring to England's narrow 17-12 win in Rome.

"We remember also how two years ago we were snapped at all through the match at the Stade de France by the Italians."

However, Italy coach Nick Mallett was realistic about his side's ambitions, despite their win over Scotland in the last round - only the Italians' seventh in 53 Six Nations matches.

"For us it is the most important challenge for us in this year's tournament," said Mallett.

"France will probably win the Grand Slam this year. If we stay competitive in the scrum and in the line-outs and limit the defeat to 10-15 points then that will be a good performance."

But Mallett, who won the Tri-Nations in a successful spell at the helm of South Africa, denied he was waving the white flag prematurely.

Read more on the Six Nations page.

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© Sapa - AFP