Following the dramatic 13-13 draw between France and Italy in the Six Nations in Lille, here is our assessment of the Azzurri's players.
evaluation
15 Ange Capozzo: Returning to his preferred position, it showed. The star was a presence throughout and when his team needed a strong edge in attack, he produced a try that beat three defenders in the process. He also made 8 tackles. 8
⌚️ With just 10 minutes left in the game, Ange Capozzo crossed the goal line to score for Italy, bringing a dramatic end to the game in Lille 😱#breitling #defining moment @Breitling pic.twitter.com/5i4n9wePTg
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 25, 2024
14 Tommaso Menoncello: Official Man of the Match after a blockbuster performance. He showed crazy strength in carries, especially in contact, and never stopped the entire game. He is a special player and a key player for the future of this team. 7
13 Ignacio Brex Juan: Very huge on both sides of the ball. He attacked the midfield whenever called upon and provided a calm defense for the backline. His double-digit carries and tackles speak volumes about his work rate. 7
12 Federico Mori: Although he was the quietest player in the Azzurri's backline, Mori was never shy about his role, never putting his name in the spotlight and giving it his all until the end. Five
11 Monty Ioan: Dynamic and deadly. Every time a winger gets the ball, there is a sense of anticipation that something might happen. He did everything in his power to help his team finish, scoring a whopping 110 meters. 7
10 Paolo Garbisi: You can't help but feel really gutted for the fly-half who had a chance to win the game just by letting the ball fall off the tee and rushing the kick at the end. I'm in agony. But otherwise he was brilliant, leading his team brilliantly until the end and dealing with the heavy traffic in the Strait where he was forced into 11 tackles. A real general's performance and one of his key efforts to win the draw. 7
Dramatic finish on the reel 😱#Guinness M6N #flyta pic.twitter.com/0mZzLmr1mT
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 25, 2024
9 Martin Page Lillo: It was a great game, including a great long-range penalty. He came on as a substitute just after half-time, but he can be pleased with his effort at a time when the team was under huge pressure. 6
Planet Rugby player evaluation key.
engine room
8 Ross Vincent: Indeed, the star is always looking for ways to influence the match and it didn't look like it was his first start at Test level. He is one of our main defenders and recorded an incredible 18 tackles that day. 7
7 Michele Ramaro: Captain is great. Lamaro's effort was never in question, his tackles matched Vincent's, but he carried the ball 10 times, the most of any forward, and this time was no different. His stability on the side was great and his efforts deserved the win. 8
6 Riccardo Fabret: It's crazy to think that Italy's “quietest” loose forward still managed to make 12 tackles. Especially in the first half, the sides defended France's relentless attacks with their trenches. 6
5 Federico Luzza: Another star who became an integral part of the defensive set in the first half, recording double-digit tackles. Everything else was fine with a mammoth shift. 7
4 Niccolo Cannone: He's become a really high quality Test player and he's a coach's dream because of the amount of work he does. His 16 tackles clearly confirm that. 7
3 Giosue Girocchi: Remarkably, he is the only starting forward who did not have more than 10 tackles. He made some nice steals but was dominated in the scrum. Five
2 Giacomo Nicotera: He emptied his tank in 56 minutes on the park, building a solid foundation with lineout throws and tackles that looked like he had 16 in less than an hour. 7
1 Danilo Fischetti: Although he had some bad luck in the scrum against a strong French squad, he made up for it with a solid match work rate. 6
Replacement: Manuel Zuliani had a chance to win the game with a great breakdown steal, but unfortunately it didn't happen. Stephen Varney has gained a lot of speed in attack and looks like a better front-foot scrum-half option. Unlike France, the Azzurri's substitutes almost won the match. 7
read more: 14-man France hold out for draw after Jonathan Danti's red card, Italy just shy of historic victory
