France coach Fabien Galthie has warned his team not to underestimate a "wounded" Italy ahead of their decisive Rugby World Cup Pool A match on Friday. Pool A has reached a critical stage with the last round of matches in which all four teams playing this week – New Zealand tackle Uruguay on Thursday night – can still reach the knock-out stages.
After three wins from three against the All Blacks, Uruguay and Namibia, France return from a two-week break knowing that they must still avoid defeat to the Azzurri to reach the knock-out stages.
Galthie believes Italy will pose an even bigger threat than they did back in February during a razor tight Six Nations clash in Rome, despite their horror show last week in a 14-try demolition by New Zealand.
"They are Latins who we know well. We've played them five times in four years," said Galthie.
"They are a wounded team. It's not far off the toughest challenge we've had to come up against.
"They've made changes and they're playing a match where they've got everything to gain."
- Crowley looking for 'respectability' -
Italy had earned a lot of plaudits over the last couple of years under the tutelage of New Zealander Kieran Crowley.
In that time they won away to Wales for the first time and also gained a first victory over Australia.
Crowley's win per centage coming into the World Cup was the best of any Italy coach since Pierre Berbizier from 2005-07.
In 2022, with that win away to Wales, Crowley ended Italy's seven-year wait for a Six Nations victory.
But after starting their World Cup campaign with bonus point victories over Namibia and Uruguay, everything unravelled against the All Blacks in a humiliating 96-17 reverse, which Crowley admitted was a worry.
"Yeah, it was very concerning the way it went," said Crowley.
"But we've moved on and now we're looking forward to a chance this week to at least put in a performance that has a little bit more respectability."
One of the main areas Italy would be looking to improve on is their defence of set-plays, which broke down alarmingly against New Zealand.
"We gave up 10 tries from set-plays. It's something that had never happened before," Crowley complained.
"We talked about it a little bit but then we moved on. When your confidence is knocked, how do you regain it? Well, you regain it by getting back to the process and having self belief."
Crowley has been forced by injuries to replace his entire front row among five changes for the France match.
"We had a lot of players beaten up last week and we had a number of players who didn't train very much this week," he said.
- France seek 'perfect discipline' -
France, for their part, are without captain and talisman Antoine Dupont, who remains sidelined after fracturing his cheekbone in the 96-0 demolition of Namibia two weeks ago.
He has been replaced by Maxime Lucu, who will team up with his club teammate Matthieu Jalibert in a familiar half-back pairing.
Lucu says New Zealand's performance against Italy is one Les Bleus should aim to replicate.
"The All Blacks' performance, in the first 20 minutes in particular, is an example to follow: four lineouts, score four times," he said.
"Their discipline was perfect. New Zealand played a really classy match. We have to learn from them, be pragmatic and rigorous."
France have not lost to Italy since 2013 and the Azzurri have only beaten their neighbours three times in 47 tests.
