| Venue: OL Stadium, Lyon Date: Friday, 6 October Kick-off: 20:00 BST |
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Maxime Lucu has tried to “handle the expectation” as he deputises for France captain Antoine Dupont and desires to benefit from the huge second.
Hosts France will prime their Rugby World Cup pool in the event that they keep away from defeat by Italy of their ultimate group match on Friday.
Lucu will begin at scrum-half in Lyon whereas Dupont continues his restoration from a fractured cheekbone.
“The French staff is a bunch of 33 gamers, and everybody has an vital function,” stated 30-year-old Lucu.
“If we’re right here, it is as a result of we have now a job to play. For me, it is this weekend.
“The stress has been on for 2 weeks now, after Antoine’s damage. A captain getting injured is a significant factor at a World Cup. I’ve had a whole lot of messages, however I’ve turned my cellphone off and targeting the previous two weeks.”
Lucu added: “My recreation is totally different to Antoine’s so there is no comparability. I have been attempting to do this for the previous 10 days, to handle the expectation, the stress and the function I’ve to play. However above all, I wish to benefit from the second.
“If you’re an alternative choice to Antoine, the captain and quantity 9, you are ready for [having little playing time]. These are issues we work on.
“At worldwide stage, the 9 and 10 have an vital function to play in getting the staff going and making use of the technique. The sport managers should be good, and on Friday I’ve to be good in these areas.”
Dupont, extensively thought-about as one of many world’s finest gamers, was injured in France’s pool recreation towards Namibia on 21 September.
He had an operation the next day and can meet a surgeon on Monday to find out whether or not he can be handed match to take part in France’s quarter-final ought to they qualify.
Italy hearth ceremony ‘a great way of shifting on’
Italy have appeared in any respect 10 Rugby World Cups however have by no means beforehand certified for the knockout part.
New Zealand confirmed a quarter-final spot with a bonus-point win over Uruguay on Thursday night, which means solely victory towards France will do for the Italians. Even then, with bonus factors concerned, there’s a state of affairs by which a win wouldn’t be sufficient for them to undergo.
The All Blacks thrashed Italy 96-17 of their most up-to-date pool fixture on 29 September, and coach Kieran Crowley’s aspect have been attempting their finest to maneuver on shortly from that massive defeat earlier than their deciding recreation towards the World Cup hosts.
Italy scrum-half Stephen Varney stated: “We had been fairly devastated by our efficiency. Going into the week, Kieran introduced us in and we wanted to get our confidence again so we did this factor the place we chucked our ideas into the fireplace and tried to neglect about it and take our learnings into this week.
“Mainly, we simply wrote our ideas on a bit of paper and simply chucked it into the fireplace. I believe it was a great way of forgetting about it and shifting on. As a result of I do not suppose that efficiency outlined us as a staff.
“We obtained our confidence again from coaching now and hopefully we will put efficiency in on Friday.”
Line-ups
France: Ramos; Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Lucu; Baille, Mauvaka, Atonio, Woki, Flament, Jelonch, Ollivon (capt), Alldritt.
Replacements: Bourgarit, Wardi, Aldegheri, Taofifenua, Cros, Couilloud, Moefana, Jaminet.
Italy: Capuozzo; Bruno, Brex, Garbisi, Ioane; Allan, Varney; Ferrari, Faiva, Ceccarelli, N Cannone, Ruzza, Negri, Lamaro (capt), L Cannone.
Replacements: Manfredi, Zani, Riccioni, Sisi, Zuliani, Fusco, Morisi, Pani.