Italy vs France: Prediction, head to head, starting line-ups, team news, TV, live coverage and betting odds – Six Nations preview

Former Ireland international Conor O'Shea is still looking for his first Six Nations victory as Italy head coach following his appointment to the role last summer.

The Azzurri suffered defeats to Wales and Ireland in the opening rounds, while their controversial ruck tactics helped them limit England to a 21-point victory at Twickenham last time out.

France have won 17 of their last 19 meetings with Italy - winning each of the last four - but only scraped past the Italians 23-21 in last year's Championship.

Here’s the full breakdown ahead of Saturday's clash at the Stadio Olimpico…

START TIME

The match kicks off at Stadio Olimpico at 1.30pm on Saturday, March 11.

TV AND LIVE COVERAGE

ITV will be broadcasting the match live with build-up from 12.30pm, while BBC Five Live Sports Extra will provide coverage on the radio.

You can follow the match live online by clicking here.

TEAM NEWS

Italy have named three changes to the starting line-up for their home match against France

Injuries dictated the alterations for the gamein Rome, with Angelo Esposito restored to wing in place of Giulio Bisegni; Carlo Canna coming in at fly-half to replace Tommaso Allan and Leonardo Ghiraldini taking over as hooker from Ornel Gega.

Meanwhile, France have called up Francois Trinh-Duc to their squad for the weekend's Six Nations game against Italy, almost four months after he suffered a fractured arm.

Trinh-Duc, who can play fly-half or inside centre, broke his arm last November in a game against Samoa and returned to action with his club Toulon against Brive on Saturday in the Top 14.

Full-back Brice Dulin was also called up to the squad for the match in Rome on Saturday.

STARTING LINE-UPS

Italy XV
Forwards: 1 Andrea Lovotti, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 4 Marco Fuser, 5 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 6 Abraham Steyn, 7 Simone Favaro, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain)

Backs: 9 Edoardo Gori, 10 Carlo Canna, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 12 Luke Mclean, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 14 Angelo Esposito, 15 Edoardo Padovani

Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'apice, 17 Sami Panico, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 George Biagi, 20 Maxime Mata Mbanda, 21 Giorgio Bronzini, 22 Tommaso Benvenuti, 23 Luca Sperandio

France XV
Forwards: 1 Cyril Baille, 2 Guilhem Guirado (captain), 3 Rabah Slimani, 4 Julien Le Devedec, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Fabien Sanconnie, 7 Kevin Gourdon, 8 Louis Picamoles

Backs: 9 Baptiste Serin, 10 Camille Lopez, 11 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Gael Fickou, 13 Remi Lamerat, 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 15 Brice Dulin

Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Uini Atonio, 18 Eddy Ben Arous, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Bernard Le Roux, 21 Antoine Dupont, 22 Francois Trinh Duc, 23 Yoann Huget

HEAD TO HEAD

PREDICTION

BETTING ODDS (provided by 888Sport)

Italy to win at 7/1

Draw at 38/1

France to win at 1/13

Odds correct as of 10am March 11. Click here to place a bet.