Sir Clive Woodward
Former England coach on BBC One

"I'm really looking forward to seeing how England step up and take the game to France. Will England be looking ahead to the World Cup next year? I'm hoping they're only thinking about France. You can get carried away looking too far ahead."

Tom Hunt:, external Come on England! Feeling a big game against the French - match prediction France 15-21 England.

Joe Jordan:, external I'm calling it - it's England's year! That is, only so long we can hold them off!

Sarah Sleath:, external The England v France match will be a good accompaniment to dissertation writing...

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

It's an exciting day for Northampton centre Luther Burrell and Exeter wing Jack Nowell, who will both make their England debuts in Paris. Jack Nowell's mother, Louisa, was on 5 live earlier talking with pride about her son.

"It was extremely exciting to hear he'd been selected. We were all beside ourselves. It's been surreal actually, with all this happening so quickly. He's only 20, 21 in April. He has been playing since he was five, though, so we're used to him making debuts. Not at this level, mind.

"My husband owns three big fishing boats, trawlers, and he was actually at sea when they announced it. Normally I can speak to him on a mobile but he was out of range so I had to reach him on a satellite phone to tell him the news!

"Jack has done all this off his own back. The place he's won today is something he's achieved. We used to take him round the country to play in rugby matches on a Sunday, but since he turned 16 all his success has been down to him."

Some of the men head coach Stuart Lancaster has chosen are so fresh faced that one of them, Jack Nowell, was refused entry this week to see an 18-certificate film. Don't worry the 20-year-old wing, who will make his debut this evening, did eventually see Wolf Of Wall Street but only after returning to the team hotel to retrieve his passport.

This match is a difficult one to predict and perhaps the reason for that is because both sides are putting their trust in the exuberance of youth. England's wings and centres boast just nine caps between them while Stade Francais fly-half Jules Plisson makes his France debut to form an inexperienced half-back partnership with Toulouse's Jean-Marc Doussain.

Tom Fordyce
Chief sports writer at the Stade de France

"Clear blue afternoon turning to chill dark evening at the Stade de France. There is optimism in the cool air among England's travelling hordes, but there is also plenty of bellicose expectation amid the cigarette smoke and booze-breath around the home support too."

Image source, @andynic9

The focus today isn't solely on the Welsh capital, however, because on the boulevards and lanes of Paris rugby fans are preparing for an almighty crunch. England have won six of their last seven Six Nations matches against France but, as has already been mentioned, Les Bleus are usually the side to beat after a Lions tour.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland: "I thought we were positive in terms of our attacking play, but Italy were dogged and competed pretty hard all game.

"Defensively I thought our structure was pretty good. Italy made it tough for us. I think in the past when we have come under pressure like that we might not have had the composure to finish it off. But we did today. We're champions and every team is going to come at us and make it tough."

Wales centre Jamie Roberts on BBC One: "We certainly made it hard for ourselves. We have to tighten up those mistakes in our game. If we don't then we'll lose against Ireland next week. We go through the phases of attacking well but then we were guilty of some silly turnovers."

Edward Wilson:, external Real missed opportunity for Italy there. A better team would have demolished Wales today.

Tom Preston:, external Great losing performance by Italy.

Ben McGilloway:, external Wales were shocking today!

Helen:, external Not convinced by Wales win. Messy, slow. Italy put up a good fight.

louise✞:, external Well done boys, little bit sloppy at times but still a win!

Dominic Penna:, external Well done Wales but I'm impressed with how Italy played!

"We just have to look at ourselves in training this week and cut out the errors," says Jamie Roberts but the rest of his team-mates are making their way to the changing room. Rhys Priestland, walking down the corridor, can be seen coughing like an old miner.

Adam Jones and his front-row partner in crime Paul James are smiling and waving to someone in the crowd as they hang around on the pitch. The stadium, though, has emptied quickly.

Robert Jones
Former Wales scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Image source, Getty Images

"In the first half it was a very professional performance from Wales, in a style we've become used to. But in the second half they lost their way. That was a good performance from Italy, who were better up front and showed a lot more about them. Wales look very tired men and they will sit and reflect on this game, and there will be lots for them to do and work on. And they will appreciate that Italy will be a tough proposition in the Six Nations this year."

Jonathan Davies
Former Wales fly-half on BBC One

"My man of the match is Michele Campagnaro. Defensively he has been superb and he's scored two lovely tries."

Robert Jones
Former Wales scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Italy will take a huge amount from this. They kept themselves in this game and have been the better side in this second half. It's all about the final ball, which we all know they're capable of producing. But there's more flow to them, more football. The more experience and the more they develop in international rugby the better Italy can become. There's more in the Italian game than we've ever seen before."

Jonathan Davies
Former Wales fly-half on BBC One

"Wales will have to do better next week against Ireland. They know there is a big test awaiting them in Dublin. Warren Gatland will be pleased with the result but not the performance because it's been a sluggish display. I would like to see a bit more creativity. There were far too many mistakes but the important thing is they won."

George North gathers Rhys Priestland's diagonal kick and wriggles away from his tackler, but the winger was seen knocking on and that's the end of that. Game over. Wales win despite being far from their best.

Wales are penalised, Sergio Parisse with the quick tap and go... the Italian want one final flourish. A thumping tackle by Jamie Roberts on Tommasso Allan. Wales turnover ball. On we go...

Warburton, with some cotton wool up his right nostril, takes his place in the base of the scrum. Italy have the put-in on the half-way line.