Carlo Del Fava
Former Italy lock on BBC One

Image source, Getty Images

"It is a good promising opening passage from Italy. What they are doing really well is securing set-pieces. That allows you to apply a lot of pressure on the opposition and you can march your way down field."

Andy Nicol
Former Scotland scrum-half on BBC One

"It was when goalkicking in practise that Tommaso Allan had a strain in his groin, so maybe he wasn't 100% confident taking that penalty. He certainly didn't look comfortable."

Deary, deary.

Tommaso Allan sends his kick high, wide and not very handsome. He pulled his hamstring in warm-up and is wincing again.

Nothing wrong with the contact on the ball, but that twinge must be preying on his mind.

The rain is pelting down in Rome, but Leonardo Ghiraldini is pin-point with his line-out throw, picking out Sergio Parisse in the middle of the queue on the France 22m. France halt the driving maul at source, but Bernard Le Roux strays offside at the breakdown to give Italy a very kickable penalty.

Tommaso Allan puts boot to ball again, this time a hanging crossfield kick for his outside backs to chase. It is a decent kick, but a less convincing chase.

France wing Noa Nakaitaci is able to claim, spin and sprint down the line and upfield. Classic corner-flagging from Sergio Parisse means the number eight can cover the break and Nakaitaci makes it easy for him, running straight into the hulking torso.

A step off the left foot doesn't look like it is in Nakaitaci's locker.

Image source, Getty Images

Dai Trembath:, external Italia Italia all the way

Ed Ruane:, externalThis is Italy's big chance.

Matt Gibbs:, external Italy to win by two points.

Tommaso Allan hoists a snowy up-and-under, but that is overcooked and Scott Spedding is able to stay rooted on the ground to claim the mark in his own 22m.

Will Hawkins:, external The Italian team looks fired up if their singing is anything to go by.

marc:, external Come on Italy ! Up the azzura!

ianbils:, external ‏International rugby union at its best is intensely gladiatorial.

Irishman JP Doyle is the man in the middle and Italy's Tommaso Allan boots long off the opening kick-off. Winger Noa Nakaitaci gathers for France.

Before kick-off, there is be a minute's silence in memory of the three French athletes - boxer Alexis Vastine, swimmer Camille Muffat, sailor Florence Arthaud - killed in s helicopter crash in Argentina while making a reality television series.

The three pundits on BBC One are asked for their predictions...

Jeremy Guscott: France victory by 10 points.

Keith Wood: Italy to win.

Carlo Delfava: Definitely Italy to win but it will be a very close affair. I think they will do it by three points.

It should be noted, though, that Mr Wood has got his last two predictions wrong...

Image source, AP

Italy have won the last two meetings with France on home soil, 23-18 in 2013 and 22-21 two years earlier.

Judging by the anthems, the home crowd believe a hat-trick is on against this out-of-sorts version of Les Bleus.

Hands clamped over hearts and tonsils swinging with the passion of it all.

Jeremy Guscott
Former England centre on BBC One

"There is so much talent in French rugby. But consistency wise these guys are just not performing at the level required."

France make eight changes to their starting XV but under-pressure fly-half Camille Lopez is retained.

Winger Noa Nakaitaci makes his debut and Maxime Mermoz and Gael Fickou form a new-look centre partnership.

France: 15-Scott Spedding, 14-Yoann Huget, 13-Gael Fickou, 12-Maxime Mermoz, 11-Noa Nakaitaci, 10-Camille Lopez, 9-Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1-Eddy Ben Arous, 2-Guilhem Guirado, 3-Nicolas Mas, 4-Alexandre Flanquart, 5-Yoann Maestri, 6-Thierry Dusautoir (capt), 7-Bernard Le Roux, 8-Loann Goujon.

Replacements: 16-Benjamin Kayser, 17-Rabah Slimani, 18-Vincent Debaty, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Damien Chouly, 21-Rory Kockott, 22-Jules Plisson, 23-Mathieu Bastareaud.

In addition to Tomasso Allan's call-up, centre Andrea Masi returns to the Italy XV.

Winger Leonardo Sarto replaces Michele Visentin and back-row Samuela Vunisa takes over from Simone Favaro. Captain Sergio Parisse is set to win an Italian record 112th cap.

Italy: 15-Luke McLean, 14-Leonardo Sarto, 13-Luca Morisi, 12-Andrea Masi, 11-Giovanbattista Venditti, 10-Tommaso Allan, 9-Edoardo Gori; 1-Matias Aguero, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3-Dario Chistolini, 4-George Biagi, 5-Josh Furno, 6-Francesco Minto, 7-Samuela Vunisa, 8-Sergio Parisse (capt).

Replacements: 16-Andrea Manici, 17-Alberto De Marchi, 18-Lorenzo Cittadini, 19-Quintin Geldenhuys, 20-Marco Barbini, 21-Guglielmo Palazzani, 22- Luciano Orquera 23-Enrico Bacchin.

As Thierry Dusautoir leads his French troops down the stairs (not easy in studs) and out onto the Stadio Olimpico pitch, let's have a rundown of the team news.

Dave Lawton:, external ‏How will Italy cope going in as favourites (in my book) against France?

Carlo Del Fava
Former Italy lock on BBC One

Asked how Italy can get to the next level:

"Because of the lack of sport at Italian schools we need academies, so you can get all the players in one place and ground out the basics, so they can get the core skills they wouldn't get from schools."

French coach Philippe Saint-Andre is interviewed on BBC One and is asked why he was blunt about his players' performance after the defeat by Wales.

He shrugs and replies: "Sometimes you need to be."

He doesn't look like a coach under pressure and says he is confident ahead of today's match.

"I am not worried about Italy," he says. "It is just a game of rugby. We need to play, to be clinical and to be clever - and it is not good conditions so we need to build a good platform."

Image source, EPA

BBC One coverage has kicked off in Rome and we arrive to bad news for Italy.

After fly-half Kelly Haimona pulled out of the match yesterday through injury, Tomasso Allan was ushered in. Allan has just tweaked his groin in warm-up though.

He will start with heavy strapping in place, but Luciano Orquera will be standing by on the bench.