France v Italy: Teams

Servat: Has warned against complacency

People are congratulating us but if we fall by the wayside in the match against Italy we will not be anything anymore.

William Servat
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France hooker William Servat has cautioned his colleagues not to get complacent as they prepare to host Italy in their penultimate RBS Six Nations clash.

Les Bleus are on course to claim the Grand Slam crown after defeating Scotland, Ireland and Wales in their opening three fixtures.

And Marc Lievremont's men are expected to comfortably see off Italy at the Stade de France on Sunday, with their final match of the competition against England already billed as a tantalising tournament decider.

Servat, however, is well aware that nothing is set in stone, and has warned his team-mates not to underestimate their neighbours.

"We know what to do and at what moment because we are beginning to know ourselves in the attitudes and ways of facing different stages of games," said Servat.

"But at the moment, we are nothing - we have won three matches and then what?

"People are congratulating us but if we fall by the wayside in the match against Italy we will not be anything anymore.

"This match is really more important than it seems."

Challenge

France are facing their toughest challenge yet with the news that powerful Stade Francais centre Mathieu Bastareaud will only be fit as a replacement.

Bastareaud, who has delivered superb performances in the tournament so far, was again forced to train separately on Friday because of a calf injury.

Perpignan's David Marty replaces Bastareaud in the starting XV, while Castres' Marc Andreu steps in for Julien Malzieu of Clermont Auvergne on the right wing and Biarritz half-back Dimitri Yachvili takes the place of injured Frederic Michalak on the bench.

Meanwhile, Italy have named an unchanged line-up from the side that beat Scotland 16-12 in Rome a fortnight ago, with half-backs Tito Tebaldi and Craig Gower set to earn their 10th caps.

The pair landed debuts together against Australia last year and have since become coach Nick Mallett's first choice half-backs, while Pablo Canavosio and Riccardo Bocchino will again provide cover at scrum-half and fly-half from the bench.

Canavosio will no doubt be looking to build on his performance against the Scots, when he came on as a replacement to score the only try of the match, and Mallett is hoping the depth in his side can help lift them to their second win of the competition.

"It is great (that they have reached 10 caps), but it is not just about these two," said Mallett.

"You saw what Pablo could do coming off the bench. Plus there is Riccardo Bocchino, who is always ready to come on. So we have much more depth than before."

France: 15 Clement Poitrenaud, 14 Marc Andreu, 13 David Marty, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Julien Pierre, 4 Lionel Nallet, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Sebastien Chabal, 19 Alexandre Lapandry, 20 Dimitri Yachvili, 21 Mathieu Bastareaud, 22 Julien Malzieu.

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Andrea Masi, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Craig Gower, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Alessandro Zanni, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (c), 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Carlo Del Fava, 19 Paul Derbyshire, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Kaine Robertson.