France rugby union head coach Fabien Galthié warned his players of a likely backlash from Italy on Friday following their humiliating 96-17 loss to New Zealand last week.
France need to beat Italy at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon to secure a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Galthié's men have won all three of their matches in Group A. But after New Zealand's 73-0 romp past Uruguay on Thursday night, should Italy win, the Italians will qualify in second place.
“We’re going up against a wounded team," said Galthié who anointed Charles Ollivon as skipper in the absence of the injured Antoine Dupont.
"We’re expecting a very strong reaction from the Italians," Galthié added.
"They’ve made some changes and some players are back in the starting line-up. They have everything to gain.”
France have won 44 of the 47 Test matches played between the sides. Italy's last victory came in Rome during the 2013 Six Nations tournament.
Change
"We've no doubt that Italy won’t play the same way as they did against New Zealand," said Ollivon who will captain the side for the first time since leading the team out against Japan in November 2022 in Toulouse.
“We expect a lot of commitment from them in the first 20 minutes but it’s up to us to be consistent for 80 minutes," he added. "It’s going to be a tough game.”
Italy head coach, Kieran Crowley, conceded the past week had been spent rebuilding the confidence of his players who had been tipped to cause an upset against New Zealand on 29 September.
"We said to the guys that one game doesn't define you, just like one bad article doesn't define a reporter, or one good article doesn't define you.
"It's exactly the same in sport. One bad performance doesn't define you. If you have three, four, five of them, then that defines you."
Restoration
Crowley, who is set to leave Italy after the tournament, added: "We gave up 10 tries to set-plays which is something we've never done before.
"Your confidence is knocked and how do you regain that? Well, by getting back to the process and having self-belief."
France's depth of talent and resilience will come under scrutiny during the clash. Maxime Lucu will play instead of Dupont at scrum-half and will link up with his Bordeaux teammate Matthieu Jalibert who will start at fly-half.
“When you play or train with someone every day, you get to know them," said Lucu who will win his 18th cap.
"I’ve played a lot with Matthieu at Bordeaux. We get on really well and spend a lot of time together so bonds are formed. Starting alongside each other is a big deal for both of us.”
After Dupoont was injured in the match against Namibia, Lucu replaced him and France racked up another 42 points in the 96-0 victory.
Role
“My game is different to Antoine’s," Lucu added. "So there’s no comparison.
"I’ve been trying to manage the expectation, the pressure and the role I have to play.
“The scrum half and fly half have an important role to play in getting the team going and applying the strategy. The game managers have to be good, and on Friday I have to be good in those areas."
Should France win and top the group, they will play on 15 october at the Stade de France against the runner-up in Group B which will be decided on Saturday night when Ireland face Scotland.
Both teams as well as South Africa can qualify for the last eight.
