France without banned Baby

Bernard Laporte's France were without rising star Benoit Baby as they attempted to upset the odds and retain their RBS 6 Nations title at a sold-out Stadio Flaminio.

Coach Laporte had hoped to keep the same side that defeated Ireland last time out but Baby, who was named man of the match on what was his France debut in Dublin, was this week handed a four-week ban for head-butting Brian O’Driscoll.

Therefore, Perpignan centre David Marty was drafted in for a game France needed to win convincingly to have any chance of being crowned Six Nations champions for a second successive year.

The contest also had ramifications at the other end of the table, where winless Italy were seeking to avoid the wooden spoon.

Coach John Kirwan made three changes to the team that lost 39-7 to England in their previous outing.

Second row Santiago Dellape replaced Carlo-Antonio Del Fava, Treviso centre Simon Picone played in place of Matteo Barbini while winger Kaine Robertson was also drafted in, with Roberto Pedrazzi dropped to the bench.