Francesca Granzotto is set to start for Italy in the Women’s Six Nations opener against France, giving Exeter Chiefs Women another international name in the spotlight. The winger will wear number 11 when Italy travel to the Stade des Alpes in Grenoble for a 12: 25 BST kick-off this Saturday. France arrive with what captain Manae Feleu calls a new energy under head coach François Ratier.
Granzotto gets the nod for Italy
Exeter Chiefs Women’s winger Francesca Granzotto has been selected to start in Italy’s opening Women’s Six Nations fixture, a contest that gives the Azzurre an early chance to measure themselves against one of the competition’s most demanding opponents. The 24-year-old from Conegliano will take her place on the left wing after being named in the starting XV.
Granzotto has made nine appearances for Chiefs this season and scored three tries, including a standout effort against Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop. She has 24 caps for Italy and will make her 25th international appearance this weekend. Italy failed to score in their last meeting with France at her new home ground during last year’s Rugby World Cup, so this match carries added weight for the winger and her side.
France bring new energy into the Women’s Six Nations
France enter the Women’s Six Nations under fresh leadership, with François Ratier taking charge and captain Manae Feleu describing a clear lift around the group. Feleu, a 26-year-old lock and fifth-year medical student, said the squad has been encouraged by the arrival of the new head coach and staff.
“The dynamic is very nice; there’s a new energy, ” Feleu said. “The staff know exactly where they want to go, and that inspires a lot of confidence. We trust what they say because we feel they know the direction they are taking us in. ” Those comments frame France’s approach as they look to build momentum from the opening round.
Opening round pressure and familiar faces
The fixture in Grenoble is not just a season opener; it is also an early test of whether Italy can unsettle a French side intent on pushing forward under new guidance. For Granzotto, the stage is familiar in another sense: her return to France comes after a Rugby World Cup appearance that already gave her a first taste of life in Exeter against the same opponent.
Italy’s selection includes several established names across the squad, while Granzotto’s inclusion underlines her rise since joining Chiefs. The Women’s Six Nations begins with both teams carrying a clear narrative: Italy seeking a statement performance, and France aiming to show that the new energy can translate quickly onto the field.
What comes next
Saturday’s result will shape the early tone for both camps, especially for Italy as they try to make an immediate mark in the Women’s Six Nations. For Granzotto, the match is another chance to turn club form into international impact, and for France, it is the first major test of the new era they believe is beginning to take hold in the Women’s Six Nations.
