France vs Italy Preview & Prediction | 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup | Pool Stage

Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

It’s another meeting between Six Nations rivals as France and Italy begin their respective Women’s World Cup campaigns in Exeter.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – CBS Sports

How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport Website & app / US – Paramount+

France vs Italy prediction

Women’s World Cup ever-presents France enter the tournament as the fourth-ranked nation, but their hopes of going all the way have been tempered a little after a 40-6 defeat at home to tournament hosts England in a recent warm-up match.

La Bleue have finished in third place on seven of their nine appearances at the tournament, including the most recent event staged in 2022 when they agonisingly lost by a single point to eventual winners New Zealand in the semi-finals.

Italy enjoyed their best finish at a World Cup three years ago when they reached the quarter-finals, but it was France who halted their run on that occasion. Indeed, they have lost to their European rivals a number of times in recent years, although their most recent Six Nations affair in April was one of the more competitive matches.

France’s physicality causes most teams serious problems, and although Italy are undoubtedly an improving side, you have to fancy the French to make a winning start here.

France vs Italy tip: France to win with -15 handicap