France release six players with Tuilagi reportedly set for first start

France have released six players back to their clubs as Fabien Galthie's squad gear towards their clash with Italy in Lille on Sunday in round three of the Guinness Six Nations.

Three forwards and three backs have returned to their clubs for the latest round of Top 14 action. Agen prop Alex Burin, Bordeaux-Begles No8 Marko Gazzotti and Toulon lock Matthias Halagahu are the three forwards, while Bordeaux-Begles centre Nicolas Depoortere, Pau centre Emilien Gailleton and Toulouse wing Matthis Lebel are the three backs.

Elsewhere in the squad, French outlet Midi Olympique are reporting that 19-year-old lock Posolo Tuilagi is in line to make his first start for France at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

After starting on the bench against Ireland and Scotland in the opening two rounds of the Championship, the son of Henry Tuilagi is poised to partner Cameron Woki in the second-row.

Tuilagi was not even originally selected in France's Six Nations squad, but a series of injuries and suspensions to his fellow second-rows has seen the 149kg forward swiftly rise through the ranks over the past month.

After an opening round loss to Ireland in Marseille, France bounced back in round two with a narrow win over Scotland at Murrayfield which came down to a much-discussed TMO decision at the death. The win came at a price though, with captain Gregory Alldritt now unavailable for this weekend's match after injuring his leg.

Italy, meanwhile, have suffered back-to-back defeats- narrowly to England 27-24 in round one in Rome and a slightly more comprehensive 36-0 loss to Ireland in round three.

With Manu Tuilagi available for England this week as they face Scotland in the Calcutta Cup on Saturday, we are edging closer to a meeting between Manu and his nephew Posolo in round five of the Championship in Lyon.