Italy will be the first team to test out France’s new coach and captain combination and Jacques Brunel believes the pressure will be on Les Bleus.
The Azzurri travel to Paris for the opening weekend of the 2016 RBS Nations to face a new-look France outfit, coached by Guy Noves and captained by Guilhem Guirado.
Last year’s Championship saw France finish fourth, with two wins to their name, while Brunel’s side beat Scotland at BT Murrayfield to finish fifth in the table.
And the Italy head coach is eyeing up an early scalp in this year’s edition at the Stade de France.
“I have known Guy for a long time and he is an experienced club coach and the game is the same,” he said.
“A team is a team and what changes is the context and the timing is very different so he might want to give his own style but he will have to deliver what is expected of him at national level.”
New era for France
As for Guirado, the 29-year-old hooker will succeed Thierry Dusautoir as France captain and while Brunel was not expecting the appointment, he believes Les Bleus have found a worthy leader.
He added: “If I said I wasn’t surprised that Guilhem was appointed captain then I would be lying but I have been following his career.
“I have seen how well he has developed and he has made a lot of progress and he has moved to another club and is playing for the national team.
“It is a great honour for him to be captain and I am delighted for him because he is a very kind and a very nice guy.”
Click here for TV coverage and the full fixture list for the 2016 RBS 6 Nations
