France are ready for a huge England reaction when they face off at the Stade de France in their Guinness Six Nations opener on Sunday.
Eddie Jones’ side enter the Championship off the back of reaching the World Cup final, and the England coach has already spoken of putting France’s young team under pressure in Paris.
Les Bleus are starting a new era under coach Fabien Galthié, with 20 uncapped players in their 42-man squad.
And for prop Jefferson Poirot, one of the most experienced players in the squad, France will have to be ready for a ferocious battle.
He said: “Knowing the English, I’m expecting a big reaction. An immense reaction. We cannot forget: this is the next game for them. But for us too.
“We came back from the World Cup angry and I feel like we have evolved, thankfully. We realised everything we got wrong in the past and we have this plan to have a strong set-piece again.”
Galthié has taken over the top job with a new coaching team that includes former Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards.
And at a training camp in Nice, the squad have been put through their paces, with fly-half Romain Ntamack hoping that hard work will pay off on Sunday.
He added: “It’s difficult, we’re working hard on the pitch and in the gym. Even in the video sessions. There is a lot of work being done. But it’s good. That is how we have to train to compete with the best. We had been warned so it has not come as a surprise. Everyone is getting into line and has the same objective, it bodes well.”
