France centre Damien Traille admits he has something to prove when he takes his place in the centre for tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations match with Italy at the Stade de France.

Bernard Laporte reckons the winner of Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final between France and Ireland will be outsiders to win the Webb Ellis Cup – but he does not believe there is much in it.

France have been hit by a further injury blow in the run-up to this autumn’s World Cup after centre Tony Marsh was forced to pull out of their upcoming August friendlies against Romania and England with a calf injury.