French public demand panache

If the French president Francois Hollande has been sweating under the pressure of public scrutiny over the last couple of weeks, it is nothing to that felt by Phillipe Saint-Andre.

After watching his side collect just two wins last year, against Scotland in the Six Nations and Tonga in November, he desperately needs a good tournament.

“There is a lot of pressure on France after last year, it is a lot tighter,” says former back row forward Olivier Magne alluding to the metaphoric noose around Saint-Andre’s neck.