Guy Noves: France will improve after ‘starting from the bottom’

France head coach Guy Noves will seek considerable improvements from his new team’s opening RBS 6 Nations win over Italy as he prepares for this Saturday’s visit of defending champions Ireland.

Noves’s description of his side’s 23-21 win over the Italians at Stade de France as “interesting” hinted at detachment, but Ireland can bank on the veteran coach being very hands on in the build-up to the Six Nations clash in Paris.

For the former Toulouse boss, taking charge of the national side at the age of 62 was always going to be a labour of love, and given the parlous state of the French squad after a miserable World Cup, he has made it clear that there will be no overnight success for Les Bleus.