Ibanez urges France players to show character

Stand-in captain Raphael Ibanez believes France will need “character” if they are to get their RBS 6 Nations Championship campaign off to a winning start in Italy this weekend.

Les Bleus begin the defence of their crown against a team who are regular ’wooden-spoonists’ in the tournament, but who many people acknowledge are beginning to find their feet in the international arena.

The Azzurri claimed just one point in last year’s tournament. But they did run England and Ireland close and were more than a match for the French in the first half of their clash at the Stade de France.

With France head coach Bernard Laporte picking an experimental team for the opening game of the tournament on Saturday, Ibanez knows it will be far from easy at the Stadio Flaminio.

“Italy have a team that is progressing match by match – the November Tests are testimony to that,” said the Wasps hooker, who will lead Les Bleus in the absence of Fabien Pelous – the regular captain who is out with an ankle injury.

“The first match of the tournament, away from home and against a team who are difficult to play against, will demand a lot of character on our part.

“We know what to expect against a pack of strong forwards and a team who are still experimenting

“We will not be surprised by them – but we must raise the level of our game.”

France struggled in their three home November Tests, losing twice convincingly to the all-conquering All Blacks and scraping to a 27-26 win over Argentina.

With his squad gathering for the first time last weekend, Laporte has not had long to prepare his players.

Ibanez, therefore, is demanding his colleagues get the basics right.

“Everything isn’t going to be perfect against Italy, but we must compensate for our difficulties by sheer determination,” he added.

“We have a lot of work to do in this tournament, notably on the simple things.

“We will try this week to get back to the things we know. There are also things to rectify in our attacking game.”

Key to that attacking game will be sniping scrum-half Pierre Mignoni, who has been selected to bring more dynamism in the half-back department alongside Stade Francais fly-half David Skrela.

Mignoni has often had to play third fiddle behind Dimitri Yachvili and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, whose ability to act as a kicker gives them a distinct advantage.

But with Skrela being a specialist kicker, the Clermont-Auvergne star has been given the nod and is excited about his latest chance in the international arena.

“David Skrela is kicker, and I have been selected for my dynamic qualities,” he told L’Equipe.

“I would like to earn the confidence of Bernard Laporte so I can play in two consecutive matches. I know that if I play well, I will be back – and if I don’t, I will be dropped. I have to be myself.”