Leinster's vintage crop a steadying hand for young guns

The French have always been partial to the grand, dramatic gesture and Fabien Galthié held true to that great tradition last week when sweeping the decks clean of old-timers and naming a Six Nations squad awash with youth.

Out went a stream of old campaigners and in came 19 players without a single test cap to their names. The armband was tossed, almost nonchalantly, to Toulon's Charles Ollivon who, while 26, has the grand total of 11 international appearances to his credit.