FRANCE TAKE GAMBLE ON VAKATAWA

FRANCE begin their new era today, with Guy Noves taking charge in the tournament opener — but winger Virimi Vakatawa could steal the headlines against Italy. The 23-year-old Fijian-born Frenchman has starred for his adopted country on the Sevens circuit but has not played a game of XVs since December 2013, and makes his debut this afternoon. Centre Jonathan Danty, scrum-half Sebastien Bezy and lock Paul Jedrasiak are the other uncapped starters but Vakatawa is the man to watch in Paris. And former Toulouse boss Noves, 62, is happy to take a gamble against theAzzurri. He said ‘We know he has his shortcomings — he has yet to fully get a grip on his role — but the sooner we play him, the better. ‘We can’t know how things will go down on Saturday, but given the circumstances, Virimi’s potential, the fact that he is a big prospect for the future, we want to see him in real game conditions rather than believing in him, hoping he could be great but never giving him the opportunity. ‘This is not a matter of chance, but a matter of choice. I don’t want to wait three years to make some experiments. ‘I don’t have any experience at international level, but I do have some in the Top 14, and I know that when a young player has the potential to play, you need to have him play.’ Noves will be hoping Vakatawa (left) can fire France out of the Six Nations doldrums this year. HOW THEY LINE UP: FRANCE: Medard; Bonneval, Fickou, Danty, Vakatawa; Plisson, Bezy; Ben Arous, Guirado

(capt), Slimani; Jedrasiak, Maestri; Lauret, Chouly, Picamoles. Subs: Chat, Atonio, Poirot, Flanquart, Camara, Machenaud, Doussain, Mermoz.

ITALY: Odiete; Sarto, Campagnaro, Garcia, Bellini; Canna, Gori; Lovotti, Gega, Cittadini; Biagi, Fuser; Minto, Zanni, Parisse (capt). Subs: Giazzon, Zanusso, Castrogiovanni, Bernabo, van Schalkwyk, Palazzani, Haimona, McLean. Referee: JP Doyle (England). Kick-off: 2.45pm today at Stade de France. TV and

radio: LIVE on BBC One from 1.30pm.