Captain Lionel Nallet has backed France's new generation to shine in the Six Nations.
Skipper backs Lievremont's decision to omit World Cup veterans
Captain Lionel Nallet has backed France's new generation to shine in the forthcoming Six Nations tournament.
Coach Mark Lievremont's first squad announcement last week raised a few eyebrows, with props Julien Brugnaut and Lionel Faure, lock Arnaud Mela, scrum-half Morgan Parra, fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc and winger Julien Malzieu all receiving first call-ups.
World Cup players Sebastien Chabal, Pierre Mignoni, Jerome Thion, Clement Poitrenaud and David Marty have all been left out, but Nallet insists the newcomers will vindicate their selection.
"I know them, I play against them, and they don't come from nowhere," Nallet told L'Equipe.
"I have confidence in them, they've done very well for their clubs and I don't see why they wouldn't be good with France."
Charismatic
The 31-year-old Castres lock is confident his leadership style will be as successful as that of the charismatic Raphael Ibanez, who retired from international rugby in January after leading Les Bleus to the semi-finals at last year's World Cup.
"There is no particular pressure being captain," Nallet said. "Everyone is attentive, and everyone works well.
"I am not somebody who speaks much, who will make great speeches. I never was, and I never will be, and it is not something that is demanded of me.
"I am there to point out the essentials, the basics of rugby, so that everyone in the squad keeps that at the front of their minds.
"There is no reason why that should change. Above all, I play for France. And to start with I prefer being irreproachable on and off the pitch, so that the others follow this example."
