■FRANCE are desperate to get their hands on the title again after a disappointing third-place finish last season.
They improved steadily through the year to make it to the semi-finals of the World Cup in August, where they fell to England. They begin against Ireland in Toulouse and having won the title in 2014 and 2016, France captain Gaelle Hermet said: “It was a boost to do well at the World Cup because it gave us confidence.
“However it was also a frustration as we really wanted to win it – we really want to win the Six Nations this year.”

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