Yachvili tips Serin to make scrum-half jersey his own

Baptiste Serin has all the necessary attributes to make the scrum-half jersey his own with France in the coming years, says Dimitri Yachvili.

Serin was named as Guy Noves’ starting number nine for last weekend’s narrow Six Nations defeat to England after a breakthrough 2016.

Former Les Bleus star Yachvili, who now works as a pundit for beIN Sports, knows what it takes to succeed at the top level having earned 61 caps for France between 2002 and 2012.

And the 36-year-old has tipped the Bordeaux-Begles scrum-half to shine.

Speaking to Omnisport, he said: “I like his game, I like his skills. He’s an intuitive scrum-half. 

“I like this kind of player because for a few years, we saw in France a big scrum-half with a big physique, but now we come back to a more intuitive scrum-half with a very good kick, very good skills and good speed of pass. 

“I think he has a good future and it’s very good news for French rugby.

“He can be a very good scrum-half for France, but you know a career is very hard. Sometimes you have injuries, sometimes you can live some difficult moments. 

“He has maybe to play more with Bordeaux, to play high-level games with Bordeaux like Champions Cup games. He is a worker, he likes to work, so I think he can be the next scrum-half for France.”

France were 19-16 losers to England at Twickenham last weekend and Yachvili expects Eddie Jones’ men to retain their title, claiming Les Bleus are realistically aiming for third place.

“For France, I hope we will beat Scotland. We have to beat Italy and the last game against Wales,” he added. 

“I think it’s going to be very hard for us in Ireland. I think and I hope we will finish around the third place, which means it will be quite a good Six Nations for us. 

“England, I think, will win the Six Nations this year because they are still a good team even if they didn’t play very well last weekend for 60 minutes. I think they will be very dangerous.”

Dimitri Yachvili will be among the former internationals competing in the Tournoi des 6 Stations [The 6 Stations Tournament] on the snow in the French Alps from February 13-19. For more information on the event visit www.tournoides6stations.com/anglais