Homegrown talent and wise recruitment have taken Bordeaux to the brink of emulating Toulouse's success.
Fabien Galthie has named a 32-player initial France squad that will assemble at their Marcoussis training base this week, 19 of which are uncapped.
The aristocratic Top 14 side are stacked with superstars and will fancy their chances against a similarly star-studded Leinster side
Montpellier's brutal replacement of Richard Cockerill with a 'journeyman' underlines the Top 14's policy of hiring and firing coaches
The superstar's decision to forsake the Six Nations for Sevens has not been universally welcomed
The sad passing of enforcer Alain Esteve has brought into spotlight the reputation for thuggery in France in the 1970s
After narrow one-point wins over France and England, South Africa have proved a resolve that few can match
France head coach Fabien Galthie has admitted they must accept criticism for their recent coronavirus outbreak, but insisted zero risk does not exist after announcing his team to face England on Saturday.
Head coach Fabien Gathie has named his France team to take on Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday in the opening round of the Guinness Six Nations.