France captain Thierry Dusautoir hailed the newcomers to the team after their convincing win over Italy on Saturday, saying they have a large part in deciding France's rugby future.

New coach Philippe Saint-Ander made a few crucial changes to the side that finished as runners-up at the World Cup last year and Dusatoir believes that the new eneergy has energised the squad.

"It's a new adventure that's kicking off," the Ivory Coast-born flank said. "We know very well that the players who played are opening up the way for a new-look squad. We saw that the young players enjoyed good games, especially Wesley [Fofona] with the great try he scored.

"We're there to pen this adventure and we're focused short term on the Six Nations," said the French skipper.

Fofana crossed for his first international try after veteran wing Vincent Clerc had also touched down.

The Toulouse player barely touched the ball all night but scored a try after a Francois Trinh-Duc chip and chase, aided by Aurelien Rougerie's knee, that saw him equal the newly-installed coach as the second highest try scorer for France.

Clerc's try was his 32nd in 58 international appearances, drawing him level with ex-wing Philippe Saint-Andre, still four short of legendary fullback Serge Blanco, who notched up 38 tries in 93 Tests between 1980-91.

"I'd like to congratulate Vincent Clerc, he's caught me up and is now the second highest try scorer in (French) rugby history," said Saint-Andre.

"I'm sorry for Serge Blanco but I'm going to carry on picking him so he beats his record!" he quipped.

Clerc was his usual cool self when asked about his try-scoring feats.

"I didn't think at all about this record. I didn't run out on the pitch thinking about beating it, that would be defeating the object. If things happen, they happen, I'm not making it a top objective for me," he said.

AFP