France's coach Philippe Saint-Andre insists his team have vastly improved from recent Six Nations disappointments as they prepare to face Italy in their Rugby World Cup 2015 opener on Saturday.
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Saint-Andre said: "[We are] Much, much better. Much, much better, I think we show it already in the warm-up games so I feel that, you know we have been in preparations since 5th July, 6th July and the team is ready, the team is much, much fitter and we have much more habit to play together. And now we're looking forward to this first game against Italy and it's all the time tough.
"Yeah, I think [Italy will be different at the World Cup] because I have the feeling that all the teams are ready. Maybe New Zealand but the rest I don't think so. It's a big match between the second (ranked) team in the world and the 12th team in the world so I think all the teams will be tough and it will be about small details so we're looking forward to playing this game. I have been waiting for this for four years, we are there, we must arrive with a smile on our face and to play our level."
