France captain Ollivon does not expect Saracens’ troubles to impact England

Saracens’ troubles will not make facing England in the Six Nations any easier, according to France captain Charles Ollivon.

France kick-start their Six Nations campaign against the Rugby World Cup finalists on February 2 at the Stade de France.

Six players who appeared in England’s defeat to South Africa in Japan play for Premiership champions Saracens, who will be relegated at the end of the season due to a breach of salary cap rules.

Elliot Daly, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Mako Vunipola, Billy Vunipola – who will miss the Six Nations due to a broken arm – and captain Owen Farrell are all regulars under Eddie Jones, yet Ollivon is not expecting any uncertainty over their club futures to impact their performances for England.

“You have to remember that England is the second-best team in the world, so I’m not sure whether it is the best time to play against them or not,” Ollivon, who has been appointed as France captain for the tournament, told reporters.

“In any case, for us it will be our first game and we want to be able to perform. We want to be there and meet the expectations and get started with the championship.

“We have been preparing for it since the end of the World Cup so we’re eager to get on with it.”

It’s been a busy one this morning at our #GuinnessSixNations launch!

Welcome and good luck to the FOUR first-time #GuinnessSixNations captains with us today!  pic.twitter.com/aQyQI6Wnvt

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) January 22, 2020

France’s initial 42-man squad includes 19 uncapped players, with coach Fabien Galthie already casting an eye to the 2023 World Cup, which will take place on home soil.

“It’s a young team both in terms of age and caps,” Galthie said.

“We have a two-fold vision, we have a four-year vision and then we have a shorter-term vision with the England squad for February 2.

“It’s a squad that we’ll have to quickly gear up to be able to perform and also to be able to raise the bar and the standards.”

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