Guy Novès is the most successful coach in the history of European club rugby but last Saturday marked something completely new as he got his first taste of the international stage.
The new France boss saw his side battle to a narrow 23-21 victory over Italy in the opening game of the RBS 6 Nations at the Stade de France, and they will be back at the Parisian stadium this Saturday to face defending champions Ireland.
Read Accenture analyst Nick Mallett on the RBS 6 Nations
The stadium itself is nothing new for Novès, whose Toulouse side won five Top 14 titles and a European cup at the Stade de France.
Preparing for Test rugby is completely different, but Novès explained that the key for him was to avoid showing the emotion of the occasion to his players ahead of kick-off. “Well the Stade de France, I know it well because I have played a lot of finals there with my club,” he said.
“To play, to take part in an RBS 6 Nations match, you can imagine that I will experience stress. Positive stress, I hope.
“But it is a bit like asking a surgeon when he is at work, are you emotional? We have a responsibility, we have a duty, an example to give. I have to give strength to the players.
“You cannot give strength to the players when you are emotional. The emotion will come later, far away from the cameras.”
With a first win under their belts, France will be looking to build on that and pick up a first win against Ireland since 2011.
Their last meeting came at the Rugby World Cup, where Ireland were victorious in their pool decider, while the Irish also won the last clash in Paris, when Brian O’Driscoll signed off his international career with a win.
However Novès explained that his aim is not only to win, but also to show the French team can enjoy themselves while winning.
“What is your objective? Is it to win? Is it to give an excellent performance? Is it to give hope?” he added.
“To build match after match, after a victory, a loss. To know that you can evolve. I think it’s a bit of everything. My first objective, obviously, is to win. But I would like to win while enjoying it.”
Click here for the complete 2016 RBS 6 Nations fixture list with TV coverage
