France vs. Italy: Date, Live Stream, TV Info, 6 Nations 2016 Preview

The Stade de France will host a continental collision on Saturday as France and Italy open the 2016 RBS Six Nations with the hopes of claiming an early lead in the standings.

These two teams have competed for the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy since 2007, but Les Bleus have been the dominant party in their meetings since, triumphing in seven of the nine contests.

Azzurri head coach Jacques Brunel is now the second-most experienced of the existing Six Nations coaches, with Wales chief Warren Gatland the only one of the six tacticians boasting more involvement in the tournament.

Marco Vasini/Associated Press

On the other hand, Guy Noves is coming into his first competition at the French helm, and the home fans will be holding their breath in unison to see what he brings to the national team.

Read on for a match preview of Saturday's curtain-raiser, not to mention all of the vital viewing information for the clash in Paris.

Date: Saturday, February 6

Time: 2:25 p.m. GMT/9:25 a.m. ET

Live Stream: BBC Sport website (UK), beIN Sports Connect (AU)

TV Info: BBC One (UK), beIN Sports (AU)

The Toulouse Connection

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Following a 22-year stay at the Stade Ernest-Wallon, Noves takes France into a Six Nations tournament in what will surely prove to be a treacherous endeavor for the newly appointed international coach.

With a new coach at their helm and a new captain in the form of hooker Guilhem Guirado, Les Bleus are trying to recapture the glory days of old, and Rugby World's Gavin Mortimer was full of praise for the coach's "bold" selection:

"

Have to admire Guy Noves for the boldness of his selections. Who would have thought it would be Eddie Jones criticised for his conservatism?

— gavin mortimer (@gavinmortimer7) February 1, 2016"

Of the 31 players in the squad, 11 are yet to be capped at the international level, while Noves has also ensured there's a strong link to his club roots, including seven players from Toulouse.

English fly-half Toby Flood played under Noves during his last season at the Toulouse helm, and he believes the coach can inject a new lease of life into the French national team, per ESPN Scrum's Tristan Barclay:

"

As a bloke, [Noves] is very astute. He's talked in the past about wanting to bring some of the attacking flair back to French rugby. That's something the French have always been renowned for and it's something he always did with his Toulouse teams before. It's a real passion for him, to reproduce that style of rugby.

"

It's a team of huge potential that lingered in limbo for the majority of Philippe Saint-Andre's reign as coach, and Rugby World's Paul Williams is full of anticipation for what Noves can do with the assets at his disposal:

"

Can't wait for the #6Nations

Particularly looking forward to seeing how Scotland have progressed and what Noves can achieve with France

— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) January 20, 2016"

Of the Toulouse stars selected, veterans Louis Picamoles, Yoann Maestri and Maxime Medard are likely to play prominent roles, while 15-times capped starlet Gael Fickou may now get the chance to prove himself.

Noves will need to be fair and impartial when selecting his best squad, but it could be that his wisdom in Toulouse comes to benefit a select few in particular.

Sergio Parisse: Italy's Ol' Reliable

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The Six Nations just won't be the same once Italy phenomenon Sergio Parisse finally takes his leave of the national team, but for now, rugby fans can delight in one of the world's finest taking the stage once again.

The Stade Francais man will come up against a familiar face in the form of fellow Top 14 No. 8 Picamoles on Saturday, and Rugby Tonight previewed what promises to be an epic head-to-head between the pair:

Parisse has long been a staple of the Azzurri XV, and Simon Thomas of Wales Online highlighted the evergreen nature with which he's led his troops into battle:

The Argentina-born wrecking-ball was unfortunately limited in terms of the impact he could have at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but Italy will hope to have their star fit and ready for the duration of the Six Nations.

It's hardly surprising, either, as Brunel's side instantly give off a more confident and finished aura with their leading No. 8 present, and Parisse again takes to the Six Nations spotlight with a nation's hopes on his shoulders.