Michael Robbins: Going France win by 15

Lys: the current England squad under Eddie Jones isn't too revolutionary. I hope to see Clifford and Itoje on the field soon!

Nick the traveller: "He's not a fan of the laptop" - Noves so clearly past it at 61. Bad luck France.

Thomas Castaignede
Former France international

Image source, AFP

"Now France have a new staff and new players. We had a lack of leadership in the World Cup. We need to forget the past and winning the Six Nations will be a good start for Guy Noves and his staff."

Toulon and Australia string-puller Matt Giteau is in the BBC pundit line-up.

He has changed from the fresh-faced sun-kissed Home and Away extra who was turning out for the Wallabies in 2002.

Image source, Getty Images

Italy: 15-David Odiete, 14. Leonardo Sarto, 13. Michele Campagnaro, 12. Gonzalo Garcia, 11. Mattia Bellini, 10. Carlo Canna, 9. Edoardo Gori; 1. Andrea Lovotti (Zebre), 2 Ornel Gega, 3. Lorenzo Cittadini, 4. George Fabio Biagi, 5. Marco Fuser, 6. Francesco Minto, 7. Alessandro Zanni, 8. Sergio Parisse

Replacements: 16. Davide Giazzon, 17. Matteo Zanusso, 18. Martin Castrogiovanni, 19. Valerio Bernabo, 20. Andries Van Schalkwyk, 21. Guglielmo Palazzani, 22. Kelly Haimona, 23. Luke McLean

Here's one for you. French wing Virimi Vakatawa, who starts today, does not play for a club.

He's contracted to the France Sevens side and has not played the XV-a-side version since he was with Racing Metro in 2013.

Image source, .

France: 15-Maxime Medard; 14-Hugo Bonneval, 13-Gael Fickou, 12-Jonathan Danty, 11-Virimi Vakatawa; 10-Jules Plisson, 9-Sebastien Bezy; 1-Eddy Ben Arous, 2-Guilhem Guirado (captain), 3-Rabah Slimani, 4-Paul Jedrasiak, 5-Yoann Maestri, 6-Wenceslas Lauret, 7-Damien Chouly, 8-Louis Picamoles,

Replacements: 16-Camille Chat, 17-Uini Atonio, 18-Jefferson Poirot, 19-Alexandre Flanquart, 20-Yacouba Camara, 21-Maxime Machenaud, 22-Jean-Marc Doussain, 23-Maxime Mermoz

Image source, Getty Images

Italy head coach Jacques Brunel: "We want to give a positive image of Italian rugby, we have started a process and we also want to continue on this road in this Six Nations."  

Image source, Getty Images

France head coach Guy Noves: "We have had to change everything.

"The message for the players is: don't just think of taking pleasure on the field, think about giving pleasure too.

"If they express their potential they will make the French public proud."

Image source, AP

The French Rugby Federation have opened up the Stade de France two hours before kick-off to allow fans extra time to clear security around the national stadium.

With less than half an hour until kick-off there are still some large blocks of empty seats.

Eddie Butler
BBC Rugby commentator

Image source, AFP

"This game has shadows. It is the first major event at the Stade de France since 30 November.

"On the field, barely worth a mention by comparison, the meeting between these teams struck a low point last year - a wary, weary rain-drenched contest in Rome between opponents afraid to reveal too much before they met in the same pool in the Rugby World Cup.

"Guy Noves, who has replaced Philippe Saint-Andre as coach, and his appointed captain, Guilhem Guirado of Toulon, have promised that France will be more enterprising.

"Jonathan Danty in the centre and Virimi Vakatawa, a wing plucked straight from the French sevens team, are anything but dull.

Image source, getty

No word yet on whether Tim Peake is tuning in for the day's opening game. 

Or if has some floaty sciencey stuff to do instead.

Anyway this how the opening day of the Six Nations rolls out:

14:25 GMT - France v Italy

16:50 GMT - Scotland v England

No whizz-bangs and jazz hands for messrs Guscott and Robertson.

They take the Six Nations seriously - seance-style serious.

This was them preparing to talk rugby to 5 live earlier today.

Jerry looks like he has lightened up a bit. He is on BBC One television coverage right now. You can watch by hitting the play button at the top of this page.

Image source, Getty Images

You will have to go some to beat Major Tim's vantage point, but we want to see where you are watching the action from today.

Over a post-match pint in your own clubhouse?

Feet up on the sofa?

Riding in the back of a tuktuk on Koh Phangan?

Take a snap and send it in.

#bbcsixnations, external is the Twitter hashtag, BBC Sport, external is the Facebook page and - if you wish to use the power of words rather than the shutter - 81111 is the number to text in on from UK phones.

Image source, PA

World Cup? Pah!

This year the Six Nations has plans on the solar system  

Major Tim Peake - floating in his tin can 400km above Earth - will be watching live as England take on Scotland later today. The BBC and European Space Agency have very kindly combined to beam live pictures to the International Space Station.

We hope he has paid his TV licence.

Image source, PA

"Ground Control to Major Tim,

"Take your protein shake and put your scrum cap on."

The Six Nations is about to blast off.