Since taking over from Marc Lièvremont, Saint-André has resurrected the tradition of a former player handing the shirts out to the team, and it was Roumat who received the honour ahead of the RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland.

While the game was eventually postponed due to the cold conditions in the French capital, with a decision on the rearranged date expected on Tuesday, Roumat revealed his pride at being chosen to hand over the jerseys.

And having played 18 times for Les Bleus under Saint-André’s captaincy, Roumat is adamant that there is no one better to take charge of France.

“He’s made to be a coach,” said Roumat who represented France on 61 occasions.

“When he became a coach his ambition was to get to the highest level. To coach the French national team has always been an ambition even if he didn’t always say it. I know in his head he thought about it.

“His training as a coach has made him [attentive to detail], especially his time with British clubs. He’s very professional, has worked at big clubs, been in Heineken Cup semi-finals and won the Premiership.

“He’s capable of analysing and knows that in the professional game everything is in the detail.

“It was a great honour for me to hand over the jerseys to the three second rows, Pascal Papé, Lionel Nallet and Yoann Maestri. It was an exceptional moment.”