Les Bleus impressive displays during their autumn programme, when they produced wins over Australia, Canada, Tonga and South Africa, have seen France installed as favourites to win this years RBS 6 Nations.

However, winning the RBS 6 Nations is not the only goal for Laporte - he also wants to create a squad capable of walking off with the next World Cup.

The Six Nations is a great competition and we want to win it, said Laporte before outlining his plans for the future.

We want to see as many players as possible but we also want to win the tournament by lining up the best team.

All the matches are important but we must be capable of establishing an almost definite 40-man (World Cup) squad by the autumn.

France, who finished second last year behind Wales, will start their RBS 6 Nations campaign in Scotland on February 5.

Fabien Pelous looks set to lead the side at Murrayfield after the captain was included in Laportes squad having served his nine-week suspension for elbowing an Australian opponent during the November 5 Test in Marseille.

Winger Christophe Dominici and full-back Nicolas Brusque are also back in contention for a place in the side, while fly-half Benjamin Boyet is set for his debut.

Laporte added: When naming the squad to face Scotland, we took into account the players who did well in November but also those who are playing well with their respective teams.

We are also very happy to welcome back Fabien (Pelous) after he paid for his bad gesture.

The good thing about his absence during November is that we realised we could play and win without him.

But he remains our captain and we are proud of him.