Outfought against Ireland at Croke Park last season, disastrous against England in a 34-10 hammering at Twickenham - France also demonstrated their qualities, putting 50 points on the Italians in Rome and pipping both Scotland and Wales at the Stade de France.

Inconsistency has dogged French performances in recent seasons. Good enough to beat New Zealand in June, they also saw off world champions South Africa in Marseille.

But it's their no-shows, like last season's Twickenham hammering that means Lievremont will be worried by trips to both Murrayfield and the Millennium Stadium during this season's tournament.

Lievremont is commonly accused of excessive tinkering - 70 players have won caps since he took over but it's the return of Mathieu Bastareaud at centre that has dominated the pre-match build-up.

Bastareaud regains his place after lying about being assaulted in New Zealand in June, with full-back Clement Poitrenaud, wing Aurelien Rougerie and flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo also returning to the side.

But Lievremont will be missing the suspended Julien Dupuy, plus the injured Damien Traille, Maxime Mermoz, Romain Millo-Chluski and Fabien Barcella.

Inconsistency is also a problem for Scotland boss Andy Robinson as the former England international looks to end a terrible recent runs of results for his side.

Its four years since Scotland finished third in the 2006 RBS 6 Nations and have collected just three wins in 15 attempts since - a thoroughly depressing statistic for the Murrayfield faithful.

A morale-boosting 9-8-win against Australia at Murrayfield in November was followed by a disastrous 9-6 loss against Argentina just a week later.

And with trips to Wales, Italy and Ireland - Robinson knows he will be hard-pressed to improve on recent woeful performances.

Like Lievremont, Robinson has been forced to shuffle his pack - with Scotland's record point's scorer Chris Paterson recalled for his 99th cap.

Glasgow centres Max Evans and Graeme Morrison, Gloucester prop Alasdair Dickinson and Glasgow flankers Kelly Brown and John Barclay also return for Robinson's newlook Scotland.