AFP - Clermont duo Vincent Debaty and Wesley Fofana were the only surprise inclusions as new France coach Philippe Saint-Andre relied heavily on experience for Saturday's Six Nations opener against Italy in Stade de France.

Saint-Andre, the 44-year-old who succeeded Marc Lievremont, included 17 members of the squad who finished runners-up to New Zealand in the World Cup final last October in his 22-man squad named on Tuesday.

"We have enormous respect for the Italians, their team and Jacques Brunel (coach) whose competences we are aware of," said Saint-Andre, referring to France's shock loss to the Italians in their Six Nations clash in Rome last year.

"I can feel there is a slight air of revenge among those who were on the pitch in 2011 in Italy," said the France coach.

"They want to try and turn the clock back knowing that it's going to be very complicated because it's a team that has made big, big progress."

The France squad includes nine players who participated in the historic 22-21 defeat to Italy.

"The aim is to get a good start in the Six Nations. We're going to focus and do all we can to win this first match in front of our public in Stade de France."

"It's an experienced team with a large base of World Cup players and with youngsters with a lot of potential such as Debaty on the left, well backed up by (Nicolas) Mas, (William) Servat and (Pascal) Pape, and also Fofana, who is used to working in the centre with (Aurelien) Rougerie," said Saint-Andre.

It will be the first call-up for 24-year-old Fofana who can play at centre or wing and was preferred to Toulouse's Yoann Maestri who drops to the replacements bench. Fofana will link up in the centre with Clermont captain Rougerie.

"He's the only player who kept his place at his club with the return of the World Cup players," explained Saint-Andre of Fofana. "He will be surrounded by experienced players. We've given him a chance, it's up to him to seize it."

Prop Debaty, 30, gets his second call-up after playing against Romania during the Bernard Laporte-era in 2006, while Clermont winger Julien Malzieu returns for the first time since June 2010.

"We have very few French props. He's (Debaty) 1.88 metres, 123kg, he moves well and is capable of hitting hard. He has the build of a top level player," said Saint-Andre.

Montpellier fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc, who played mostly a replacement's role during the World Cup, returns to first choice line-up, where he will link up with Biarritz's Dimitri Yachvili, who was preferred over Morgan Parra.

Number eight Louis Picamoles got the nod ahead of Imanol Harinordoquy.

Favourites France kick-off their Six Nations campaign with two home ties and after Italy next meet Ireland on February 11.

France squad:

Maxime Medard (Toulouse); Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Julien Malzieu (Clermont); Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Dmitri Yachvili (Biarritz); Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt); Lionel Nallet (Racing-Metro), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais); Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), William Servat (Toulouse), Vincent Debaty (Clermont)

Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Francais), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse), Maestri (Toulouse), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Lionel Beauxis (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan)