The slightly-built 26-year-old Toulouse goalkicking scrum-half added that while Galthie had obviously left quite a mark on the team he hoped to make his own in double quick time on his fifth appearance for les Tricolores.

Elissalde, the third from his family to be capped by France following his grandfather Laurent Bidart and father Jean-Pierre who amassed six caps between them, said while he was delighted to have beaten Dimitri Yachvili to the starting spot he knew that a lot of expectation had been placed on him.

"At the moment I am very happy, but I know that Saturday could bring a very different emotion," said Elissalde, who missed out on the World Cup squad after failing to impress against Wales in the Six Nations.

"I wasn't expecting to be selected as Dimitri had been Fabien's number two for most of the Six Nations last year and the World Cup but perhaps my performances for Toulouse and my partnership with (France fly-half) Frederic Michalak got me the nod."

Elissalde said that having failed to make his mark permanently since his debut back in 2000 he realised this was a massive test for him.

"This is an important stage of my career," admitted Elissalde, who came to rugby relatively late after playing football because he thought his small frame wouldn't cope with the more physical demands of rugby.

"It makes me a little frightened but I will shoulder the responsibility on Saturday and do my best to prove I was the right man for the job."

Elissalde was phlegmatic about whether his reborn international career would be as durable and as glittering as Galthie's - though the now retired scrum-half had to make several comebacks from injuries and falling out with his various coaches.

"I don't know," he said. "My career could be long or it could be short. I've had good times and bad ones in my career so I won't be making any bold predictions.

"Obviously Fabien had quite an influence over the team and leaves a huge gap but I hope that I can stamp my mark on them as well," he added.

French captain Fabien Pelous, who replaced Galthie as skipper after the World Cup, said his Toulouse team-mate's revival was down to him going back to the drawingboard when things didn't work out.

"He completely reinvented himself and has worked really hard to get back into the team, it has worked out for him and I am very pleased and proud for him," said Pelous.

Pelous and the rest of France will be considerably prouder of him should France prevail on Saturday and then Elissalde could be on course to become the first in his family to really enjoy a long and fruitful international career. AFP