The Six Nations tournament kicks off this Saturday with the opening match between Italy and France, scheduled for 3.15 p.m.

The Blues hope to shine and win the competition that has eluded them since 2010, but it remains threatened by the Covid-19 epidemic which is raging across the continent.

The XV of France has studiously prepared its entry into a Six Nations tournament still threatened by the coronavirus epidemic.

Against Italy, at 3:15 pm, the Blues begin the conquest of a first title since 2010. The fact that the competition begins is already, in itself, a "small miracle", assures a member of the Organizing Committee of the tournament winter.

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The composition of the team could give headaches to coach Fabien Galthié.

Three holders are injured: Virimi Vakatawa, Romain Ntamack, François Cros.

Usual replacements - Camille Chat, Demba Bamba, Thomas Ramos - are also forfeited.

Above all, the virus still lurks: the second line Thomas Lavault could not integrate the cocoon of the Alpes-Maritimes after a positive test.

And the contaminations in the ranks of the Toulouse Stadium, a major supplier of internationals, raised fears of the worst.

Sanitary bubble

Faced with the pandemic, the financial stakes seem to have weighed heavily for each of the six federations involved.

Indeed, a participation ensures a minimum gain of 17 million euros.

A sum difficult to refuse in the context of a global economic crisis in the world of sport.

To limit the risks, each team had to lock themselves in a health bubble implying a ban on leaving the hotel for the two weeks preceding the match and several PCR tests per week.

The size of the groups has been reduced from 42 to 31 players.

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"It's very formal", judges the back Brice Dulin, who explains: "We must wear the mask even in common areas, we are prohibited from leaving the hotel, we must only go to training in a bus to continue working normally. "

But this health bubble is not really one.

Between matches, players will return to their clubs, see their families and are therefore likely to be infected.

The tournament which will begin is already hanging by a thread.