France expect a much improved Scotland
New Zealander Vern Cotter seen as making all the difference as coach
Scotland have beaten France only once in their last 15 clashes and last won in Paris in 1999, but under New Zealander Vern Cotter, their hosts to Saturday's match are expecting a much improved challenge.
Having dominated the early internationals between the two countries - winning 14 of the first 20 - Scotland have found France the toughest team to beat in the Six Nations since winning the final Five Nations championship before Italy joined the party.
In the 15 years of Six Nations rugby, Scotland have three wins against each of England, Wales and Ireland - nine against Italy - but just the one against the French.
What flashes the red light in certain areas when your team is playing against them, is the way they've improved in all the details around the contact
Yet France's South African-born scrum-half Rory Kockott, who will make his first start for Les Bleus following three substitute appearances in November, believes the Scots will be a different proposition under former Clermont boss Cotter.
"Certainly Vern has brought a whole lot of detail to their game that has been a benefit to their performances," said the Castres halfback.
"They won five of the last seven [matches] and what flashes the red light in certain areas when your team is playing against them, is the way they've improved in all the details around the contact.
"It's something Vern's brought to them and a great aspect of their game that they're very good at."
Having had a dismal Six Nations in 2014, with only a last-minute Duncan Weir drop goal in Rome seeing them avoid the wooden spoon at Italy's expense, Scotland have since won five from their last seven matches, losing only to the top two sides in the world - New Zealand and South Africa.
However, they were thrashed 55-6 in Port Elizabeth in June and a second-string All Blacks side triumphed 24-16 at Murrayfield in November, while their five wins included success against relative minnows Tonga, Canada and the United States.
Even so, France fullback Scott Spedding, another South African import, said he was expecting a stern test from the Scots.
France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has picked 12 of the players who started their November victories over Fiji and Australia, while Cotter has made only two changes to the side that defeated Tonga 37-12 in their last test.
However, three players - fly-half Finn Russell, centre Mark Bennett and flanker Blair Cowan - will be making their Six Nations bow.
"France will be tough. They played well in the autumn series but remain frustrated with past results in the Six Nations," said Cotter.
"They will be very difficult to contain, so we'll have to stay tight as a unit, work hard for each other and try to apply some pressure.
"It'll be a very tough start to the championship. We're looking forward to that challenge."
Meanwhile, Italy hope to forget their disastrous 2014 when they host defending Six Nations champions Ireland in their tournament opener on Saturday.
Since becoming the sixth nation in 2000, Italy have repeatedly battled, often along with Scotland, to avoid the indignity of finishing bottom of the table among Europe's elite rugby union nations.
Although 2013 saw real signs of progress with victories over Ireland and France, Italy lost all of their Six Nations matches last year.
Starting this year's tournament against an Irish side who Italy coach Jacques Brunel has dubbed "the best side in the northern hemisphere" does not look ideal on paper for the hosts.
But the Frenchman, who said he had no plans to renew his contract when it runs out in 2016, had embraced the challenge. "It's a year in which we have three home games, so we owe it to ourselves to win at home. I'm convinced we're not that far off the other big nations," Brunel said. "This first match will give us an idea of how we stand."
