France's new coach Philippe Saint-Andre on Friday unveiled his backroom staff, naming fellow former players Yannick Bru and Patrice Lagisquet as his assistants.

"As we have very little time, I preferred to tighten up the staff in full knowledge that it could change over the coming four years," said Saint-Andre in his first official press conference since being named as successor to Marc Lievremont.

Saint-Andre, who previously coached Toulon, Sale and Gloucester, starts his international coaching career against Italy at the Stade de France on February 4.

As expected, ex-Toulouse hooker Bru takes the forwards coaching role with Lagisquet leaving Biarritz to oversee the backs.

Antoine Marin will replace Jo Maso as team manager, the latter taking over as head of the selection committee after 16 years in his previous role.

Saint-Andre said he could call up other specialist coaches, notably in the build-up to the next World Cup in England in 2015.

But the former France wing hinted that David Ellis' services as a defence coach would not be called upon since both he and Lagisquet would fulfill that role.

Saint-Andre, capped 68 times, takes over the head coach's role from Lievremont, who overcame an apparent split between staff and players to lead his team to the final of this year's World Cup, which they lost 8-7 to hosts New Zealand.

AFP