Marcoussis: Clement Poitrenaud is back in the limelight vowing not to repeat the blunders which tarnished his image as the darling of French rugby.

People blamed me for being either brilliant or awful from one game to the next,; the fullback said after being named in France s starting line-up for their Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on Saturday.

"Today, I try to have more consistency, to play well regularly. That s what pays. I promised myself not to make any more blunders," he said.

Poitrenaud made a dazzling entrance onto the international scene at 19,in November 2001,when a young French team put together consecutive wins over South Africa, Australia and Fiji.

Coach Bernard Laporte was enchanted with the teenager, who listened to Mozart s Requiem before matches and was quick to respond to the slightest counter-attacking opportunity while remaining safe under the high ball.

Asked what was left of French flair in professional rugby, Laporte once answered: ;Poitrenaud. He is the symbol of that.

The new wonderboy of French rugby quickly discovered though that life also included injuries and periods of disgrace

He had the misfortune to be part of a France B team crushed 45-14 by England in a World Cup warm-up at Twickenham in 2003 and at the tournament in Australia he made only three starts in lesser matches.