TOULOUSE (FRANCE) - Jean-Marc Doussain has vowed to seize his opportunity after being recalled to the France squad after a two-year absence by his former club coach Guy Noves.
Toulouse's French scrum-half Jean-Marc Doussain, seen during a Top 14 rugby union match, at the Ernest Wallon stadium in Toulouse, in October 2015
Doussain, 24, came up through the youth ranks at Toulouse where Noves spent his entire playing and coaching career before being named France boss following last year's World Cup.
He made a raft of changes to the World Cup squad selected by his predecessor Philippe Saint-Andre, and one such sees Doussain return to the fold.
"I didn't expect to be called up so soon, even though you always hope to get back in the France team," said Doussain.
"Once you've had a taste of nice things you miss them and you want to return.
"Obviously, I'm very happy but I know that everything is called into question in every match.
"Over the last two years I've gained experience, whether that be through the failures I've had or the successes. It's all played a role in forging my personality."
The versatile half-back has also been slowly converting from primarily a scrum-half to mostly a fly-half.
His first appearance in a France shirt was as a scrum-half, when he made a late five-minute cameo in the 2011 World Cup final -- the only player ever to make his debut in the global tournament's title match -- but this time, Noves has selected him as a fly-half.
With Montpellier's Francois Trinh-Duc still making his way back to full fitness from a broken leg suffered in November, Doussain will have the chance to stake his claim for the No.10 jersey when France host Italy in their Six Nations opener on February 6.
Stade Francais fly-half Jules Plisson is likely to get the nod ahead of Doussain, but the latter is determined to take his chance, although he acknowledges he must finally specialise in one position or another.
He faces tough competition at Toulouse for the No.10 shirt from ex-England international Toby Flood and former All Black Luke McAlister, but with his team-mate Sebastien Bezy also called up by Noves as one of the French scrum-halves, Doussain could benefit from that familiarity and understanding to form a regular half-back partnership in the international set-up.
- 'A rock' -
"At the start of the season Ugo (Mola, the Toulouse head coach) picked me in one of the two positions without knowing too much which one," added Doussain.
"Now it's up to me, if I want to reach a certain level, whether with my club or elsewhere, to lock down one position."
For now, Noves views him as a fly-half with an alternative profile to Plisson or Trinh-Duc.
"We know that in the defensive sector he's a rock, those who try to go through him get broken," said Noves.
"He's the opposite stylistically in one way from a Francois Trinh-Duc or a Jules Plisson."
Doussain is certainly a solid unit, weighing in at 92kg (14st 7lb), even though he stands only 1.74m (5ft 9in) tall.
He has 10 caps to his name, the last nine coming during the Saint-Andre era in which he was briefly first choice scrum-half.
He started the first three matches of the 2014 Six Nations but was hauled off at half-time against Wales and subsequently had to play second fiddle to Maxime Machenaud, who is also back in the France squad after being overlooked for the World Cup.
However, he missed a late penalty in their final match against Ireland that would have seen them finish second instead of fourth -- and denied the Irish the title in favour of England -- and has never since donned the blue jersey.
But Noves is a confirmed fan and the immediate future looks bright for Doussain.
"He's a very respectful lad, adorable, within the group he's wonderful.
"On the pitch he's irreproachable in terms of his commitment."