French captain Thierry Dusautoir says his team must develop a killer instinct if they're to win the Six Nations title this year, the 100th anniversary of their debut in the tournament.

France won the last of their 16 titles in 2007, and last Grand Slam came in 2004, both under former coach Bernard Laporte and Dusautoir - known as the 'Dark Destroyer' - said that they could miss out yet again.

"Absolutely, yes. We do not possess that killer instinct," admitted the 28-year-old Toulouse flanker, who was appointed captain by coach Marc Lievremont in succession to Lionel Nallet.

"Physically, I believe we have shown that we are up there with the best teams.

"However, certainly our mental equilibrium is lacking: the fact of always being hungry for success, of not being satisfied with how we played and always going in search of victory - all that is lacking at the moment."

Dusautoir, born in the Ivory Coast of a French father and an Ivorian mother, said that the fact four French clubs had made it into the last eight of the European Cup was not a reflection on overall the strength of the French national team.

"We are compelled to perform better in this year's Six Nations because the previous two we did not play well," said Dusautoir, who along with his team-mates start their campaign in Edinburgh against Scotland on February 7.

"The reason for playing badly was not a reflection of the strength of the French championship. It is great for the Top 14 that there are high class clubs, but the France team must find its own kind of stamp, to show that it is capable of becoming once again a truly great team in terms of the world order.

"Sadly at the moment we cannot say that about the French side."

Dusautoir, who has twice reached a European Cup final firstly with Biarritz and then with Toulouse only to lose to Irish province Munster in 2006 and 2008, conceded that France had made progress but they were prone to bad old habits.

"We have certainly improved, everyone can see that," said Dusautoir, who made his first real impression outside France with his performance against the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final.

"We have beaten the best teams in the world last year (away against the All Blacks and at home against the Springboks last November) but unfortunately we have shown no consistency in our results.

"That is what appears to be our greatest defect. It is imperative to be consistent in order to win the tournament (Six Nations).

"We are going to try and kill two birds with one stone. We are making progress, but it is not sufficient.

"It is incredibly important to try and achieve excellence this season so we can be crowned European champions," added Dusautoir, who has 28 caps.

Dusautoir, a chemical engineering graduate who was originally more interested in judo than rugby, did not know whether France could at least put three wins in a row together for the first time under Lievremont's regime.

"Five? I don't know if we could do that," said Dusautoir.

"For sure that would be fantastic if we did. One has to win at least four to claim the title.

"If that is already wrapped up, the last match will be against England (at the Stade de France on March 20), all the ingredients will be there to put on a great party.

"However, before that we have a tough opening match against Scotland, and then the match against Ireland (at the Stade de France on February 13) who for me are the favourites."