PARIS, France -- On another dull afternoon for rugby on continental Europe, two bright sparks shone through the mirk to ensure fans got at least some of their money's worth at the Stade de France.

The names of Carlo Canna and Virimi Vakatawa are not yet of the household variety in their respective countries of Italy and France, but on Saturday's evidence they stand as good a chance as any of their teammates of achieving such recognition.

Both starting XVs contained four debutants in Paris and, while Italy coach Jacques Brunel might have been forced into changes due to a lengthy injury list, France's new chief Guy Noves was looking for a break from the past. The selection of the likes of Fiji-born Vakatawa and Stade Francais' Jonathan Danty was designed to instill some attacking verve in a side that had seen the life beaten out of it under former coach Philippe Saint-Andre. Their last international outing was a 62-13 thumping at the hands of New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.

In Vakatawa, it seems, Les Bleus could have something special on their hands.

Plucked from the France Sevens set-up, Vakatawa last played a XV-a-side match in 2013, but the wing returned to the senior game in some style on Saturday. While his teammates took up where they left off during last year's vapid World Cup campaign -- riding their luck, struggling for ideas -- Vakatawa was a threat every time the French remembered to work the ball out to his left flank.

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While Italy were making the early running in the French capital -- Leanardo Sarto could have had a try within five minutes had the ball fallen more kindly, and indeed had Vakatawa not been quickest to get in the way -- home supporters were given a welcome taste of the Vakatawa excitement to come on the quarter-hour mark.

Enjoying their first meaningful stint in Italian territory, France moved the ball through the hands of Louis Picamoles and Maxime Medard to the lurking Vakatawa on the left touchline. The 23-year-old put in a glorious step, the sixth sense of knowing where the whitewash was exemplifying his Sevens roots and baffling the Italian tacklers, and over he went for a much-deserved touch down.

He was at it the whole afternoon. On the hour mark, after a particularly turgid passage of play, he had the fans on their feet again with a glorious, bustling run to grab the territory his side so badly needed. A few phases later and Hugo Bonneval would barge over in the left corner. The No. 14 scored the try, but it was the No. 11 who set it in motion.

Vakatawa's movement had something of the Jonathan Joseph about it in Paris. England fans will look back longingly on the evening the Bath centre bamboozled the Welsh defence in Cardiff on opening weekend last year, with his fluid style and electric turn of pace. While the French wing was perfectly happy barging through tacklers -- just ask Canna, who was on the receiving end of a second-half shoulder charge -- his Sevens skills certainly appear to have translated to the full version of the game.

As Vakatawa was injecting some flair into a stop-start French side, so Canna was growing into his fly-half role for the Azzurri. The 23-year-old already has seven caps to his name after a surprise call-up to last year's World Cup effort, but Saturday afternoon was his first in the Six Nations for the Zebre man.

In truth, he made a nervy start to the Test, leaving points out on the field due to some wayward kicking. But come the second 40, he began to hit his straps and was rewarded for his attacking instincts with a try five minutes after the break.

Not since the retirement of the great Diego Dominguez have Italy had a fly-half worthy of his jersey. It's too much of a stretch to suggest Canna is anywhere near that level yet, but there is reason for Italian fans to be hopeful. With Canna seemingly capable of operating at this level, and the previous stand-off incumbent Tommy Allan recovering from injury, there could at last be some meaningful competition for the job at No. 10.

While Canna might be at the junior end of the team, Luke McLean is certainly towards the senior, and the fullback told ESPN his teammate's ability to put Italy on the front foot was a welcome addition to the set-up.

"Carlo played very well," McLean said. "He scored his try, kicked some goals, and had a good game. We didn't play too much in our own half, so he stuck to the game plan, and showed some class with his try."

WIth European rugby still reeling from being shut out of the latter stages of the Rugby World Cup, the performances of Vakatawa and Canna were happy distractions. Let's hope they are given the chance to flourish this year.