France coach Marc Lievremont admits it will be a ‘huge disappointment’ if Les Bleus do not claim the Grand Slam as they prepare for their final RBS 6 Nations clash with England on Saturday.
Lievremont's men have exceeded expectations this year and, despite injury problems which have dogged them since even before the start of the tournament, they are now favourites to beat England in Paris, completing a clean sweep of victories.
Les Bleus could already be Six Nations champions by the time they take to the pitch on Saturday night, with Ireland's match against Scotland taking place nearly three hours earlier.
However Lievremont, whose team trounced Italy on Sunday to leave them within touching distance of glory, feels it would mean little without the Grand Slam crown.
‘We have talked about it since the presentation of shirts,’ he said.
‘We were drunk with excitement before the match. But we don't boast about it.
‘It was one of the objectives from the beginning of the year. Even though mathematically we can think we'll win the tournament, to do so without the Grand Slam would be a huge disappointment.
‘We have a group that works well and is beginning to have a good experience.
‘The new ones are fitting in well, like Marc Andreu for example who brought a lot of energy. As Ducalcon before him. I also saw Parra as an improvised opener with great panache.’
Les Bleus beat Italy 46-20 on Sunday, 24 hours after England battled to a 15-15 draw in a kicking duel against Scotland at Murrayfield.
France have scored 13 tries in their four RBS 6 Nations games so far, eight more than a misfiring England, and few observers are giving Martin Johnson's men much hope of spoiling the party in Paris.
However, Lievremont is conscious of the fact that since triumphing at the Stade de France in 2006, France have only beaten England in two friendly internationals before the last World Cup.
Moreover, Les Bleus are gunning for revenge, after last year's hefty 34-10 defeat.
Lievremont added: ‘England are a team with enormous potential. We all remember the last England-France match, last year at Twickenham.
‘They are capable of better, even if they have only shown that intermittently during this tournament.
‘So we're going to prepare ourselves. It's a super team that we're welcoming. We haven't beaten them for three years. Like Australia. It would be good to do so before the 2011 World Cup.’
Lievremont has singled out Jonny Wilkinson as the man to fear the most in the England side.
Wilkinson might yet be ruled out the clash after picking up an injury against Scotland and Lievremont is well aware of the danger the Toulon fly-half poses if fit.
‘The number 10 is traditionally an important player,’ said the France boss. ‘We have the advantage of knowing him well. We are forewarned and we are telling ourselves that we will be
facing the best Jonny Wilkinson.
‘He has the potential to make his team win. We know his talents as a competitor but we are not going to concentrate on one player.
‘We have to also watch out for the scrum-half and the wings. If we can compete with their pack, our third row can squeeze out Jonny like they did with Serge Betsen a few years ago.’
Lievremont has made just one change to the team that beat Italy, with Mathieu Bastareaud returning at centre in place of David Marty, who scored two tries at the weekend.
Bastareaud, who has been one of the stars of the tournament, started Sunday's defeat of Italy on the bench but was today named in the starting XV.
‘Mathieu Bastareaud replaces David Marty even though he had a very good performance,’ said Lievremont. ‘We have not forgotten Mathieu's really good matches at the beginning of the tournament.
‘We have to give him a breather because he is the most used player at his club since the beginning of the season. He also had some niggles in his calf.
‘He had two really good games, a bit less at Cardiff like all the team.’
