LE CRUNCH

Itoje tells England to front up in Paris and show some character as they fear a French backlash

- ADAM HATHAWAY in Paris

ENGLAND fear a French backlash in Paris tonight that could condemn them to their worst ever Six Nations campaign.

France are fuming at last weekend's 50-40 defeat in Scotland, which derailed their Grand Slam ambitions.

The French will know what they have to do once Ireland have played Scotland in the earlier game and will want to finish off the tournament in style at a packed Stade de France.

England, with only one victory from four, have managed to win at least two games in every edition of the Six Nations since 2000.

Steve Borthwick’s assistant Joe El-Abd (inset), who knows the French psyche from time spent playing at Toulon and coaching US Oyonnax and Castres, said: “France will be injured, they call themselves un béte blessée, an injured beast and that can be dangerous.