Will Greenwood yesterday hailed France as the RBS 6 Nations form team but is still backing England to win in Paris.
The old rivals meet in the final match of the championship at the Stade de France tomorrow evening in a repeat of the World Cup semi-final, and there is plenty at stake for both sides.
Victory would give France the Grand Slam, their second in three years, while England must win by seven points if they are to retain their Six Nations crown.
The bookies make Bernard Laporte's men favourites following the ease with which they have closed on a clean sweep, but Greenwood believes England can rip-up the form book.
''France are not a side full of superstars. They trust each other and you can see that in the way they play,'' said the Harlequins centre and England vice-captain.
''If they miss a tackle then they know three or four of their friends will cover for them, and that's a great situation to be in.
''Most people will say they are playing the best rugby in the tournament and are deserved table-toppers. But as a core group we've been to tough places and still come away with results.
''We know what to do and we've done it in the past. There is no fear, just plenty of excitement. It's a great opportunity.''
England's lack of progress since the World Cup has been the source of some concern with the chief suspicion being they are still suffering a hangover from their heroics in Australia.
They disposed of Italy and Scotland easily without hitting top gear, only to see their Grand Slam dream derailed by Ireland, who shattered their proud unbeaten record at Twickenham.
Wales looked capable of following suit last Saturday before running out of gas as England used the last 15 minutes to rediscover the form which swept them to glory Down Under.
In that closing period they crushed Welsh resistance with a simple game plan based on driving up the middle and applying pressure - an aspect of England's play which Greenwood feels has been lacking in recent outings.
''It's periods of sustained pressure which allow you to go for the killer thrust in games, but it just hasn't been happening for us,'' he said.
''A lot of the good stuff comes after sustained pressure. Ben Cohen showed me a video of England against Scotland in 2001 when we were doing some analysis.
''It was 8-3 after 35 minutes but England ended up winning 43-3 because we continued to dominate then the points came. The pressure we are exerting at the moment isn't relentless. France are being relentless.
''France are just playing simple, direct rugby and applying pressure and squeezing the life out of sides. They're taking their opportunities - to win 31-0 in Scotland is a fantastic result.
''But when you watch that match it doesn't seem like they stuffed the Scots. It was just suddenly 31-0.
''It's frustrating because that's what we were good at. We used to restart, get the ball back, boot it 70 yards, put pressure back on their line-out then we'd be back in.
''Now we're knocking things on and getting turned over in the wrong areas of the field. It's allowed the opposition relief from the pressure cooker environment.
''The fantastic, fluid, rhythmic play that people are suggesting is lacking often comes about as a result of applying territory, domination and pressure. We're lacking those elements and we need to find them again.''
* Ex-Australian winger and serial Pommie-basher David Campese has launched another broadside at England coach Sir Clive Woodward, saying he will not still be coaching the Red Rose side in 2007 because his players will become ''sick of him''.
World record try-scorer Campese, who famously walked down Oxford Street with a sandwich board which said 'I admit the best team won' after betting that England would not win the World Cup last year, has something of a hate-hate relationship with the England supremo.
In his latest outburst the Aussie, who scored the try which beat England in the 1991 World Cup final, told talkSPORT: ''I don't think Clive Woodward will be there in 2007 because the players will get sick of him. It's human nature.''
He criticised Woodward for his reaction to the defeat by Ireland three weeks ago, and said England's personnel and style would have to change if they are to retain the World Cup in four years.
The 41-year-old said: ''You lose to Ireland and then he carts out Jason Robinson to a press conference, which he's never done before. Win or lose, you have to take responsibility as a coach.''
''At the moment, England are struggling. You have to look to the future.
''England are going through the same things that we went through after winning the World Cup.
''In four years' time, you are not going to win the World Cup with the same team playing the same style of rugby.''
This is not the first time Campese has crossed swords with Woodward.
All the way through the World Cup last autumn, the Australian lambasted England for being too slow, too old and too boring and branded them ''a threat to the global game'' - but they still beat the Wallabies in the final after extra-time.
Before that, he said in March 2003 that Woodward should be replaced as national coach.
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