We owe French fans a great performance Lievremont

France owe their supporters a huge debt and the Six Nations Grand Slam holders can repay it with a great performance against bitter rivals England at Twickenham next Saturday, said French coach Marc Lievremont.

The 42-year-old admitted that England - who along with the French are the only unbeaten side in this year’s tournament - are on a different plane to the rest of the countries in the competition but insisted his side could pull off a win.

Lievremont, whose side has suffered two humiliating defeats by Argentina and Australia since winning their first Grand Slam since 2004 last year, said he wasn’t apprehensive about the trip to Twickenham, where he suffered the first major reverse of his coaching tenure, a 34-10 thrashing in 2009.

“No I am not that apprehensive,” said Lievremont, who was a surprise choice when he replaced Bernard Laporte in 2008.

“We have the opportunity to go and play at Twickenham, against the best team in Europe at the moment, with two victories under our belts (34-21 against Scotland and 25-22 over the Irish).

“There are no injury worries. There is a more serene air about the squad even if we are still a long way from being perfect but I have the feeling that we have made progress, that we go there with nothing to lose because we are already being designated as the losers.

“Thus we have a lot to gain from this match. To go and win at Twickenham, and I think that is possible, will allow us to win the jackpot in terms of confidence, and to repay the supporters the large debt we have built up over the extremely difficult past few months.” Lievremont, who labelled the victory over Ireland as only worthy of 4/10, reiterated his belief that the challenge facing the French was a formidable one.

“Yes without a doubt,” said Lievremont, a former top class backrow forward who played in the 1999 World Cup final defeat by Australia.

“We can see in terms of planning and preparation that the English are already in World Cup mode.

“We can feel that all of them (the English players) are physically on a different level. With regards to us it is not difficult to compare as we were so bad against Australia (the 59-16 home defeat last November).

“We can see that they are more together and have more confidence. “There have been a few cross references since the last match between us when we sealed the Grand Slam.

“We won poorly against the English, who played a more adventurous and ambitious game.

“Subsequent to that they went and won in Australia while we took two slaps to the face against South Africa (a 17-42 away defeat) and then in Argentina (a 13-41 thrashing).

“In November they beat Australia when we came off the rails yet again. I would like to see this meeting end in our favour.” Lievremont, the Senegal-born son of a French Army officer, admitted in amused fashion that everyone outside of England would be willing the French to beat them next Saturday.

“Well we don’t like them (the English), and its better to say that than be hypocritical,” he said smiling, visibly amused by the old question of mutual dislike between the two countries.

“We have a bit of trouble with the English. We respect them, well in my case at least I respect them, but you couldn’t say we have the slightest thing in common with them.

“We appreciate our Italian cousins with whom we share the same quality of life, we appreciate the Celts and their conviviality... and then among all these nations we have one huge thing in common: we don’t like the English!

“We left Dublin last weekend with the encouragement of all the Irish who said ‘for pity’s sake, beat the English’.

“The Scots, its the same thing. It is also what gives you strength against the English, more than just because of rugby.

“This insular country who always drape themselves in the national flag, their hymns, their chants, their traditions. They are people who one regards as a very proud people.”

MARCOUSSIS, AFP