Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Stade de France

Image source, BBC Sport

The eruption of medieval war on the pitch wasn’t going to stop England’s replacements going through their warm-up drills.

Details. Always.

As the players emerge from the tunnel, here's a reminder of how they line up:

France: Ramos; Attissogbe, Barassi, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Dupont (capt); Gros, Marchand, Aldegheri, Flament, Meafou, Cros, Matiu, Ollivon.

Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Bamba, Auradou, Guillard, Brennan, Serin, Gailleton.

England: Daly; Roebuck, Freeman, S Atkinson, Murley; F Smith, Spencer; Genge, George, Heyes, Itoje (capt), Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Earl

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Cunningham-South, Underhill, Pollock, Van Poortvliet, M Smith

Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

If France get ahead and the noise goes up around this place, then England won't stand a chance.

When England get chances, they have to take them.

BBC Sounds

Here’s a reminder that 5 Live commentary of France v England is also available on BBC Sounds – so you can keep listening with the Sounds app.

Want to listen on your smart speaker at home? Just say “Play 5 Live”.

To keep up with all the podcast reaction this week, search ‘rugby’ on BBC Sounds and subscribe to Rugby Union Weekly.

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Stade de France

France will be wearing a special edition powder-blue commemorative shirt for this match to mark 120 years of Anglo-French Test rugby rivalry.

Is it the best-looking rugby shirt ever produced? To my amateur eye it is right up there.

Manufacturer Adidas launched it a few weeks back with a glossy advert which featured Liverpool and France strikers past and present Djibril Cisse and Hugo Ekitike and a moderately amusing premise of the French team learning English ettiquette and manners., external

Looks like it has worked. There are plenty of replicas in the crowd.

Image source, Adidas

France will wear a special edition pale blue shirt tonight to mark 120 years of rivalry against England.

Given England play in white, the change has raised concerns over a possible kit clash.

Not ideal for live text commentators, perhaps...

Following three losses in a row, England head coach Steve Borthwick is under pressure to get a result.

Only three games ago, Borthwick's side were on a 12-game winning run.

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland's rip-roaring 43-21 win earlier on put them three points clear of holders France.

It means that France will win the Six Nations for an eighth time since Italy came into the fold in 2000 - a record - if they win tonight.

In fact, a bonus-point draw would also crown France champions courtesy of their superior points difference.

If England win, then Ireland will have a third title in four years.

Two knights on horseback are on the pitch now! Why? Why not.

There are 567 days until England start their 2027 World Cup against Tonga in Brisbane...

Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

There would need to be a significant loss for Steve Borthwick to go. If that were the case, then England would have got the tactics horribly wrong, which would land on Borthwick.

As players, you'll have a feel for how the game will go. They would be disappointed too.

If you don't get that feeling, then do something about it.

I've not seen them warm up like this before. They won't lack intensity.

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Stade de France

Image source, Getty Images

It is always interesting to see the little personal relationships that exist between the teams.

Bordeaux-Begles scrum-half Maxime Lucu, who is not part of the matchday 23 but is helping France prepare for this fixture, has ambled across from where he is warming up to shoot the breeze with England fly-half Fin Smith.

Lucu's Bordeaux-Begles beat Smith's Northampton in a bad-tempered Champions Cup final last year (and indeed a similarly feisty pool-stage game in January).

But it looks like there is not bad blood among the half-backs at least.

Saints' Henry Pollock got his own round of boos as the teams were read out so maybe the entente cordiale only extends so far.

I'm not suggesting that everyone was expecting this to be a title decider but we have an opening ceremony for this game.

More than 200 people are involved and not one but two horses as we will see a scene that depicts the historic rivalry between the two nations...

Image source, Getty Images

France could win five in a row at home against England for the first ever time in the Five or Six Nations. England’s last win in France came back in 2016, when Eddie Jones led them to a Grand Slam.

Doesn't that feel an age ago now...?!

France wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey has scored in every game of this year’s championship to lead the try-scoring charts with five tries.

He has also scored in a record nine successive Six Nations games, after setting a tournament record with eight tries last year.

That’s 14 tries in 13 Six Nations games, and 25 tries from 26 caps. He’s only 22.

What a player!

Image source, Getty Images

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Stade de France

Image source, Getty Images

The mood in the Stade de France is decidedly buoyant.

The French federation have distributed thousands of free tricolere flags, which are getting an enthusiastic early airing.

They have a cool little feature in the pre-match entertainment, where they play some of the songs that are apparently on the French team's dressing room playlist.

Sounds good in theory.

But it turns out Fabien Galthie's men like a little bit of Tupac's Hit Em' Up to get in the mood. And not the radio edit.

It plays out for about two minutes regardless.

Image source, Getty Images

Star scrum-half Antoine Dupont says France have recovered from the shattering 50-40 defeat by Scotland that denied them a shot at a Grand Slam.

“It’s always a tough week, especially coming off the performances that we did, but we’ve been through this before and there’s still something at stake,” Dupont said.

“If we win the tournament, we’ll forget a lot of what happened before, whether it was the good start or the disappointing match in Edinburgh.

“Once you’ve won, all you remember is the winner’s name and the trophy. Maybe when we look back in 10 years, we’ll obviously regret that a Grand Slam is always better.

“But a tournament (win) is still a title and it’s so hard to win that. It would be incredible to win it.

“I’ve definitely felt a good energy this week. More focus, I’d say, compared to the week of the Scotland match where there was a lot of good spirits but perhaps a drop in concentration, a drop in determination.”

France and England certainly know each other well.

Here is how they've matched up down the years.

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Stade de France

Image source, BBC Sport

Sandra and Adrian Cooper and Elaine and Kevin Green have made the trip over from Devon.

They booked the trip expecting to see a title decider, which of course they kind of are, but it is never going to end in silverware for England.

"Confusing," says Adrian of England's sudden dip in form.

As a one-word summary, not sure that can be beaten.