France v England: Sunday's Six Nations match preview, TV details and best bets

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for France v England in the Six Nations.

Where to watch

BBC1 & Virgin One, 3pm Sunday

Best bet

England -4
3pts Evs general

England to win by more than 12 points
1pt 5-2 Betfair

Match preview

France have been one of the best-backed teams in the build-up to the Six Nations, cut from 16-1 at the end of last year's tournament, to 13-2 at the outset. Sunday's opener against England in Paris will go a long way to deciding whether there really is a French renaissance on the way or it's just another false dawn for Les Bleus.

Time and again France have promised much and failed to deliver. Punters are putting a lot of faith in new coach Fabien Galthie and his new-look squad with 18 uncapped players and an average age of 24. But they are still France, that enigmatic and infuriating side - at least until they prove otherwise.

England have shown what they are made of, a powerful team with a dominant pack in the set-piece and breakdown and dangerous backs. At times in 2019, such as their 44-8 demolition of France at Twickenham or their Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat of New Zealand, their performances were irresistible.

France conceded eight tries in that Twickenham rout as their defence fell apart. So bringing in Shaun Edwards, as no-nonsense a defensive coach as you could wish for, looks a sound move by Galthie. And in attack Les Bleus have a backline of Teddy Thomas, Virimi Vakatawa, Gael Fickou and Damian Penaud packed with pace and flair.

England know that they will have to be irresistible again, and they have the weapons to do just that.

Losing powerhouse ball-carrier Billy Vunipola is a blow, but they won't losing anything at the breakdown with Tom Curry and Sam Underhill lining up, and moving Courtney Lawes from the second row gives the England pack more bulk and carrying options. Maro Itoje, Kyle Sinckler and Jamie George can all make yards while Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie should make an impact off the bench.

Galthie's wholesale squad changes have left France looking a little weaker in the scrum, an area of the game they so often seek to make their own, while having three locks on the pitch with Lawes moved to flanker adds to England's line-out options.

It goes against the grain to back this fixture to be anything but tight - of the ten Six Nations meetings in Paris, just one has been decided by 12 points or more.

But although this France squad may go on to do great things under Galthie and Edwards, they are surely aiming to build slowly to a home World Cup in 2023, and England could be taking them on at the perfect time.

A four-point handicap looks well within their reach, and if they can keep up the brutal onslaught and have Les Bleus on the back foot throughout, the score could mount.

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