Les Bleus bid to safeguard ranking

FRANCE are not only bidding to claim a first Grand Slam in six years by beating England in the last RBS Six Nations 2010 encounter on Saturday, but also to preserve their fourth place in the IRB World Rankings.

Les Bleus have held that mantle as the leading northern hemisphere nation since outclassing defending champions Ireland 33-10 last month, but only victory at the Stade de France can ensure they end the Six Nations in that position.

A first Six Nations win over England on home soil since 2006 will not improve their standing in the rankings, although a victory by more than 15 points would bring to France to within two hundredths of Australia in third.