Neither side have been beaten in this year’s competition with 2010 Grand Slam winners France looking more than capable of repeating the trick this year after crushing Scotland on the opening weekend and edging out Ireland in week two.

England have picked up where they left off in their impressive finish to last season’s Six Nations in France by beating Wales in Cardiff and hammering Italy at Twickenham last weekend.

But with the two choice teams of the tournament on a collision course in London today, Tindall admits something has to give.

“We will try and explode out of the blocks, impose our game and contain them from the start," Tindall said.

"You don't know which French side will turn up - but you do know that if they play as well as they can they are the world's best.

"If you have a bad start they pick up momentum and can be very hard to stop. You have to get on top of them. You can do that by giving them nothing and really putting them under pressure in that first 20 minutes."

France secured the Grand Slam last year by defeating a much improved England side 12-10 at the Stade de France and Martin Johnson, the Red Rose manager, admits his side must turn up the pressure at Twickenham if they’re to continuing their unbeaten run.

“Everyone says you never know which French side will show up, but you can affect that with how you play,” he said.

"If you let them play they will look fantastic. If you get them under pressure, it is harder for them.

“Our players have proved to themselves that if they play near their best they will be in a Test match with anyone.

“If they get things right through the game they are capable of having a crack at anyone.

“When I was growing up, if England could beat France it was always a big win and that has not changed.”