And with Le Crunch having a reputation for being one of the most fierce rivalries in the game, Maestri is conscious that Les Bleus will have to be at their best to win and keep their Championship hopes alive.

He said: “It will be even tougher than the others. We will have to be ready to fight. The English have a big side. Even if they have changed several players, they have produced three good performances.

“They have a good scrum and an impressive lineout. The defensive strategy is particularly effective, they have players who stop you going through the phases by slowing down the ball.

“We need to continue being very disciplined because it’s an important asset at this level. In the big games you can’t afford to give away easy points and let the score get away from you. Indiscipline can be very costly, so you need to be intelligent at the breakdown.

“When I was younger I had a habit of giving away silly penalties, but I’ve tried to take more responsibility.

“You have to work for the team and not get to caught up in the individual battles. Especially the second rows who are often exposed in the rucks.”