Paterson was on the wrong end of a 31-0 drubbing at Murrayfield as Les Bleus maintained their impressive 100% record and set up a final-day showdown with England.

And having assessed the merits of both teams, Paterson reckons Frances combination of flair and much-improved discipline will see them wrest the European crown back from English hands.

France are a better side than England, he said. I know England are the world champions but they have lost some key players since then, which means the French have a more experienced side.

They play some fantastic rugby but you also have to look at the disciplinary side of things.

It always used to be regarded as a French weakness but when we played them in the World Cup they restricted us to three penalties and they didnt even allow us that today.

They are a very good side and I think they will just edge it next weekend.

France coach Bernard Laporte was less forthcoming about his teams chances.

England are the best team in the world, which tells you the difficulty we are facing next week, said Laporte, who confirmed influential fly-half Frederic Michalak will be fit despite being forced off with a neck injury.

I think we have continued to improve steadily as the tournament has gone on and this was probably our best attacking performance of the entire competition. We will obviously need to do that again to beat England.

Laporte is only too aware that his side moved as impressively through their World Cup campaign as they have the RBS 6 Nations until they froze in the Sydney semi-final against England.

Yet the coach remains convinced there will be no mental hangover at the Stade de France.

There will be no problems in the mind from that game, he insisted. The conditions were against us and a few other things didnt go our way either, not least the fact England played very well.

We will be ready for Saturday but that doesnt mean it is going to be easy for us.