A juggernaut French pack has rumbled its way untroubled through this seasons RBS 6 Nations Championship, providing the platform for victories over Ireland, Italy, Wales and Scotland.

If they can nudge England on to the back foot, then the world champions outside chance of RBS 6 Nations title glory will surely disappear.

Props Sylvain Marconnet and Pieter de Villiers - 78 caps between them - have given France a destructive edge up front, and England are now in their sights.

In a game littered with fascinating individual confrontations, the front-row battle could prove to be the decisive contest.

It doesnt matter what French rugby you watch, club or international, there is always a very powerful scrum evident. They put a great emphasis on it, said Gloucester star Vickery, who will oppose Stade Francais loosehead Marconnet.

This weekend is going to be a huge challenge for all of us. If you aspire to want to compete at the top level, then this game is certainly one for the front-row forwards.

I think the French have such good discipline now, allied to their out-and-out power. In years gone by, they would hit a scrum, keep going and give away a free-kick or a penalty, but now, they listen to the referees.

You have to give credit to Bernard Laporte (French coach) for that. Hes changed the whole mindset in a way, so it is a great challenge.

We need a pack of forwards this weekend who want to go out and scrummage. If we get that right, then the rest of it will follow.

If you dont get the scrum right, then the rest of the stuff doesnt happen. Its your first point of defence, and its your first point of attack. If you cant win the majority of your own ball, the other things cant happen, he added.

The fear factor is there with most front rows now. The French, if allowed to do what I know they can do, then they can be the most destructive pack in world rugby by a country mile. The fear factor is there - we have to go out, and we have to perform.

It will be a great spectacle and as a player you want to play in the big games. France versus England in Paris is a huge game.