France must also hope Ireland beat Wales at the Millennium Stadium, but by few enough points for Les Bleus to overhaul their title rivals on points difference.

For their part, France need to put at least 30 points on the Azzurri in Rome but prop Marconnet fears Italy's unconventional style of play will cause problems in the match.

Italy display a frantic game and they will be very hard to beat, said the Stade Francais ace.

They have not won a match yet and they will be eager to prove people wrong.

It's true that Italian newspapers give little importance to rugby in a country where football is the king, but with more victories the interest will come.

They do a lot to reach that aim, the Italian team is courageous.

We must remain wise and careful. We have not achieved anything great in Dublin. The aim was the Grand Slam but we won't have it, added Marconnet, who knows any chance France have of retaining the RBS 6 Nations title will be dashed by a Wales victory in Cardiff.

We had the potential to win it again but the Welsh proved stronger. They will be rewarded for all their efforts this weekend.''