In what is set to be a dramatic end to the tournament, France, Ireland and England - all of whom are on six points after four games - still have designs on the title.

With England having a vastly inferior points difference and playing away against Wales, it is expected to be a shootout between the French and the Irish.

Ireland play Italy away first up so France, who have a marginally better points difference going into this weekend, will know what they need to do when they kick off against Scotland in the day's second match.

Laporte rejects the notion that this puts his team in the box seat to retain their RBS 6 Nations title.

'No, I don't think it will,' he said. 'We already need to win the match.

'It is like any match - if you are able to score 30 points, you score 30 points.

'It can give us some extra motivation knowing the Ireland score, but that will not make the Scots any worse.

'There is nothing to calculate, we are not going to wait for their result before we play.

'We have to go and try to win, to play a great match and win convincingly. That will be our aim.'

It could be a bitter-sweet day for Laporte, who will quit his post after the World Cup finals later this year.

It is his last RBS 6 Nations game in charge of France, and he could celebrate it by claiming his fourth title in six years.

Laporte, however, will treat the day like any other.

When asked if it will be a sad occasion for him, he replied: 'No, honestly no.

'It doesn't really mean anything, because afterwards we must go to New Zealand (for the summer tour) and then prepare for the World Cup.

'I will be happy to have made eight Six Nations tournaments, but there will be no particular emotion on my part.'

In one last rallying call, Laporte has urged his team to forget about the disappointing 26-18 defeat to England last weekend.

'What is important is us,' he said. 'We are dreaming of a perfect match, of being good in every sector.

'We must take the initiative, keep hold of the ball and be strong in defence.

'We must especially play freely, play fair and be enterprising.'