Incendiary comments made by France coach Marc Lievremont about England have only served to raise the temperature levels ahead of today’s potential Grand Slam decider between the two countries in the Six Nations.

England coach Martin Johnson’s team talk has already been done for him, with Lievremont claiming his opponents are arrogant and the most unpopular team in the tournament.

“We don’t like them and it’s better to say that than be hypocritical,” said Lievremont. “This insular country, who always drape themselves in the national flag, their hymns, their chants, their traditions.

“They are people who you regard as very proud people. It’s also what gives you strength against the English, more than just because of rugby.”

England is looking to wrest the title from France, and the winner of the match between sides with two victories under their belts from the first two games will be heavy favourite to go on and complete the Grand Slam of five wins.

“We have been through one of these big build-ups already for the Wales game. There is enough history in this game, and in the history of the two countries, to spice it up,” Johnson said.

“I quite enjoy it. People like to beat England. There is history involved with that and most of it is not rugby history. That is what makes the tournament fun, that is why people like it. It is passion.”

In other matches in the third round of fixtures in the northern-hemisphere competition, Scotland is at home to Ireland and Wales travels to Italy.

But on the evidence of the opening two weekends, there appears to be only two teams in the running for the title.

England has run in a total of eight tries - six from star winger Chris Ashton - in wins over Wales and Italy and look to be approaching the form of 2003, when it won its last Six Nations title ahead of a World Cup success in Australia later that year.

Scotland and Ireland will attempt to bounce back from home losses, to Wales and France respectively, when they meet at Murrayfield tomorrow.

The Scots have made seven changes and a positional switch to try to revive its campaign.

Mike Blair and Ruaridh Jackson will form a new halfback combination, Sean Lamont comes in as center and Chris Paterson starts at fullback for his 102nd cap. Moray Low, Richie Gray and Johnnie Beattie are recalled to the pack.

After impressing at flyhalf in the 24-6 victory over Scotland, James Hook moves to centre for Wales for its match in Rome following an injury to Jonathan Davies. Stephen Jones returns at No. 10 for his 98th cap in an otherwise unchanged lineup.

Italy were thrashed 59-13 at Twickenham but should put up a better fight at home, where theyt lost 13-11 to Ireland on the opening weekend.