France have played Italy on 30 occasions since their first meeting in 1937 and the Azzurri can boast just one victory. Those facts suggest just one result when the two sides meet in Paris on Sunday in their latest Six Nations clash.

Even Italy coach Nick Mallett has played down expectation - insisting his side's goal is to restrict France to a 10-15 point victory. But the Azzurri have nothing to lose having all but avoided the wooden spoon with victory over Scotland in Rome. Instead, it is Les Bleus who are under pressure as they look to complete the fourth leg of what they hope will be a Grand Slam.

The fans will not accept defeat against the Italians but at the same time they will not enjoy being favourites. Since the victory over Wales in Cardiff, captain Thierry Dusautoir has spent every waking hour reminding his team-mates that they have not won anything yet. He knows that his players' minds will start to drift towards their final Championship clash against England - such is the French way.

The last time this happened was against Italy in 1997. France had just secured a Five Nations Grand Slam and decided to play an extra match against Italy in Grenoble - a rugby stronghold at the time.

France coach Jean-Claude Skréla decided to rest a few of his big names for the game having and opted to throw some youngsters into the mix. The result? A 40-32 defeat - not the best way to celebrate their Five Nations success. The result was a major boost for the Italians in their battle for credibility and no doubt helped them in their quest to join the Championship.

On Sunday, France need to stick to what has worked for them so far - a powerful scrum and an aggressive defence. They will need both of these qualities against a strong and organised Italian side. It is true to say that without Sergio Parisse, their charismatic No.8, the Italian pack will be less dynamic and skilful and the French forwards know how to snuff out the remaining dangers.

I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Top 14 side Bourgoin-Jallieu. The club is currently struggling, both financially and on the field, not to be relegated at the end of the season. And with Montauban and Bayonne in the same position (Albi is already sure to go down), the end of the domestic season is shaping up as a tense affair.

But why such a tribute? Well, current internationals Sébastien Chabal, Lionel Nallet, Pascal Papé, Julien Bonnaire and Morgan Parra all started their careers at the club. If you add centres Florian Fritz and Yann David, Bourgoin-Jallieu has scouted and trained many talents that have all played for France in the recent years. The strength of the French pack owes a lot to this club. And the irony is that the closest city to Bourgoin-Jallieu in the Alps is... Grenoble!