SIX NATIONS: EASTER'S BATTLE-CRY

NICK EASTER wants England’s under-fire stars to resort to “trench ­warfare” in Paris ­tonight.

Martin Johnson’s team head into their final Six Nations clash looking to spoil France’s Grand Slam party and salvage some pride at the same time.

England have scored just five tries in a poor ­campaign while France have run in 13 to stand on the brink of their fourth clean sweep in a decade.

Red Rose No.8 Easter insists the visitors’ only chance will be to cut down France’s formidable pack and stop their possession at source.

He said: “It takes a huge amount of commitment to win in Paris. From a forward’s point of view, it’s all about trench ­warfare. We have to take their scrum away from them, which has been superb all Six Nations, and the tackle area and driving maul.

“When we’ve beaten them there before, that’s been key. We have to get in their faces.

“We can’t allow them to play because they have been terrific when they’ve had the chance against some quality teams.

“If you allow the French to play in their own backyard, you’re in trouble from the start. From the first whistle we have to get in their faces.

“There’s a lot of pride to get back butwe need to put in that ­performance which we don’t feel we have really so far.”

Lewis Moody will captain England after Steve Borthwick was ruled out with a knee injury.Borthwick aggravated a long-standing problem in his left knee against Scotland at Murrayfield last Saturday and has failed to recover in time.

Louis Deacon will replace Borthwick in the second row with Stade Francais lock Tom Palmer promoted to the bench.

Johnson said: “Lewis is an inspirational figure in the group and he will bring us that energy and dynamism.

“There is a core group of leaders and we could have chosen two or three guys.

“Mike Tindall has just come back as a senior player and Nick Easter is a leader at No.8.

“Steve’s injury is worse than we first thought and he is out for us this week.

“Louis will start and Tom Palmer comes on to the bench.

“We brought him in because of his line-out ability.”Altogether, Johnson has made seven changes to the side that ground out a tedious 15-15 draw at Murrayfield.

With Toby Flood installed ahead of Jonny Wilkinson at fly-half and Ben Foden getting a first start at full-back, the visitors have vowed to throw caution to the wind with nothing to lose in terms of championship standing.

France: Poitrenaud; Andreu, Bastareaud, Jauzion, Palisson; Trinh-Duc, Parra; Domingo, Servat, Mas, Nallet, Pierre, Dusautoir, Bonnaire, Harinordoquy. Replacements: Szarzewski, Poux, Chabal, Lapandry, Yachvili, Marty, Malzieu.

England: Foden; Ashton, Tindall, Flutey, Cueto; Flood, Care; Payne, Hartley, Cole, Shaw, Deacon, Worsley, Moody (c) Easter. Replacements: Thompson, Wilson, Haskell, Youngs, Wilkinson, Tait, Palmer.

Referee: Bryce Lawrence (NZ).

TV: BBC1, kick-off 7.45.

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