Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Allianz Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

There are legends everywhere you look today.

Kyle Sinckler picking up his media pass at a ground he has graced many times as a player.

Maggie Alphonsi posing for a selfie as she makes her way pitchside for some punditry.

And, just along the benches from 5 Live's own Matt Dawson, is former on-pitch foe Olivier Magne.

Image source, Getty

Six Nations Rugby Special pundit and former Scotland captain John Barclay reckons Steve Borthwick is too reactive when making tactical substitutions.

"Only in one game did Borthwick make the first tactical sub," Barclay said.

"The stats show his substitutions are reactive."

Chris Ashton
Former England wing on BBC Radio 5 Live

I am an advocate for Fin Smith, but I don't know why he's been picked to start in this game.

Steve Borthwick had Japan in the autumn and decided not to play him. Smith's a fantastic player and he is very much a team organiser.

It's just a big game to throw him into.

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Allianz Stadium

Maro Itoje and Antoine Dupont have spilt the scrapnel and England will kick off this one.

Fin Smith has just been practising his drop-outs. Marcus Smith, by the way, will still be on place-kicking duties still.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Fly-half Fin Smith says he is focusing on making the rest of the England backline look good on his first Test start.

The 22-year-old has been picked at 10 ahead of the more experienced Marcus Smith, who switches to full-back.

Fin Smith's international experience has been limited to seven appearances off the bench so far.

"If I can get the attack flowing, get some of the some of the awesome backs we've got into the game, then I'll feel like I've put in a decent performance," he told Rugby Union Weekly.

"The main thing I want to do is is give those guys a platform and and real clarity about what I want from them and hopefully allow them to excel themselves."

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Allianz Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

This is an innovation previous captain Jamie George introduced last year.

Instead of disembarking right outside the Allianz Stadium gates, England's team bus now parks a little way away and the players walk the last couple of hundred yards through a gauntlet of fans.

They are not all home supporters today. Not by a long shot. There are plenty of supporters who have crossed La Manche for Le Crunch.

Obelix-style comedy pigtails and fake strings of garlic have so far been sighted.

Image source, Getty Images

Northampton Saints' Fin Smith will start at fly-half ahead of the more experienced Marcus Smith, who switches to full-back.

As a former England age-grade team-mate of Marcus Smith, Saints centre Dingwall has played outside both Smiths.

"They are very different players, but have both have some really good strengths," he told BBC Radio Northampton's Saints Show.

"Fin's ability to bring everyone into the game is really impressive and he is bringing out more and more of his running game.

"Marcus has this natural ability to break lines and take people on himself. He sees opportunities slightly differently to Fin. Fin will do it as a unit, while Marcus has the ability to do it on his own, which is very impressive.

"If I was to play with Fin, I know that he would allow everyone else to come into the game. Playing with Marcus you are probably thinking more about how you can create opportunities for him."

Image source, Getty Images

France captain Antoine Dupont fears Marcus Smith will be a threat regardless of the number on the back of his shirt.

Smith, who sharply finished a try from full-back in last year's defeat by France in Lyon, will start at 15, with Fin Smith starting his first England Test at fly-half.

The 25-year-old Harlequin came on early in Lyon after an injury to George Furbank, before regaining the fly-half shirt for the rest of 2024.

"It went rather well at the end of the game against Ireland, with Marcus Smith at full-back. It went well against us last year when he came on early," Dupont said.

"We know his quality, with the ball in his hands and that he is able to create overlaps in almost any situation. He's a threat whether he's a 10 or a 15.

"There will be another number 10 on the pitch to drive the game. They will surely want to keep the ball. It will be up to us to adapt."

Rugby superstar Antoine Dupont talks about his friendship with Zinedine Zidane, pranks in the French camp, and how he used the Top 14 trophy as a surfboard!

Does Antoine Dupont need to win a World Cup to be considered the greatest of all time? Is he the GOAT already? Does he need win another Grand Slam?

Get in touch using the usual methods.

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's going to be great to see greatness in its pomp, in the flesh and Antoine Dupont is in that category.

It’s some player that's coming to town. Dupont stands above the rest.

Is Antoine Dupont the best player to ever play the game?

Six Nations Rugby Special pundits John Barclay and Sam Warburton discuss that question.

Image source, Getty Images

France captain Antoine Dupont says he is "quite happy" to not be lining up against Toulouse team-mate Jack Willis.

Flanker Willis, who has quickly become one of Toulouse's most important players since his arrival in 2022, is unable to represent Steve Borthwick's side because of England's ban on picking players outside of England.

"I'm quite happy not to be playing against Jack. We know the nightmare he is in the ruck area," Dupont said.

"Their rules are different from ours and it’s like that for the moment. I don't think they will change it soon."

Remember the game last year in Lyon?

Thomas Ramos kicked the winning penalty from the halfway line as France edged England in a seven-try thriller to finish second in the 2024 Six Nations.

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Allianz Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

Chris, Lisa and young Henry Irwin are looking forward to seeing England centre Ollie Lawrence who they used to watch during his Worcester Warriors days.

Henry plays at Worcester, while Chris has long-standing links with Abu Dhabi Harlequins, the Middle East offshoot of the club across the road from Allianz Stadium.

Chris has a prediction, which is satisfyingly specific: England 20-35 France.

England: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Martin, T Curry, Earl, Willis

Replacements: George, Baxter, Heyes, Chessum, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Randall, Daly

France: Ramos; Penaud, Barassi, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Dupont (capt); Gros, Mauvaka, Atonio, Roumat, Meafou, Cros, Boudehent, Alldritt.

Replacements: Marchand, Baille, Colombe, Auradou, Guillard, Jegou, Le Garrec, Gailleton.

Six Nations Rugby Special pundit and former Wales captain Sam Warburton broke down England's mistakes in their 27-22 defeat by Ireland.

"Errors led to England's second-half collapse in Ireland," Warburton said.

"Those missed tackles and line breaks could have been stopped."

Watch below.

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Allianz Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

Corentin, Caroline and Harry have made the trip across from Paris to come to Twickenham for the first time and are appreciating the 'authentic' grey drizzle that has greeted them in south-west London.

They are predicting a narrow France win, but I sense their five-point winning margin shout might be tempered by politeness.

They are looking forward to seeing Antoine Dupont. Aren't we all?