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Mike Tindall
Mike Tindall

Tindall out to 'annoy the French'

18 Mar 2010


Mike Tindall is determined to spoil France's Grand Slam party in Paris on Saturday night.

The Gloucester centre has been recalled to the England side just three weeks into his comeback from a hamstring injury which kept him sidelined for four months.

"The thing I enjoy about it is that we have got a chance to really annoy the French, spoil their party and silence Stade de France," said Tindall.

"That is one of the reasons I play rugby. It is going to be physical, it is going to be fast and it is going to be hard, and I like playing them."

With Tindall and Toby Flood starting either side of Riki Flutey, England have reunited the midfield that helped tear France to shreds last year.

England ran in five tries in 42 minutes in a 34-10 rout at Twickenham and Tindall has called for a repeat performance.

If England can enjoy anywhere near as much dominance on Saturday, then France's dangerous runners like Mathieu Bastareaud and Clement Poitrenaud will be on the back foot.

"We haven't been able to get our game going and we're going into a match against a team that has hit the ground running," said Tindall.

"We've just to go out there and do what we did against them last year. Last year we didn't really worry about France. We got our own game right. The first 20 minutes will be key. If we can get out there, impose our game and silence the crowd, it is going to be a massive bonus.

"Last year we were clinical, we were direct and did everything we said we were going to do and were 34 points up after 42 minutes. It is easy to look back but we have to go in with the mindset and confidence that we can do that."

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