France number eight Imanol Harinordoquy has fired the first shot in the Six Nations campaign by branding the English as "arrogant and chauvinistic".

The 22-year-old, who burst on to the international scene last season, told Rugby World magazine he would not mind losing the rest of the Six Nations championship matches as long as France beat England in their championship opener at Twickenham on February 15th

"The only memories I have of England and the English are unpleasant ones," he said.

"As far as the English are concerned, I have decided to adopt the same attitude as them: I despise them as much as they despise everybody else. And as long as we beat England I wouldn't mind if we lost every other game in the Six Nations.

"When I first played against England last year, I came to the game with an intense personal motivation because, every time I had played against English teams in my youth, I found it extremely unpleasant.

"They are so chauvinistic and arrogant, they look down on everybody and, in one particular Under-21s game I found the attitude of the players and spectators intolerable."

Former England hooker Brian Moore says the English used to revel in working up the French.

"For years we pursued a dual tactic of pre-match sledging and provocation," he wrote in his column in the Observer. "The only rule was never to retaliate when the ref could see.

"Time and again I heard the sweet sound of booing in Paris. This was a sure sign that all was well."

England prop Phil Vickery, meanwhile, is battling to be fit for the French match.

The Gloucester captain has missed his club's last two games because of a back problem and is unable to train.

"I am in pieces with it at the moment," he said.

"The back has not been good for a while because of stiffness. But during the team run before the Powergen Cup match with Saracens the weekend before last I stumbled off balance and that was it, game over.

"I have had bangs before but nothing serious. I am having an X-ray today and seeing a specialist tomorrow to make sure it is not a disc problem."

Vickery's injury compounds England's front row problems. His Gloucester and England team-mate Trevor Woodman is still recovering from surgery, while Bristol prop Julian White went off with a knee injury in a Premiership game two days ago and Saracens' David Flatman is unlikely to play again this season.

Vickery did not even travel to see his team-mates beat Saracens in the Premiership on Sunday because the journey would have been too painful.

"I am not able to train let alone play - but these things can settle down as quickly as they flare up," he added hopefully.

"I have not done anything for nine or 10 days now, though, and it is a worry."

Gloucester coaching director Nigel Melville says Vickery is unlikely even to be considered for England's game if he cannot turn out for the Cherry and Whites against Bath this weekend.

"He is doubtful for the weekend but we hope it settles down."