There has been a clamour in some quarters for Toby Flood to start after he came on last weekend and created the match-winning try for Chris Ashton.

Wilkinson trained lightly today after suffering an arm injury against Scotland but Mike Tindall took no part in the session as he continued to recover from a dead leg.

“I think he (Wilkinson) is going to be fine,” said Flood.

“I think he is in a strong position. The scan has come back well and he is happy.”

Flood accepts that Wilkinson’s big match history will often earn him the nod, even though his kicking return is just 9/20 this tournament.

“That will definitely be something in his favour (in selection), something that’s weighted towards him because he does have a history of doing it,” he said.

The only potential England change comes on the wing with Mark Cueto to replace the suspended Delon Armitage and Flood is priming himself for a ferocious French onslaught.

“What we must do against France is say for 20 minutes, this is massive.’ Our starts have been poor but if we get it right here then hopefully we’ll remove any resistance we’re going to have,” said Flood.

“We have to understand as a side that we blitz them from minute one.”