Six Nations 2015: Troubled French told to copy RFU model ahead of crunch clash between England and France

If results go according to the bookmakers’ forecast this weekend then France will finish in the bottom half of the Six Nations table for a fourth year in succession.

Perversely, by the quirkiest of quirks they might win the damn thing.

Even the most unlikely of Championship wins would paper over the cracks that have been spreading through the edifice of French rugby for some time.

The problems are structural and deep rooted.

In that respect, Thomas Castaignède has a large measure of sympathy for Philippe Saint-André, the embattled head coach whom he played alongside in the early day…