Wait for Slam dream is so cruel on Clive

England's final Six Nations game of this season against France on Saturday should have been a Grand Slam decider.

It's a crying shame for Clive Woodward and his staff who have produced this marvellous team that they cannot finish the Championship off in style this weekend.

Two years ago, Wales prevented them winning the elusive Slam by scoring in the dying minutes at Wembley.

Last year, the weather and an inability to adapt to atrocious conditions against Scotland at Murrayfield let them down.

Now, the foot-and-mouth epidemic has held up this latest bid for glory. The crisis has delayed England's clash in Ireland, a match that would have been the true test for Woodward's men. We will have to wait until the autumn to applaud a fantastic England team, playing rugby at a level never seen before from a Home nation.

The players have every right to feel hard done by, as the Ireland game would have probably decided the few remaining places available for the Lions tour to Australia.

As expected, in this ludicrously long season, injuries are taking their toll. England have lost two outstanding tight forwards, Danny Grewcock, of Saracens, and Gloucester's Phil Vickery, who have probably done enough to earn Lions places.

Their replacements, Steve Borthwick, of Bath, and Saracens' Julian White, can now press their claims for Australia.

However, first they will have to face France which is not easy for a tight-five forward. Although France are struggling in other departments, they still have a formidable tight five.

The French arrive at Twickenham in a shambolic state.

Although, on paper, the team seem to be littered with world-class players, the truth is they have not performed this season.

After their last outing in Paris, when they chucked the game away against Wales, the team were chastised by the public and press. Even the president of the French Rugby Federation attacked the team for a spineless performance.

The last time France came to Twickenham in a similar state was the 1999 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand - and we all know what happened then, so they cannot be written off.

England should remember what hit the beaten All Blacks that day and what could happen if their mindset is wrong. This year's Six Nations will be remembered for two things - the foot-and-mouth crisis that disrupted the tournament and England's elevation to one of the world's leading Test nations thanks to their stunning displays.

Then again, our verdict on England may be decided by which France team turns up on Saturday.

Dick Best is a former Lions and Grand Slam-winning England coach