Tindall plays rugby to annoy the French

Mike Tindall says that "annoying the French" is one of the reasons he plays rugby after he was handed a shock recall to an England side bidding to end France's Grand Slam hopes.

Tindall, a World Cup winning team-mate of England manager Martin Johnson back in 2003, has only made three starts for Gloucester after his recent return following 16 weeks out with a hamstring injury.

Nevertheless, the centre has been pitched straight into the starting side to face France in Paris on Saturday in the final match of the 2010 Six Nations.

"It was a bit of a surprise - with one game left I wasn't expecting to be involved but of course it was nice to get the call," said the 31-year-old Tindall, brought in after Mathew Tait was dropped to the bench.

"I will do what I normally do," said Tindall, whose aggressive style is what many believe England will need to help counter the physical threat of giant France centre Mathieu Bastareaud.

"One thing I can bring is a little bit of experience but I'll do my usual stuff and hopefully that will be enough," added Tindall, who will be winning his 61st cap at the Stade de France.

France have been the team of the tournament and go into this match on the back of a six-try rout of Italy.

England, by contrast, have been hesitant and imprecise - last weekend they couldn't manage a single try in a 15-15 draw with Scotland.

They have also been beaten by Ireland, a side France demolished 33-10, this Six Nations.

But Tindall, whose eight Tests against France dating back to 2000 are evenly split between four wins and four defeats, is excited by the challenge of having another crack at 'Les Bleus'.

"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 and got their game going," Tindall said.

"The thing I enjoy about it is that it's a chance for us to really annoy the French, spoil their party and silence their crowd at the Stade de France. That is one of the reasons I play rugby!"

Tindall, who will be playing his first Test in nearly a year, said England could take heart from their 34-10 Twickenham trouncing of France in last season's Six Nations.

"We've just to go out there and do what we did against them last year," he recalled.

"Last year we didn't really worry about France we just got our own game right. The first 20 minutes will be key - if we can get out there, impose our game on them and silence the crowd that will be a massive bonus."

Bastareaud featured in that match and Tindall said: "He played last year and we did all right last year."

However, he added: "If they (France) come out strong and get the crowd behind them it makes for a different animal. That is the challenge for us.

"It's going to be physical, it's going to be fast and it's going to be hard, and that's the way I like to play," Tindall insisted.

"I've had good memories at the Stade de France - we won (15-9) the first time I went there in 2000. I'm sure we've lost a couple there too but I like going over there and playing. It is a place where you can silence the crowd."