LONDON (AP) _ France has already lost its Grand Slam chance. Imagine if struggling Scotland stopped the French from winning the Six Nations rugby title, too.

With France, Ireland and England all tied on points going into Saturday's final round of games, the Six Nations title could go to any of the three.

While the French host the Scots, Ireland goes to Italy and England travels to Cardiff to meet the Welsh.

Despite losing to England, Bernard Laporte's team still has the best points differential and remains favourite to capture the title and go into the World Cup as both host and Six Nations champion.

But the French were strong favourites to beat England at Twickenham last Saturday, only to lose 26-18 after a poor performance. Something similar against Scotland at the Stade de France on Saturday and the title could be going to the English or Irish.

France captain Raphael Ibanez says his players still can't believe how badly they played at Twickenham.

``We have watched the match again,'' the hooker said. ``We have done review after review after review. We have digested it, but we have not accepted it.

``We have to play better. This is a decisive match and we have to be good in every department. We must have a collective ambition.''

Recalled to the back row for Saturday's game, Imanol Harinordoquy says the Scots are better than their record of one victory and three losses suggests.

``They have developed defensively in particular,'' he said. ``They are a lot more aggressive, have climbed to a higher level and put you under pressure. It is difficult to impose an attacking game on them. They are retaining the ball very well, and are more organized than they have been.

``They have dangerous players in Chris Paterson, Sean Lamont and Dan Parks. And their back row is good, especially with Simon Taylor returning to his best form.''

France coach Bernard Laporte has a major injury doubt concerning fly half David Skrela. He has deep bruising to his shin after the game against England and, if he does not play, Stade Francais teammate Lionel Beauxis will step in and Damien Traille will cover on the bench.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden has made five personnel changes from the lineup that lost 19-18 to Ireland at Murrayfield on Saturday and three more positional switches.

He lost fullback Hugo Southwell to a shoulder injury but has dropped four players, including Lions scrum half Chris Cusiter and hooker Dougie Hall.

Ireland struggled to beat the Scots, with Ronan O'Gara scoring all the team's points. Coach Eddie O'Sullivan expects a much better performance from his experienced lineup against the Italians at the Stadio Flaminio.

But he believes that the Six Nations is a grueling tournament and no team can put together five perfect performances.

``The intensity of Six Nations rugby is underestimated in most parts of the world. It's fairly bruising rugby for every side,'' he said. ``Defenses are tighter and more aggressive. It's hard to play well in the Six Nations.

``Look at France. They were going to win the World Cup a couple of weeks ago. They were on track for the Grand Slam and everything was hunky-dory. Then they lost at Twickenham. Where did that come from? The bookies didn't see it either and that's Six Nations rugby.''

Pierre Berbizier's Italians have won back-to-back Six Nations game for the first time. They are stealing the headlines away from the soccer stars in the Italian sports papers and even met Italian Premier Romano Prodi on Thursday.

Italy will face the Irish without standout back rower Mauro Bergamasco, however. He has been suspended for four games for punching Wales fly half Stephen Jones during Saturday's 23-20 victory. The incident was missed by the referee and he stayed on the field to score Italy's matchwinning try.

England rebounded from a record 43-13 loss to Ireland by beating the French to get back into title contention.

With several stars, such as Jonny Wilkinson, Andy Farrell and team captain Phil Vickery sidelined through injury, England was forced to field backup players who have the potential to become stars of the future.

Winger Dave Strettle and fly halves Toby Flood and Shane Geraghty have made an immediate impact and Brian Ashton's team goes to Cardiff confident of victory over a Welsh team which has lost all four matches so far.

Wales has also lost fly half and specialist kicker Stephen Jones with a broken bone in his wrist. James Hook has moved from centr to flyhalf with the experienced Gareth Thomas returning to the starting lineup to take over the captaincy from Jones.