France coach Bernard Laporte says his squad's club commitments are hampering their preparations for this year's Six Nations.

Laporte's men meet England at Twickenham on 15 February in an opening-day showdown already billed as the championship decider.

But the France coach complained on Tuesday that domestic league and Heineken Cup duties have so far restricted his players to just two pre-tournament squad sessions.

"It is impossible to get the players to focus all their energies on England because they have commitments with their clubs too," he said.

Next week, we will start studying the English system to find their weaknesses Bernard Laporte

However, the former Stade Francais chief is pleased with what has been accomplished in those two days, both of which have been dedicated to defence.

Laporte hailed the benefits of repetitive training, saying: "Rugby is a mixture of individual and team moves. If one player makes a mistake, the whole team is punished.

"Andre Agassi knows all the tennis moves, but it does not prevent him practising them every day. We do the same.

"This week, we worked on our defence. Next week, we will start studying the English system to find their weaknesses."

On Sunday, Laporte received the Coach of the Year trophy at an International Rugby Board awards ceremony in London.

His captain, Fabien Galthie, was named Player of the Year and France were voted Team of the Year.

Laporte said of his gong: "It really pleased me, but, to be honest, I have already forgotten about it.

"I even wonder if the English did not do it on purpose - to give us all these trophies early."

And he added: "That night we did not see any of them, neither (Clive) Woodward nor the players.

"Maybe they were still training at one o'clock in the morning!"