In just two matches, all England’s magic and confidence has been dismantled
It gives me no great pleasure to say I saw this coming. France are on the up and, already sharpened by the arrival of Shaun Edwards, defended well at key moments. England arrived with the wrong team and clearly have not yet shaken off that depressing World Cup final result.
Given all that, I was surprised at the confidence some pundits were showing in an England victory.
It also demonstrated yet again the futility of all the pre-match talk of brutality and physicality and teaching France a few lessons about test rugby! All the intensity came from France, at least for the first 55 minutes before they began to lose shape and concentration.
As for becoming the best rugby team ever and all that hyperbole, England should simply concentrate on becoming the best rugby team for the next 80 minutes. And then the next. that’s what true
Good call: Sir Clive on Friday champion teams do — they never get ahead of themselves.
the time for talking is now over, England must respond to this through their actions on the field of play, circle the wagons and stop all this media hype which is just nonsense and making them all look rather stupid. Now they must focus every bit of energy on a much-improved display on and off the pitch against the Scots because make no mistake, Saturday’s trip to Murrayfield will be just as tough as this game and again I make Scotland firm favourites.
the experiment of playing tom Curry at No 8 and Courtney Lawes at six just didn’t work. Alex Dombrandt, who should have been in the squad from the off, needs to come in for the Scotland game as a starter and Curry must return to his normal spot at blindside with Lawes on the bench.
England lacked a strong ball- carrier off the base or somebody to make some hard yards and offload, all of which sets defences problems. Yesterday all France had to do was keep an eye on Ben Youngs, who wasn’t enjoying a great game and was offering little threat from the base. the French defence has improved but England made it so easy for them.
the stronger-scrummaging Luke Cowan-Dickie should probably start ahead of Jamie George, who looked flat, and England need George Kruis alongside Maro Itoje in the second row. Ellis Genge is another who has earned a start at Murrayfield. He really did bring some intensity to proceedings.
Owen Farrell (below) endured the worst game I have seen him produce for England but I would back him to come good and, indeed, I would move him to 10, which means a slot at outside centre for Jonathan Joseph.
Inside centre is dependent on Manu tuilagi’s fitness. If he is ruled out, that could bring in Ollie Devoto but what a shame England have somehow let Wales sneak in on the blindside to cap Saracens centre Nick tompkins, who made an excellent debut at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
George Furbank looked as though he was brought in a season too early and overall it was all a bit messy, with England looking like a side not quite at ease with themselves and their roles.
Eddie Jones has a really challenging week ahead now because England were well beaten. In just two high-pressure games of rugby all the mystique, magic and confidence of this England team has been totally dismantled and it just shows what can happen the moment you get ahead of yourself and get distracted. Scotland will fancy their chances on Saturday. they were unlucky to lose to Ireland. they deserved something from the game in Dublin and if they can just hold that thought and get the Murrayfield crowd going with an early score, England could be in for another tough evening. Let’s be honest, yesterday wasn’t really as close as the score suggests. France were excellent, disciplined, and strong for 55 minutes as they kept the scoreboard clicking over to move into a 24-0 lead but then did that classic French thing and brought on unnecessary replacements when they thought the match was won.
Fabien Galthie showed his inexperience here but he will learn from this and I do think he is the charismatic coach that France have always been lacking.
their scrum started going backwards, Jonny May produced two world- class individual tries and suddenly England were, cosmetically at least, back in the game.
So Galthie also has a few things to work on but this was still a massive confidence-boosting win. the atmosphere seemed incredible at the Stade de France, which can be a cold and fairly soulless stadium when France are struggling. the whole French rugby nation wanted this win and their team delivered.
With a woeful Italy next up they are already on the front foot in terms of wining the tournament and Grand Slam, which I have favoured them to do from the off.
the spotlight has been on one or two of their younger players but their absolute stars yesterday were the next generation up.
Ever since we spotted Antoine
Dupont playing for Castres four or five years ago we knew he was very special and since overcoming that ACL injury a while back he has been on fire, a magnificent all court scrum-half with a computerlike brain save for that bizarre moment when he kicked the ball dead with a minute to go.
the skipper Charles Ollivon was also excellent and the third French player I would spotlight is their No 8 Gregory Alldritt, whom Scotland perhaps should have capped.
Make no mistake, France are starting to build something and those running English rugby do need to start smelling the coffee!