EDDIE’S EXPOSED AS PROUD FRENCH POSE PROBLEMS

CAMERON WOKI was steaming with indignity during his man-ofthe-match interview, referencing the pre-game rhetoric of the ‘French farce’ and how they turned themselves into the ‘French force’ in the Autumn Nations Cup final.

Many a pundit had England by a large margin. The players too may have subconsciously seen this as a golden opportunity to add to their bulging trophy cabinet. But the French thrive on the unexpected and that Latin emotion is at its highest against the English.

In truth they were unlucky to lose, playing fast and loose as the best French teams do, they doggedly stuck to the task. They kicked long and in-field to tactically outsmart their hosts, stifling England’s set-piece game. Without that launchpad, England merrily kicked the ball back to France, even as the 2,000-strong crowd grew restless.

As the French grew in confidence, England tightened up, missing giltedged chances which meant they needed Owen Farrell’s oddly misfiring boot to pull them through.

This is why Eddie Jones reacted the way he did when he claimed it was disrespectful to criticise the players. He knew England played poorly, spurned opportunities and fed the belief of the French. But his claim is classic misdirection.

Critics are not critiquing the players, they are criticising him. He instils the mindset, the motivation, and the gameplan. When those are brought into question, it is the coach they are targeting.

Jones is a savvy enough operator to know he was outcoached. France’s hurt pride and their desire to keep the ball in play surprised and worried England, and none of this was addressed at half-time, as the home team returned to the field with the same plans.