Now let’s keep those smiles on the fans’ faces
EDDIE JONES said England wanted to put smiles on people’s faces and a win would have done that but the attacking intent they showed would have made the smiles wider. They must keep the same mindset. Everyone was talking up France, but England did more in attack and hopefully they can go into the game against Ireland in similar fashion. They have shown they can do it and it was great to watch.
The discipline helped, too. England gave away 12 penalties, which was an improvement on the 15 against Wales, but did not concede one for 24 minutes and only conceded three in the first half. That was another step in the right direction.
This was a massive win for England with the pressure that was one and it was not just the win it was the way they played.
They put tempo into the game, especially in the last 15 or 20 minutes when France were getting fatigued.
They lifted the pace and had multiple runners coming off George Ford who was playing flat to the line and brought the outside backs into the game. France couldn’t hold them.
That is what I have been frustrated about since the autumn. I’ve been talki ng about t he way England have attacked and yesterday they added on to the improvements they showed in the Wales game and really went at the French. Both teams had intent in the first half and it was brilliant to watch.
Since the World Cup, England might have been too scared of losing and have stuck to a really limited game-plan to try to not lose rather than going out to win. Now with their backs against the wall after losing to Scotland they had to come out and do something and in the last two games they have done that.
Jones would have really revved the boys up this week and used the underdog tag and the backs- to- the- wall feeling to get them firing. To a man they came out and performed well.
Ford had a really good game, Anthony Watson looked sharp again and fair play to Elliot Daly. He has taken a bit of flak but when he came on as replacement for Max Malins after 63 minutes he attacked with real energy running off Ford.
Full-back Malins did his basics well on his first start, but I would have liked to have seen him be a bit more decisive with his counter-attacks. I felt he was jogging a few times when he caught the ball — he needs to do what he does for Bristol. Once he was a bit indecisive and got hit and another time he got turned over, but when he’s playing for Bristol he gets his head down.
He’s got all the fundamentals of a full-back, and he’s got some X-factor with his speed and a few nice touches. If he can get his skillset into games then he’ll go well.
Malins had a couple of simple high balls to deal with early when the French did not pressure him and that helped him get into the game.
IREMEMBER my first high ball as an England player. It was against South Africa in 2007 and I’d been thinking about it in the hotel the night before. They launched it in the air and Percy Montgomery, who had 80-odd caps, was charging towards me. I focused on everything I had practised, caught the ball and it was a massive relief. I was soon brought down to earth, though, when I got folded in half by Schalk Burger.
Malins has got Watson and Jonny May next to him, who are both experienced operators in the back field, both have brilliant high-ball skills and that helps ease the pressure. They both supported him well yesterday.
Regarding future selection, I would stick with Malins for next week in Dublin. In fact, I would stick with the whole team that played France — no one did anything wrong. They can grow with the confidence they got from this game and go again.
But please, Eddie and England, keep that attacking mindset to keep those smiles on our faces!