Epic battle of pace and power that showcased hosts’ new resilience
England’s hard-fought win over an improving France displayed the depth of their team spirit
Eddie Jones framed it as the 21st war between the English and the French, and it was certainly like going back in time, to an age when France ran at teams rather than try to smash them into the mud, as they have throughout their wilderness years.
England are in a new phase now; the one where opponents try to work out what they like least – and give it to them, right between the eyes. Jones’ unblemished record as England coach, however, is intact, courtesy of a 19-16 victory shaped by a second-half surge and familiar red rose resilience. He called the performance “awful” but praised the 15 who were on the pitch at the end as England posted a 15th consecutive win for the first time in their history.
France are evolving anyway, or at least returning to some of their best traditions. But the gallop they struck up in the first 40 minutes was intended to knock the Six Nations favourites and Grand Slam holders out of their favoured rhythms. England can no longer expect teams to come here and give them what they want: 15 punchbags on which to beat out Jones’ message about becoming world No 1.
The lost art of adventurous French back play was disinterred minutes after the presumed Grand Slam decider between Ireland and England in Dublin on 18 March went up in smoke with Scotland’s victory at Murrayfield. England have more urgent tasks, starting with a visit to Cardiff on Saturday after a brave but unconvincing opening win.
The Six Nations thrives on unpredictability – the appearance of parity – even though Scotland and Italy have been out with the washing for as long as anyone can remember. Yet Scotland’s thrilling win in Edinburgh sent tremors through England’s supporters for Le Crunch.
No longer in recovery, England now have a title to defend, as well as that winning run, and their enemies are gathering in the shadows.
A sequence of sumptuous French attacking just before half-time threatened to send England into the dressing room trailing but they survived to reach the break level at 9-9. After a poor start, they deserved credit for settling nerves and forcing French errors, which Owen Farrell and Elliot Daly punished with thumping penalty kicks.
During that interval, Lee Mears, the former England hooker, told the crowd: “I suspect our game plan was to run them around and get them tired.” Nice try. Mears is plainly a glass half-full man, because no England player enjoyed the scything breaks of Scott Spedding or Noa Nakaitaci. As evidence: the upending, leg first, of Gaël Fickou by Jonny May, who spent 10 minutes in the sin bin for the crime. A Maro Itoje high-tackle was another distress flare from a side not used to being assailed by the kind of audacious play fetched out of a French museum by their coach Guy Novès.
In 2016, England beat every tier-one team except New Zealand. They were deprived of that possibility by not actually playing them. Nor will they meet in 2017 – a glaring anomaly. For now, the more local task is to defend that Grand Slam crown in a Six Nations Championship that looks more volatile than many thought it would be.
‘Strength in depth’ has become a mantra, but no side could escape disruption from starting without Chris Robshaw, George Kruis and the Vunipola brothers, Billy and Mako. Itoje’s move from lock to blindside flanker was no easy baptism, however gifted he is.
The other plank of France’s strategy was to stand up to England’s forwards, with a pack weighing 934kgs, or an average 18st 10lbs, in old money. At No 8, Louis Picamoles was outstanding on the carry: a vital weapon to go with the brawn. Jones accused his pack of “sitting back” in the face of this attack.
All of which made for a proper England-France game, with skill and needle, power and pace, and plenty of bold counter-attacking. It showed England’s recent invincibility to be less firmly grounded than 15 consecutive wins (14 under Jones) would suggest. The champions are starting again, in a new cycle, and their opponents are looking for new ways to bring them down. That immutable law of sport (your enemies fight back) has already added spice to this tournament, not least by making France watchable again. A try by Rabah Slimani restored their lead on the hour and showed Les Bleus to be settling into a multi-faceted approach just as many English observers were expecting them to wilt.
The ‘strength in depth’ claim, though, acquired new force when Ben Te’o came off the bench to score a try that gave England a narrow lead to protect for the last 10 minutes.
There was much more to this improved French display than a dash down memory lane, to the days of elusive running, but it did the early damage. It put a doubt in England’s mind. Maybe they should put up a sign for visitors to Twickenham: ‘No running.’ In truth, it will do them good to have faced the kind of mobile opponents they will need to conquer to get their hands on 2019 World Cup gongs. And they came through it, with a patched-up second-half display that showed the depth of their spirit.
Two absorbing opening fixtures augured well for the rest of this championship, in which England will have to fight every inch and repel new threats to retain their supremacy. A 15th win and France recognisably France again, for a half: two treats in one for the Twickenham crowd.
It will do England good to face the kind of mobile opponents they must beat to win the 2019 World Cup