France simply coped better with pressure
Jones has the trickiest questions to answer as focus turns to the Calcutta Cup clash England were the authors of their own misfortune, as much as they were pressured by France
make the guardians of the game unhappy about how that sounds to parents and kids, it just incites the opposition to play better. As it was, the only brutality visited on anyone, certainly in the first half, was the 15-plus phases that France absorbed in their own 22, while steadily hammering England back until they turned the ball over or were forced to attempt the miraculous, without divine intervention.
Without a control sample, it is impossible to scientifically attribute the vast improvement in
France’s defence to Edwards. Yet what else accounts for the change, not only in technique but in attitude? One of France’s weaknesses has always been their unwillingness to do the dirty, unseen work that does not grab the glory yet is essential to win games.
The largely unheralded work of Jefferson Poirot in turning over two pieces of possession at vital times was as contributory to France’s win as the mercurial talents of Teddy Thomas.
England were the authors of their own misfortune as much as they were pressured by France. When you cannot hang on to your own ball in the opposition 22 and you turn it over regularly, you are in trouble. Jones refused to try to replicate Billy Vunipola’s ball carrying with someone such as Alex Dombrandt and maybe Dombrandt might not have been able to do this. But Tom Curry, playing out of his usual position, certainly could not give the physical lead and get England over the gain line. Once they struggled there, the rest did not follow.
All of which sets up an intriguing clash at Murrayfield in England’s second game. Scotland’s narrow, some said unlucky, defeat in Dublin was familiar for a legion of long-suffering Scottish fans. At times, Scotland’s dexterity was breathtaking, if only their try taking had been more accurate. For a team without a supposed talisman, Finn Russell, they were inspired, but you cannot leave so many clean line breaks and dominance of possession and territory on the pitch and off the scoreboard. The hope was killing; it always is, but with each chance squandered, with each point lost, like England, they became less likely to win.
Without primary ball-carriers, those that make ground after the initial contact, England’s secondary runners cannot function. Scotland’s defence is vulnerable to secondary runners, but if the likes of Hamish Watson can dump England’s primary runners without them breaking the gain line, England will struggle again. They know what struggling at Murrayfield feels like and it is not something to relish.
The old cliche of win your first Six Nations game, come what may and however you can, is such because it is true. Once you lose your opening game you are under severe pressure. Lose again and England are out of title contention and headed for who knows where in the final table.
Both sides are now in the unwanted and unenviable position, but which of them has the nerve to steady the ship? Of the two it is England who have far more answers to find, so for Eddie Jones it might be more a case of visiting intelligence and application than anything that catches the headlines – less newsworthy; more apposite.