6 NATIONS SPECIAL

HISTORY has told us that no matter how good a team you are, Grand Slams rarely come easy and we saw that again in Paris last night when this England team had to dig very deep to write their chapter in the record book.

It was helter-skelter stuff best watched behind the sofa at times but England got there in the end in what was comfortably the most absorbing game of the tournament. England are deserved Grand Slam champions and how sweet that must feel six months after the World Cup debacle.

It was a nervous start by England and although you would always hope to be more composed this was a hugely pressurised game against a French team who were clearly up for it. The Stade de France isn’t always the most atmospheric of grounds but it was buzzing.

So what with a penalty against Watson straight from the kick-off, a penalty against Itoje at the next play and a simple three points for Machenaud, France were straight into the game.

And you have to credit them for that, for they began playing with an intensity and passion we haven’t seen for a good while.

Virimi Vakatawa was on fire out on the wing and Scott Spedding was enjoying a big game as well and those two gave France real presence going forward.

France should have built a bit of a lead but England hung in and made the best of their opportunities. Danny Care’s try was a beauty, exactly the kind of heads-up rugby you pick him for.

At the ruck you could see him take a quick glance and he knew it was on even though he was 40-45 yards out and he has got real wheels when he goes.

England were still under the pump though and I didn’t feel there was one dominant figure in the team to put his hand up and take control.

France had done their homework in the backs and stood really deep to off-set the rush wolfpack defence and a few dog-legs appeared in that English defensive line which had your heart in your mouth.

They had also done their homework on Billy Vunipola and generally contained him better than any other side in this Six Nations.

England also seemed to change their exit strategies, playing too much rugby in their 22 before clearing the ball. This was the kind of situation when they needed to do the simple thing well, gain the maximum yardage and then work to disrupt the French lineout, which looked vulnerable all night

But then, just when it was feeling a bit fraught, England took the next chance that presented itself when Dan Cole rumbled over.

France complained about a possible obstruction, though I didn’t think there was much to it and I was delighted that Nigel Owens didn’t hang around too much and get into a debate with the TMO.

So far so good, but then England started leaking penalties either side of half-time, which was partly a product of good French pressure and creaky English discipline which had been one of their weaknesses this season and something they badly need to work on.

That ill-discipline continued after the break and Machenaud didn’t look like missing and again some of their exit plays were pedestrian but at least they kept positive in attack and were well rewarded with Anthony Watson’s try.