Six Nations: England v France, Twickenham
Saturday, 4.45 – Live on Virgin Media One & UTV
Once upon a time France headed to London with a certain amount of trepidation. For 18 years they could not buy a Six Nations win at Twickenham, to the point where people muttered about mental blocks and psychological hang-ups. Until a couple of years ago, that is, when Steve Borthwick’s England were torn apart 53-10 in the heaviest home defeat the old cabbage patch has ever known.
At a stroke all that historical baggage was gloriously jettisoned. Which is precisely what England would now love to replicate on a chilly February day in their retitled concrete citadel. There is no sweeter feeling in sport than unexpected success, particularly when a home victory is widely viewed as up there, in terms of probability, with Donald Trump’s vision for a “Gaza Riviera”.
It remains one of the Six Nations’ most appealing qualities: hope springs eternal even when le coq sportif is in town. There are also precedents for those who insist the latest version of “Le Crunch” – the 112th Test between the two nations – is not a totally foregone conclusion. Take 2007 when, as now, England had just lost in Dublin and changed their flyhalf for the visit of France. The home coach Brian Ashton was also trying to transform his side’s approach and Toby Flood and Shane Geraghty ended up starring in the absence of the injured Jonny Wilkinson and Andy Farrell.
On that bright sunny afternoon England prevailed 26-18 and, against expectations, went on to reach that year’s World Cup final. This time Fin Smith and Marcus Smith are in harness, picked to start together in a gift to indie music-loving headline writers. Hopefully the stadium DJ will take the hint and stick on What Difference Does it Make?
England may struggle with France’s physical threat through the middle and pace on the wings
Gerry Thornley: Scotland’s desperation to end losing run will put Ireland to the test
Two twos equal formidable as Sheehan and Kelleher put Ireland in strong position
Matt Williams: Scotland could beat Ireland if they do something they haven’t done for years
Once the serious business starts, though, England must try to dance to their own tune. If they cannot step up physically and prevent France from dictating the game’s shape and tempo they could pick Will Smith at flyhalf and it wouldn’t matter. England are seeking to broaden their game but one of the underlying truths is that their pack hasn’t blown anyone away for a while. What Borthwick would give for an Emmanuel Meafou, a Peato Mauvaka or a Grégory Alldritt, let alone an Antoine Dupont riding shotgun.
Watching Dupont play, regardless of your nationality, is currently a privilege, less so if your job is to shut him down. England’s clubs have had no joy on that front in the Champions Cup and the return of Damian Penaud makes life harder still. Because, as Wales found in round one, there is no easy escape if France start playing the kind of rugby in which they specialise.
Borthwick, for one, is wary of the intricate patterns and offloading chaos they can create. “They are probably the best side in the world at being able to attack tight and create momentum,” says the head coach. “Their offloading game is very good, which has the ability to [suck in] defenders. Then they are very strong at getting the ball to width very fast. And the fastest way they do that is Antoine Dupont pulling out those cross-kicks off both feet.”
It perfectly sums up the twin challenges facing England: dealing with France’s physical threat through the middle and coping with their pace and dexterity further out. And then sustaining that effort for the full 80 minutes. Against Ireland their composure went AWOL when it mattered and some missed first-up tackles were equally costly. Make those mistakes again and it will be bonne nuit.
This pivotal stage also makes it essential that England rebound from last week’s disappointing second half. A second successive loss will effectively end any chance of claiming this season’s title and a lopsided scoreline will definitely ramp up the pressure on the management with Scotland next up later this month.
No wonder many England followers have been looking wistfully across the Channel, not just at the booming Top 14 but at the battalion of expats unavailable to Borthwick. Imagine if Jack Willis, Owen Farrell, Courtney Lawes, David Ribbans, Kyle Sinckler, Will Collier, Joe Marchant and Henry Arundell were currently still able to wear the red rose? Now ask yourself whether France’s task this weekend would be harder.
Maro Itoje, among others, would be delighted to see some of his former team-mates become available again but, for now, that debate is for union officials above his pay grade (not forgetting their bonuses). The more pertinent argument to be discussed, perhaps, is how well the Premiership prepares those left behind for the intensity of modern Test rugby?
We are about to find out. The composed Fin Smith has been consistently impressive for Northampton for the last couple of seasons, and handing him the baton alongside fellow Saints such as Alex Mitchell, Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme should help England’s cohesion, just as France benefit from the cohesive partnerships of their respective Toulouse and Bordeaux representatives.
Take the innate understanding between Penaud and the recalled Matthieu Jalibert, back at fly-half in place of the suspended Romain Ntamack, which looks certain to test England’s defensive organisation, much improved against Ireland until things began to unravel. Subduing Dupont will be even trickier – England’s near-miss in Lyons during last year’s Six Nations, lest we forget, was against a French side lacking its petit general.
At least this weekend’s rendezvous has all the makings of a grand occasion and a good advert for rugby union. Something out of the ordinary frequently happens when France come to Twickenham. and often it takes just a single spark to illuminate the contest and light the blue touchpaper.
Back in 1991 it was the can-do spirit of Serge Blanco that instigated the magical try finished by Philippe St-André and, according to the French novelist Jacques Perret, even the greatest games of football cannot match rugby in one crucial respect. “When deprived of their hands men cannot explain themselves so well,” wrote Perret in his preface to Denis Lalanne’s classic book The Great Fight of the French Fifteen. “That is why the game of soccer could never give you, as rugby can, the impression of a quarrel perfectly expressed.”
Right here, right now, England would settle for winning this particular argument by any available means. More likely is an away win in excess of 15 points, albeit one in which the hosts have their moments and their oval-ball cathedral rocks with fleeting hope. For England’s most loyal fans, regardless of how the Smiths perform, there is a light that never goes out.
ENGLAND: M Smith; T Freeman, O Lawrence, H Slade, O Sleightholme; F Smith, A Mitchell; E Genge, L Cowan-Dickie, W Stuart; M Itoje (capt), G Martin; T Curry, B Earl, T Willis. Replacements: J George, F Baxter, J Heyes, O Chessum, C Cunningham-South, B Curry, H Randall, E Daly.
FRANCE: T Ramos; D Penaud, P Barassi, Y Moefana, L Bielle-Biarrey; M Jalibert, A Dupont (capt); J Baptiste Gros, P Mauvaka, U Atonio; A Roumat, E Meafou; F Cros, P Boudehent, G Alldritt. Replacements: J Marchand, C Baille, G Colombe, H Auradou, M Guillard, O Jegou, N Le Garrec, E Gailleton.
Referee: N Amashukeli (Geo).
