For England, just winning the final match of the Six Nations is enough, even if they do not win the championship. As nice as it is to go to a World Cup, especially one being played in your own backyard, as the champions of Europe, it’s not everything. Come second on points difference but having lost only one match – and that to the side currently third in the world rankings – and Stuart Lancaster should consider himself in a good place. Come second having lost twice, including defeat at the hands of the most inconsistent side in the Six Nations, and that confidence is in danger of going down the tubes.
The danger for Lancaster’s England is that they look at the tapes and think Philippe Saint-André’s side are there for the taking rather than give proper respect to a good team who, frustratingly, are not playing well. Or not playing well consistently.
There were times – notably in Dublin – when France, in flashes, were something like the side they should and could be. England’s job on Saturday is not to invite France into the game, to deny them the inspiration and momentum that French sides feed off. And, after last weekend’s performance against Scotland, it’s a real worry.
The last time England were truly convincing in this Six Nations was during the second half of the opening night in Cardiff. Having given Wales a 10-point start, England refused to budge from their script. However, having got over that considerable hurdle what happened next confirmed England as a young side, searching for consistency.
First they invited Italy into the game and were close to going two tries down, before running out clear if not satisfyingly clinical winners. Then Dublin must have been such a shock to the system. A mix of ill-discipline and 55 minutes of Jonathan Sexton was enough to banish dreams of going to the autumn with a grand slam in English pockets.
And last time out? Twickenham was the first I’d seen of Scotland in the flesh this Six Nations and I was less than impressed. That England failed to put the game beyond Scottish reach until late was down to an inability by Lancaster’s men to finish line breaks and even though Ireland aren’t exactly a try machine, I doubt they’ll be so generous in setting England a target on Saturday.
OK, England scored three tries – eventually – but Scotland got one of their own and often attacked in a manner that pointed up the lack of line speed and abrasive edge in the England defence, a hangover from the summer tour to New Zealand. There they rushed up only to find the point of attack had been switched or the first receiver was nothing but a decoy to take the sting out of onrushing defence. Unfortunately, the autumn “cure” came with side-effects, notably a passivity that comes close to matching that of their opponents on Saturday.
In fact there have been times this Six Nations when the French seem to have given up on the gain line. In part this was because of the No10 Saint-André chose to run the show, Camille Lopez, a fly-half shown the kind of patience rarely afforded French fly-halves since before the days of Bernard Laporte. Under Saint-André alone we’ve seen (briefly and in no particular order) François Trinh-Duc, Lionel Beauxis, Jules Plisson, Frédéric Michalak and Rémi Talès in the shirt and when Lopez was paired with his club partner, Morgan Parra, for the Wales match it was, I think, the 15th half-back pairing in 35 Tests for Saint-André, and the sixth in succession for Lopez.
In other circumstances it could have worked, and may yet one day, but the Lopez-Parra partnership looks most comfortable in the structured surroundings at Clermont Auvergne. France are anything but. In fact, France this Six Nations have often looked like eight forwards and five backs all playing like individuals with a couple of half-backs trying in vain to pull everything together. There has been precious little teamwork. And, like a child who knows he can do better, the frustration makes things worse.
It’s not like the coldness of the Laporte regime or the downright warfare of the Marc Lièvremont era up until the 2011 World Cup final. This is a talented side who want to play for Saint-André and are trying to find a way of playing. Perversely, England must hope the injury to Lopez and return of the once-feted Plisson doesn’t do the trick. Plisson is going well with Stade Français, looked handy when he came on against Italy and was around for England’s telling defeat in Paris last season.
Remember, France can still take the title but everything – beating England by at least eight points while Ireland lose in Scotland and Wales are beaten in Italy – has to fall their way. No, I’d settle for 80 minutes played along the lines of the Cardiff script but for the full 80 minutes and a win. Anything else that comes along will be a bonus.
