Trust an eclipse to come along just when English rugby is hoping to see the light. The big shadow over Twickenham in recent times has been a shortage of major silverware – one title since 2003 – and Stuart Lancaster’s players finally have a chance to earn their rare place in the sun.
The Six Nations denouement is not a World Cup final but there is still a defining glint to it. No one understands this better than those awaiting an afternoon that will also test the nerve of Wales and Ireland, as well as the French.
‘Needs to win’
“Timing-wise, this team needs to win something before the World Cup and we’ve put that pressure on ourselves,” said Dylan Hartley, England’s hooker, before his side’s final competitive match before this autumn’s World Cup. “From the outset we said we wanted to win it. This will be the biggest [day in an
England
shirt] for me and I’m sure for the team as well.”
Hartley is well qualified to judge, having been involved in England’s anticlimactic title success in 2011. On that occasion they were well beaten in Dublin and, for many, memories of receiving the trophy in their hotel lobby that evening remain hazy. “When you ask me if I have won the Six Nations I don’t feel like I have,” said Hartley.
Hence the desire, after three subsequent runners-up efforts, to get the job done this time. It is impossible to be certain but England may yet require at least a 10-point win should events in Rome and Edinburgh pan out as Wales and Ireland hope. Given that France have conceded two tries in four games it is not the mathematical formality it might have been had Lancaster’s side been more clinical against Scotland.
Nor is it as simple as throwing the ball to Jonathan Joseph and inviting the tournament's top scorer to add to his four tries in four games. As Hartley rightly insists, getting a forward grip will be fundamental given France's traditional strength in that area.
“When people talk about scoring lots of points they confuse that with people like Jonathan Joseph having lots of the ball and doing loads of sidesteps, breaks and no-look passes,” the Northampton captain said. “In reality it’s about playing the ball in the right parts of the field and applying pressure. If I was the French coming to this game I’d be thinking about how England want to score all these points. I’d make it a set-piece game and slow it down.”
Graham Rowntree, England's forwards coach, suspects the French frontrow will be a handful. Rowntree has considerable respect for a pack that put the squeeze on Italy last Sunday: "The DNA of a French forward pack is their set piece. In big games they will go back to that."
The venue
In England’s favour is the venue. The hosts have won their past eight Six Nations matches at Twickenham and Rowntree expects the crowd to help shape the latest version of “Le Crunch”. “I want the French to come here and feel they are playing against a nation, not just 15 guys on the field. I am sure the crowd will do that for us.” Guardian Service
