England under pressure to avoid unwanted record in daunting Six Nations showdown with France
Depending if you are a glass half-full or half-empty person, Saturday’s showdown with France is either the best or worst game for England.
Steve Borthwick’s side head into this Test at Twickenham off the back of an opening Six Nations defeat to Ireland and looking to avoid an unwanted record.
England have lost their last seven games in a row against Tier One opposition. Never in the country’s history have they lost eight on the bounce.
“There is always expectation,” said Borthwick. “Any of the main English sports there is expectation to win – cricket, football, rugby – there is expectation.
“And when you take the job you expect that expectation. I would rather be involved with a team that has expectation than one that doesn’t.”
England need a result and what better side to do that again than France. An opponent like that at a packed Twickenham should inspire Borthwick’s side and he will hope this is the turning point after a poor run of form in the autumn, too.
France, in contrast to England, come into this clash flying. The French dismantled Wales 43-0 in their opening game and the return of scrum-half and captain Antoine Dupont after his Olympic exploits has galvanised them.
They will be without fellow playmaker Romain Ntamack this weekend, after his red card against Wales last week, so Matthieu Jalibert gets the chance to wear the No10 shirt.
It underlines the embarrassment of riches available to France that they can parachute in Jalibert, while they are also boosted by the return of Damian Penaud.
The wing, who has scored 36 tries in 53 appearances, was absent last week due to a toe injury and is set to play his first game for France since last year’s Six Nations.
“It’s been a year since he’s played for us, I think he must be hungry, very hungry,” said France boss Fabien Galthie.
“He’s a finisher, who threatens the balance of attack. He’s always put his hand up, always played well, even very well.”
Stopping Dupont holds the key to England claiming a victory on Saturday and few sides, if any really, have found the answer.
England attack coach Richard Wigglesworth declared the scrum-half the best player he’s ever seen this week and Dupont was imperious against Wales, running the show before coming off with 30 minutes to go. France were 28-0 up by that stage.
“I’ve never seen a guy get out of trouble as well as he does,” Wigglesworth told Sky Sports. “He is [like Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes]. You think the play’s dead, and it’s not. That’s a good comparison.”
England’s slim hopes of a Six Nations crown will be dead if they lose on Saturday and Borthwick has made three changes after last week’s loss in Dublin.
Fin Smith is handed a first start after seven appearances off the bench and he takes the No10 shirt.
Marcus Smith has been shifted to full-back, as a result, which has led to Freddie Steward dropping out. Ollie Sleightholme is also added to the back three as wing Cadan Murley is out with a foot injury.
The final change comes in the pack. Tom Willis starts at No8, with Ben Earl moving to open-side flanker and Ben Curry dropping to the bench.
Former captain Jamie George is back after missing last week through injury and, like Elliot Daly, offers experience from the bench.
“I think it’s an exciting partnership,” Borthwick said of his pair of Smiths. “We tried it in the second half of the Japan test [in November] and again on Saturday in the second half. We’ve trained that combination together a multiple number of times.
“You’ve got players who both see space, both in the front line and the backfield. If you look at those unstructured situations in the November series and on Saturday, how dangerous Marcus was and is, if you give him time and space he can hurt the opposition.”
