The French are given an English lesson

The Six Nations games resumed last week with the key game between England and France being the show piece event. Eventually England made it three from three in the Six Nations thanks to an impressive performance at Twickenham.

England had beefed up their side in preparation for a well anticipated power battle by making three vital changes – Manu Tuilagi to start opposite Bastareaud, Dylan Hartley and Courtney Lawes who made his first Test start at blindside flanker. The contest was not for the fainthearted and the battle at the breakdown point was bloody and ferocious. At the end of it England had a victory in their pocket and a few scars to show, including the bloodied shirt of Tuilagi.

Manu Tuilagi scored England’s only try of the game as he weaved a web of magic around the French dwfenders. Stuart Lancaster’s men trailed by a point at the halfway mark after a brilliant try from Wesley Fofana. The goal kicking by England was superior and all opposition are aware of giving away penalties even on the half way mark given the kicking prowess of Farrel. Eventually Farrell kicked 12 points and Toby Flood six to send the rapturous England fans home actually believing that those heady days of 2003 could be repeated while France are without a win from their opening three matches in the championship.

It is a cruel twist for France who actually did not deserve to lose at least two of the games. France has now equalled their worst start to a Five/Six Nations championship for 31 years. They started off as pre-tournament favourites but are now occupying the bottom of the points table. The decision to have Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh-Duc reinstated in the half-backs and Fofana in midfield made them look a different side and continuation of this combination is bound to reap rich dividends.

For the record England won the Six Nations title in 2011 but they have not completed a clean sweep since Martin Johnson led them to the Grand Slam 10 years ago. Chris Robshaw the England captain was named man of the match, thereby increasing his chances of landing the plum job of captain of the British and Irish Lions later this year. England’s set-pieces were under tremendous French pressure at the start of the second half but they managed to see off this challenge well.

The game was not without a crucial refereeing error. Midway through the second half England # 8 Tom Wood hacked at a loose ball at a ruck, and as it ricocheted off his team-mate and should have been called as accidental offside. Referee Craig Joubert missed this and centre Manu Tuilagi collected the ball sped away to score a game-changing try. Manu Tuilagi’s bandaged head and blood-stained shirt were testament to a gutsy display and justifying his selection without any doubt. The crowd of 81,700+ had got their money’s worth even if some of them were French.

The super Rugby saw the debut of the ‘Kings’ as well the use of more technology. The referee was now fitted with a webcam and the close-up shot of the scrums and the words of wisdom imparted by the referee to the various offending players made interesting viewing. The call at the start of a scrum is now different to the four point call of yesteryear. The timing of the call needs to be standardised by the referees as some of them take ages to make the final call.



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