England flip nook in France thriller to ignite Six Nations title race

England proper again within the Six Nations title race

Steve Borthwick’s England have performed the 2 favourites to elevate the Six Nations trophy in Eire and France, and have come out of these video games with six factors.

Keep in mind final week in Dublin? By 76 minutes England had been 27-10 behind, however they struck for 2 late tries to burgle a late dropping bonus-point which can effectively show very important.

Elliot Daly’s late winner towards France was their fourth attempt of a pulsating Twickenham tussle and earned them a attempt bonus-point which might show decisive on the enterprise finish of the match.

It means Eire can not afford to lose a match with no dropping bonus-point now, whereas defeat for France means they have to win in Dublin on March 8.

England, in the meantime, host Scotland and Italy at residence earlier than travelling to face Wales in Cardiff of their remaining fixtures.

After flooring France, they may fancy themselves to complete the Six Nations with three additional victories, an end result that would go away them proper within the title shake-up

Have England turned a nook?

After brilliantly defeating Grand Slam-chasing Eire in final 12 months’s Six Nations, England went on to lose their subsequent seven Assessments on the spin towards Tier 1 opposition.

They misplaced to France in Lille, New Zealand in Dunedin and Auckland, New Zealand (once more), Australia and South Africa at Allianz Stadium and Eire in Dublin. In each a type of Assessments, Borthwick’s aspect surrendered second-half leads.

To maintain going and get well from falling behind with 5 minutes to play towards France, kicking on and successful the sport, may be an indication England have lastly turned a nook.

“I’m really pleased for the players, everyone wants that tangible reward. I’m very, very proud of them. They work exceptionally hard and are a delight to coach. We’ve always believed,” Borthwick mentioned.

England captain Maro Itoje added: “I’m a big believer in the mantra ‘don’t get too high with the highs or too low with the lows’. We’ll enjoy the moment, this win is special and it wasn’t easy against a very talented French team.

“We all know there’s a lot in us. We wish to keep constant, and we’ll take an trustworthy look. There’s an entire load we will get higher at. It wasn’t good.”

Fabulous Fin Smith appears to be like the person to steer England

The opposite large takeaway on Saturday was the standard of Fin Smith at fly-half on what was his first England begin.

Marcus Smith has gotten the vast majority of the headlines lately, and his tempo with ball in hand is great to observe, however England could have simply discovered a ten to assist them win issues in Northampton’s Fin.

Within the face of a monster Les Bleus pack, the 22-year-old was composed and measured. His kick for Tommy Freeman’s attempt was one thing solely he noticed within the stadium, with groans from followers within the stands turning to cheers because the England wing leapt above Louis Bielle-Biarrey to attain an important attempt.

He was equally adept with ball in hand, enjoying a perfectly-weighted go to Daly to cost by the French defence, away from Antoine Dupont, and over for the match-winning second.

“I thought he played very well and showed great composure,” Borthwick mirrored after the match. “To play like that in your first Test start for England is exceptional.”

England captain Maro Itoje added: “Steve told the group to be ambitious and brave, and go out and try and score tries. Our backs were incredibly brave and incredibly ambitious. They took the opportunities when perhaps before we would have taken the conservative option. The boys were brave and wanted to attack against France.”

France blow one more Grand Slam likelihood

Has there been a aspect in rugby historical past to have possessed a participant of the standard of Antoine Dupont and didn’t win as a lot as France?

By subsequent 12 months’s Six Nations, Les Bleus’ maestro shall be 29 and his solely Grand Slam or worldwide title up to now got here in 2022.

France will not be out of the title race but, in fact, and in the event that they go to Dublin and win in Spherical 4 they might change into odds-on to elevate the trophy, however what an opportunity at a possible Grand Slam they blew at Twickenham.

Their sheer variety of dealing with errors and errors when in promising attacking positions within the first half and early within the second bordered on astonishing.

France may have large regrets reviewing the Check again and have put themselves underneath large stress now.

Wales plumb new depths

Wales’ 22-15 Guinness Six Nations loss to Italy in a rain-swept Rome left them hurtling in the direction of a second successive match picket spoon.

Gatland’s Welsh Rugby Union bosses have promised an in depth overview of Six Nations performances after the competitors and issues are hardly probably to enhance on condition that remaining fixtures are towards Eire, Scotland and England.

It was Gatland’s twentieth loss in 26 Assessments since returning for a second stint on the helm, an eighth Six Nations reversal in a row and the primary time Wales have suffered back-to-back defeats towards Italy.

Additionally they slumped to a brand new world rating low of twelfth, with Georgia climbing above them following their Rugby Europe Championship victory over the Netherlands in Tbilisi.

For the second week in succession, Wales have hit a brand new low, depths they might by no means have thought doable. With no indication when this distress will finish, it seems a case of when and never if the stress on Gatland’s place tells.

Six Nations fixtures: Spherical 3

Saturday February 22

Wales vs Eire (2.15pm)
England vs Scotland (4.45pm)

Sunday February 23

Italy vs France (3pm)

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