England immediately in the title race of six nations
Steve Borthwick England has played the two favorites to raise the trophy of six nations in Ireland and France, and have come out of those six -point games.
Remember last week in Dublin? With 76 minutes England was 27-10 behind, but they hit two late attempts to steal a late missing bonus, which can be important.
Elliot Daly’s late winner against France was their fourth attempt at a twicknham tussle pulsating and won them a test bonus that could be crucial at the end of the tournament business.
It means that Ireland cannot allow to miss a match without a bonus loss point now, while losing to France means they have to win in Dublin on March 8.
England, meanwhile, Scotland and Italy at home before traveling to face Wales in Cardiff in their remaining matches.
After France’s floor, they will love themselves to finish the six nations with three further victories, a result that would leave them right in the Shake-up title
Has England turned a corner?
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England coach Steve Borthwick says the victory of the six nations of England against France was a great spectacle in Twickenham
After defeating Grand Slam-Chasing Ireland in the six nations last year, England continued to lose their next seven tests in rotation against Tier 1 opposition.
They were lost in France in Lille, New Zealand in Dunedin and Auckland, New Zealand (again), Australia and South Africa in Allianz Stadium and Ireland in Dublin. In each of those tests, the Borthwick team was delivered in the second part.
To continue and heal from the fall after five minutes to play against France, starting and winning the game, it can simply be a sign that England has finally turned a corner.
“I’m really pleased with the players, everyone wants that tangible reward. I’m very, very proud of them. They work extremely hard and are a pleasure for the coach. We’ve always believed,” Borthwick said.
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England’s blocking Maro Itje says victory 26-25 against a talented team of France is special and an excuse of previously tired work.
England’s captain Maro Ityje added: “I am a great believer in the mantra” Don’t be too high with heights or too low with landings. “We’ll enjoy the moment, this victory is special and it was not easy against a team Very talented French.
“We know there is so much in us. We want to stay steady, and we will throw an honest view. There is a whole load that we can improve. It was not perfect.”
Fabulous fin Smith looks man to lead England
Fin Smith produced a player show of the match at its first start in England
Saturday’s other big taking was the quality of fin Smith in the half flight in what was his first beginning in England.
Marcus Smith has received most of the titles in recent years, and his front -hand rhythm is great to see, but England may have only found a 10 to help them win things in fin Northampton.
In front of a monster package Les Bleus, the 22-year-old was composed and measured. His blow to Tommy Freeman’s test was just something he saw in the stadium, with groaning from fans in the booths returning to cheers while the wing of England was thrown over Louis Bielle-Biarrey to mark important test.
He was just as capable of the ball in his hand, playing a weighted pass in Dary to load through French defense, away from Antoine Dupont, and more at the time the winners of the match.
“I thought he played very well and showed a great calmness,” reflected Borthwick after the match. “Playing so at your first start of the test for England is extraordinary.”
England’s captain Maro Itye added: “Steve told the group to be ambitious and courageous, and go out and try and score evidence. Our ridge were too bold and too ambitious. They used the possibilities when we probably had obtained the conservative option.
France blows another great chance of collision
France could have scored three attempts in the first half but were prevented by treating mistakes
Has there been a side in Rugby’s story to have an Antoine Duont quality player and has failed to win as much as France?
Up to the next six nations of next year, Maestro ‘Les Bleus’ will be 29 years old and his only great title or international title so far came in 2022.
France is not yet out of the title race, of course, and if they go to Dublin and win in round 4 they would have disagreements to raise the trophy, but what chance in a potential great collision they explode in twiceneham.
Their large number of treatment errors and errors when in promising offensive positions in the first half and at the beginning of the latter was limited to amazement.
France will have great regrets that revise the test again and have put themselves under great pressure now.
Lead bullets new depths
Warren Gatland acknowledged that Wales’s shy running left him questioning his judgment
22-15 Guinness Six the nations of Wales in Italy in a rainy Rome left them damaging towards a second consecutive wooden spoon tour.
Gatland’s Rugby Wales Union chiefs have promised a detailed summary of the six posts of nations after competition and issues are unlikely to be improved given that the remaining matches are against Ireland, Scotland and England.
It was Gatland’s 20th loss in 26 tests since returning to a second blow to the top, an eight-eight-nations upheld, and the first time Wales suffered back-back loss against Italy.
They also collapsed in a new 12th world ranking of the 12th, with Georgia ascending them following their victory of the Rugby Europe championship on the Netherlands in Tbilisi.
For the second week in a row, Wales has hit a new low depth that they would never have thought possible. Without any indication when this misery will end, it seems a case when and not if the pressure on Gatland’s position shows.
Six nations matches: round 3
Saturday 22 February
Walls vs Ireland (2.15 afternoon)
England vs Scotland (4.45 in the afternoon)
Sunday 23 February
Italia vs France (3 in the afternoon)
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