Two white horses galloped around the pitch before kick-off. They were flanked by French and English armies with flaming drumsticks and bloodied uniforms, dramatically telling the story of the Hundred Years’ War.
There were battalions and bugles and fireworks but ultimately the English cameras were looking for one man. Behind the 10 laptop screens in the coaching box, Steve Borthwick watched with the weight of a nation on his shoulders.
A remote broadcast camera was installed in front of his seat, primed to catch every moment, ready to see if the head coach crashed and burned on live Saturday night TV.
It ended in heartbreak as Thomas Ramos kicked the winning penalty in the 84th minute, following four tries by stunning French winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, to round off one of the most exhilarating Six Nations games ever seen.
England tasted another defeat but his players showed more fight across 80 minutes than they did in the entire opening rounds. They finished fifth in the standings – their worst ever campaign – but the players showed they are prepared to battle for their coach.
The nature of the defeat will quieten the noise for Borthwick to be sacked on Monday morning, buying him time to lead England into their summer campaign. It was an instant classic as France sealed the title but this is a results business and England’s fortunes must turn quickly.
England’s worst-ever Six Nations campaign ended with a fourth consecutive defeat
This was a battling performance against the champions and must be a blueprint going forward
They must use this performance as their blueprint moving forwards. Diching the kick-first strategy that has lost the faith of the fans, Borthwick has no option but to build upon this liberated attacking plan. Let Lee Blackett loose on the strategy to quash rumours that he has been marginalised.
In Saturday’s Le Parisen newspaper, the French critics compared England to 15 bodybuilders. They said their rugby looks slow and heavy, like something from last century. England have not won any popularity points this year and their own fans arrived at the Stade de France with a sense of resignation.
Outside the stadium, preachers were handing out cups of grenadine to anyone who wanted to stop and talk religion. It was a day for prayers beneath the stained-glass windows of Sainte-Chapelle because England needed some kind of divine intervention.
Over the course of this disastrous campaign, England’s set piece has been one of the few positives. In Paris they turned it into their superstrength. Their scrum has been dominant and their lineout success rate has been 93% on their own throw. Yet they have been prone to gaffes at key moments and Ollie Chessum’s presence as a third jumper in the back-row steadied the ship as they went try-for-try in the opening quarter.
There were signs of trauma in England’s defence. They were shredded on the edges, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey charging down the wing like a whippet. He scored the opening try from Thomas Ramos’ kick but England replied with intent. They did not retreat into their shells like they have in recent weeks, with Tom Roebuck scoring a retaliatory try within minutes.
It was breathless. Emmanuel Meafou hit like a dumper truck. Matthieu Jalibert sprinkled magic across the pitch and, on his second entry to England’s 22, he threaded a kick through the eye of a needle for Bielle-Biarrey’s second.
England’s confidence looked reborn in attack. They deserted their horrid contestable kicks and ran at heavy French defenders. They beat them with speed and footwork before Ben Spencer’s cute grubber kick set up Cadan Murley.
During the Borthwick regime, almost half of their tries have started from a lineout. After a Ramos penalty, they turned to their devastating driving maul. Chessum scored from close range before the lock turned provider for Alex Coles. Fin Smith nudged over a penalty and suddenly England, against all odds, were leading 17-27.
Noise will continue to rage around Steve Borthwick and his future, but this will soften it
They showed they are prepared to battle for their coach, but the match ended in heartbreak
It was an instant classic as France secured a 28th Six Nations title at their home stadium
But Ellis Genge was sin-binned for collapsing a maul on the stroke of half time and France were gifted a penalty try. Over the course of the opening four rounds, England were shown seven yellow cards and one ref. Their discipline has never been worse. They conceded 44 penalties and spent 85 minutes with players in the bin. Genge’s yellow took the count towards 95.
The French capitalised with a storming start to the second half. Dupont set up Bielle-Biarrey for his hat-trick score after just 90 seconds. The French upped the tempo and Dupont’s long pass Theo Attissogbe to move the hosts further ahead.
France looked ready to twist the knife but the momentum swung back to England when Chessum intercepted Jalibert’s pass in his own half and charged down field to score.
Marcus Smith was thrown on after 54 minutes to win his 50th cap. English rugby’s prodigal son is a curious case. His half-century has been bitty and over the past few years you suspect the RFU marketing team have more faith in him than Borthwick’s coaching team. He is not a player who was born to follow a blinkered game plan but this felt like a night that was made for him.
The replacement playmaker scored withing moments of his arrival and kicked the conversion to give his side the lead. Bielle-Biarrey scored his fourth after 66 minutes and France led again.
French Demba Bamba was sin-binned in the 73rd minute and England had a shot at glory.
Tommy Freeman scored in the 77th minute and the victory was in English hands. But this campaign has been a story of disappointment for England and they failed to finish the job.
Henry Pollock pulled off a sensational tackle on Dupont but there were moments of regret. Fin Smith’s missed conversions, Chessum’s failure to score under the posts and a high tackle in the dying seconds that handed France a shot at victory.
Ramos took hold of the kicking tee and slotted the penalty from 40 metres. It was a dagger to English hearts, leaving Borthwick with a long time to work out where he takes the team from here. South Africa are up next in Johannesburg; things will not get any easier but England can at least move forwards with some pride restored.
