The challenge for coaches is to connect different aspects of their team so that they can flow together and support performances that overwhelm opponents. England wanted to win this Six Nations, but a major consolation prize is the way they showed such displays are within their grasp; even against experienced opponents.
Steve Borthwick’s forwards scored four tries in Lyon to add to the three that marked the 23-22 win over Ireland at Twickenham last weekend. On Saturday night they found themselves on the wrong side of another thriller as France faced off. But despite his desire to win these games rather than simply participate in them, Borthwick clearly cultivates a tenacious and intuitive side capable of attacking with verve.
When he was sacked at the end of 2022, Eddie Jones aimed to broaden England’s horizons to become a team that could play in different ways. Over the past two months, Borthwick has provided compelling evidence suggesting this is being achieved. Four attempts against France reinforced this.
Try one: Nuance on the gain line
Leicester Tigers’ Premiership title win in 2022 was based on capturing control territory. It is not surprising that Borthwick brought the subtleties of that approach to England. When trailing 16-3, his players had to respond and did so thanks to their restart strategy.
Just like against Ireland when they aimed kicks at Bundee Aki, England opted for Emmanuel Meafou. Here, George Ford’s attack gives Tommy Freeman, who steps off his right wing to pursue, time to eat the ground and tackle France’s colossal lock:
Meafou repelled Maro Itoje, but Ollie Chessum can still pressure Nolann le Garrec’s approval:
This gives England a lineout close to the 22. They move into midfield, where the aim is to send Ben Earl into the channel occupied by Thomas Ramos:
Ford throws a pass behind Sam Underhill to Earl, who drifts onto the ball and bursts into the French fly-half. A quick ruck results:
Léo Barré, the French full-back, has to push flat and leave space behind, which Henry Slade spies…
…and then locates with a right-footed harvester. Damian Penaud turns from the wing on the blind side, but is still bundled into touch:
England show patience and conviction to defend their lineout amid a series of opposition fouls and eventually they move the ball away from a maul absorbing a counter-hove before moving forward. Slade redirects Ollie Lawrence:
The pattern is used by many teams – Scotland fooled England with it at Murrayfield for Duhan van der Merwe’s first try – and underlines the balance Slade and Lawrence provide.
With Ford lurking in the back, Ramos can’t jam on Lawrence. Slade chooses the short option instead of the pull-back, but also pushes the pass over his center partner so that Lawrence can drift onto Gaël Fickou’s outside shoulder:
Bath want to get the most out of Lawrence by putting layers of deception around him and giving him one-on-ones. England replies here:
The attempt gives them a foothold and they continue.
Try two: short-range efficiency
After Le Garrec fueled the England lineout by breaking free from the restart – a slightly different one that allowed Slade to battle in the air – the visitors went for Ramos again. They follow a similar pattern, with Earl appearing behind Underhill.
Look Laurens. He cuts an angle off Earl’s shoulder…
…and would have caused real problems if he had been found again with a short pass:
Either way, England deserve a quick ball and Ford can push flat. After two short passes, with Alex Mitchell finding Ford and Ford moving him to Slade, a longer pass is sent across the face of Marcus Smith to Freeman.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey has roamed the field and is caught hopelessly flat-footed:
England responded well to the break. They have three forwards – Jamie George, Ellis Genge and Underhill – who run flat to offer themselves to Mitchell.
Genge is the carrier in this case, but look at how three more attackers – Earl, Itoje and Underhill – are ready for the next phase:
Ford steps down after Genge’s run into the starting receiver role. Next to the attackers, notice how Freeman is back in the game, tracking the ball upfield:
Ford drives a pass over Earl and Itoje to Underhill. The latter shrugs off Thibaud Flament and hands off Charles Ollivon’s tackle to Earl, who has brilliantly adjusted his line of support:
Earl comes close, but England stay calm to take advantage. In the recent past, their inability to convert these positions has been crippling. In Earl’s post-break phase, Freeman steps up at scrum half as he acknowledges that Mitchell had to help Itoje secure the ball during the breakdown:
England zigzag before Mitchell finds Lawrence on the short side:
In terms of looking for chances and playing in space, England have improved enormously.
Try three: kick manipulation and a set shot
A lengthy exchange of kicks sets up England’s next score, starting with a box kick from Alex Mitchell. Note that Dan Cole and George Martin switch places, with the former joining the ruck and the latter pushing out, to ensure that England’s chase is as well organized and efficient as possible:
Elliot Daly is the main pursuer…
…and catches the ball neatly. Note that Penaud had to come forward:
This leaves a lot of ground for France’s remaining two back row players – Leo Barré and Bielle-Biarrey – to cover. Ford immediately notices this and asks for a pass. He then sends a spear kick towards the space behind Bielle-Biarrey, who has to turn:
Bielle-Biarrey’s return kick, under pressure from Freeman, is wobbly…
…and Smith feeds it back. Note that Bielle-Biarrey makes the tackle and the remaining defender on the near side is Ramos:
Freeman scans and he backpedals behind the breakdown…
…and has to call for the ball as Ramos heads towards the open side:
Mitchell puts in a break and looks ready to get a return charge. Barré is very fortunate not to be caught in what seems like an instinctive assault:
This angle suggests that England is unhappy. Ford is furious:
What happens is that Flament collects the ball and France tries to hit the ball again via Le Garrec:
This is a good chance to reflect on the variety that a pack with Itoje, George Martin and Chessum brings to the lineout. England call a four-man formation and are initially configured as follows, with Martin up front and Dan Cole, Itoje and Chessum behind him in that order:
Martin arcs back and Itoje comes up as a dummy jumper, with dummy lifters from Cole and Chessum. However, Cole keeps coming towards the tail and Chessum turns around:
Jamie George throws to the back, where Chessum is lifted by Cole and Martin:
Meanwhile, a four-man lineup means England can put their three remaining forwards in the backline. In this case they are Ellis Genge, Earl and Underhill. Also note where Smith begins this phase. Once again England want to force Ramos to make defensive decisions.
In this case, Ford is feeding Genge. Ramos is pinned down, even though Grégory Alldritt could drift towards Genge, and a flat pass sends Earl between Ramos and Nicolas Depoortère. In broken play, Smith arrives on Earl’s right shoulder:
Watch the attack via:
Smith’s finishing is excellent. He steps into a covering Penaud and moves the ball under his right arm to deflect Barré:
England might have been given the penalty try and a yellow card if Barré had been collared moments earlier, but this is a great reaction and from 24-16 they really should have closed the game.
Try four: work away from the ball and around the corner
Felix Jones and Richard Wigglesworth’s next goal will be for England to become even sharper in transition so that their defense produces regular try-scoring opportunities.
There was a turnover on their fourth attempt. Ironically, it comes from a tackle very similar to the one that ultimately decided the match when Earl brought down Romain Taofifénua. Alex Dombrant is ready to dive for the jackal and Angus Gardner answers the whistle:
England are going to beat France around the corner and simply beat it, by combining complicated running angles and strength:
Manu Tuilagi returns to the lineout and is the first to carry…
…before Freeman spears from his wing. Danny Care’s pass travels via Ethan Roots and Theo Dan to its destination:
As Itoje continues the next phase, watch Freeman pick himself off the floor:
This is a good perspective to show how he times his run to arrive outside Marcus Smith, who is found by George Ford’s film:
Referring to GPS data, Aled Walters revealed that Freeman and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso had covered significant distances against Ireland. This try shows the value of wings roaming the field. At the World Cup, England were known as a team that worked hard in defence. This is a perfect example to illustrate how hard they work on offense, and the tangible rewards they can reap.
Shaun Edwards, the French defense coach, acknowledged at full-time that “England’s attack was coming at us all over the place”. Borthwick’s side held firm in the set-piece exchanges, kicking 34 times for a whopping 1,105 metres. Yet their sharp attack on these foundations will have attracted supporters and raised hopes for the future.
Next step for England? Meeting Eddie Jones in Japan before taking on Scott Robertson’s All Blacks. After the defeat at Murrayfield, those assignments seemed ominous. The last two weeks should provide excitement as England look a confident and capable team.
Match images from ITV