It was as if they grew another leg, arm, heart – it was wave after wave and it was unstoppable. There were blue shirts everywhere and it didn’t matter how hard we tried, there was nothing we could do. I’m sure it was a great spectacle but not so good for New Zealanders.
The positive thing for England is it was so long ago and France never really seem to produce those performances in the Six Nations – it always seems to be against the All Blacks. If they are to do it, though, they need a talisman. Those kinds of performances are always led by someone who galvanises France and then comes the passion, the camaraderie and the togetherness.
In 2007 it was Thierry Dusautoir – he made well over 30 tackles – and the most likely player in the current team to do it is Guilhem Guirado. I can’t see it happening, I think the match will be a huge struggle for France but England must be aware they cannot allow them to be in with a sniff after 60 minutes. We saw what happened, or what almost happened, against Ireland when they failed to put Les Bleus away and while it may be an old cliche France can create something out of nothing. They did it to England in 2014 – a brilliant try right in the last few minutes to win the game.
But I do think England will be too strong, they will have too much of a strong defensive outfit and I think they’ll put the squeeze on. If conditions are going to be wet as the forecast says it will be the George Ford and Owen Farrell show again, pinning back France with their tactical kicking, just like they did against Wales. I’ve said it before but I really do think England are the best wet-weather team in the world.
Source: theguardian
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