England 26 France 18:At last a result, and just as importantly a performance, to put the smile back on the battered face of English rugby. It might even be enough, depending on results this weekend, to win them this year's Six Nations championship but satisfaction is not always measured in trophies. This was the day England took on their inner demons and ran them ragged.
Their head coach, Brian Ashton, had spoken repeatedly about changing his team's mindset, and yesterday a new spirit of heads-up adventure was gloriously visible. After the debacle of Croke Park, here was a born-again England displaying the courage of their convictions and demonstrating that he who dares wins. Beneath skies apparently on loan from the Cote d'Azur, the gleam of gifted youth was even more dazzling.
One stirring victory, of course, does not turn a side into World Cup contenders overnight. This was England's first win over France since 2003 and les Bleus could well edge what has become a three-way race for the title. As Ashton was quick to stress, his team must play like this consistently to regain their place among the elite nations but, unmistakably, a fresh generation with pace to burn has announced itself.
The impact of Tom Rees on the openside flank, the whirring feet of Dave Strettle on the wing and, most significant, the precocious promptings of Toby Flood and Shane Geraghty, all helped to restore the faith so badly shaken in Dublin. None of the aforementioned are over the age of 23 - and none showed any hint of nerves.
Nowhere was Ashton's selection strategy more triumphantly rewarded than in midfield. Even had Jonny Wilkinson and Andy Farrell been fit, they would have struggled to match the impact of their supposed deputies. By any standards Flood had a first Test start to drool about, scoring 16 points and dovetailing expertly with Mike Catt, the 35-year-old captain whose inspired second-half efforts set the tone. And when Flood was forced off in the second-half with a knee injury, on came a blond-haired 20-year-old wearing number 21 who might as well have been beamed down from a distant galaxy.
With so much pre-match focus on Catt, his London Irish team-mate Shane Geraghty had barely rated a mention. All that changed in the 68th minute when the debutant spotted a gap and sensed an opportunity. A sway of the hips took him past two opponents and sublime pace blew away a couple more. For a split-second it seemed he might go all the way with the ghosts of Hancock and Prince Obolensky at his heels; instead, after almost 50 metres of breathless ambition, he threw an underarm offload that grazed Catt's fingertips and deflected into the grateful hands of Mike Tindall, who plunged over.
Not for a couple of decades has there been a more exhilarating long-distance English try at Twickenham. Even before Geraghty posted the conversion to put England two points ahead, it was clear Wilkinson now had some serious competition.
It also recast a script that was pointing to a French win. No team this season had won a game having trailed at the interval. At 12-9 to France, most people assumed the visitors would click up a couple of gears after a first-half that had contained much of interest but plenty of mistakes. England looked over-excited - Catt gave the impression of having warmed up on a hot tin roof and Josh Lewsey almost committed the interception howler of a season saturated with them.
For a moment the game teetered on the edge of slapstick, not least when Dimitri Yachvili took a quick tap and found the dangerous Strettle with his crossfield kick. George Chuter came roaring in from the side to concede another penalty to David Skrela, immediately cancelled out when Tindall's fine restart tackle on Sebastien Chabal yielded a penalty for not releasing. England's pack, also declined to take a backward step. In the Twickenham hospitality boxes it was time to put a bit of beef on the menu.
Sure enough, the English forwards emerged the more energised after half-time and Catt, popping up at first receiver, made one of his trademark bursts around a trailing Raphael Ibanez. Despite crashing into Clement Poitrenaud he still had the presence of mind to keep the ball available and Flood skipped around behind the posts to make his conversion easier. Two more Yachvili penalties added to the suspense but the last quarter was all England. Suddenly a trip to Cardiff cannot come quickly enough.
Guardian Service
ENGLAND: Lewsey; Strettle, Tindall, Catt, Robinson; Flood, Ellis; Payne, Chuter, White; Corry,Palmer; Worsley, Rees, Easter. Replacements: Geraghty for Flood (59), Tait for Strettle, Deacon for Palmer, Lund for Worsley (all 74), Perry for Catt (78). Not used: Mears, Turner.
FRANCE: Poitrenaud, Clerc, Marty, Jauzion, Dominici, Skrela, Yachvili, Milloud, Ibanez, de Villiers, Nallet, Thion, Betsen, Bonnaire, Chabal.Replacements: Beauxis for Skrela (41), Harinordoquy for Chabal (49), Bruno for Ibanez (69), Mignoni for Yachvili, Heymans for Poitrenaud (both 74). Not used: Mas, Pape.
Referee: J Kaplan (South Africa).
