ir Clive Woodward believes that France simply turned up and just “expected to win” at Twickenham after their Six Nations display on Saturday.
Les Bleus went into the clash with England as heavy favourites but they made a series of mistakes and ended up losing 26-25 thanks to a late Elliot Daly try.
There were several uncharacteristic errors from the French and they ultimately paid the price to leave their Six Nations title ambitions hanging by a thread.
Woodward felt that their attitude was wrong from the outset and that their reaction to every opportunity they missed was poor.
‘Cost France dear’
“People say there is an arrogance about English rugby. But you have to question the French attitude at Twickenham. How they reacted to crucial moments ended up costing them dear,” he wrote in his Mail Online column.
“I think Fabien Galthie and his players just expected to win. There is nothing wrong in that.
“All great sides have a healthy confidence about them. But how you handle being the favourite is crucial. Whenever France butchered a try or made a mistake, they just seemed to shrug their shoulders as if to think it wouldn’t matter and they would soon score again. Ultimately, their wastefulness was the reason they lost the game. It was laissez faire.
“I’ve coached teams when you’re the heavy favourite and sometimes, complacency slips in and you get your preparation all wrong. I think that’s what happened to France.
“Galthie as head coach and his squad have big questions to answer. I was in awe of some of the rugby they played on Saturday. France are capable of being a truly great team. But this is a huge reality check.
“They’re clearly not there yet having lost in the quarter-finals of their home World Cup and now made a horlicks of a Six Nations title bid which leaves them looking at only one Championship in five years under Galthie. That would be a poor return given the form of their players domestically with Toulouse and Bordeaux.”
As for England, Woodward is hopeful that their victory over France can help Twickenham become a fortress once again.
They succumbed three times at home in the Autumn Nations Series and the Rugby World Cup-winning head coach insists that Saturday’s triumph will be for nothing if they can’t back it up.
Fortress Twickenham
“The home of English rugby has become a stadium where it has been far too easy for opposition teams to win. But to be at Twickenham on Saturday for the win over France was a thrilling experience,” he added.
“When Elliot Daly scored his late try and Fin Smith converted to win the game, the atmosphere was just electric. If you could bottle that feeling and emotion and sell it, you’d be very, very rich.
“Yes, they rode their luck, but into the last 20 minutes England and Twickenham came alive together. That feeling is what England have to keep hold of every time they play on home soil. I used to talk about getting those in the green seats off their feet cheering at how England were playing.
“That’s what happened on Saturday and making Twickenham an intimidating fortress once again can clearly help Steve Borthwick’s side no end. The same must happen for the Calcutta Cup next.”