But that Murrayfield loss additionally supplies motivation for France. The Stade de France is placing on loads of pomp on Saturday.
France will play in a special-edition light blue retro shirt. An elaborate present that includes poetry, pyro and Frederic Michalak will precede the match.
Nominally it’s all to mark 120 years of Le Crunch – their rivalry with England. But it’s tough to suppose that the risk it may additionally coincide with a Grand Slam bid didn’t cross the thoughts of organisers.
If France lose, the title might be gone and the occasion pooped. It could be an insufferable anti-climax for the hosts.
Add to the indisputable fact that they butchered a clutch of probabilities in final 12 months’s loss at Twickenham and there may be loads to put proper for France.
A heavyweight pack – that includes 22-stone second row Emmanuel Meafou – have been picked to plough by England up entrance, with the lacerating tempo of Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who has scored in his previous 9 Six Nations video games, lurking out vast.
For England, the penalties of defeat are tough to predict. The title is lengthy since gone, and the risk that their coach might observe hangs in the air.
A lukewarm vote of confidence in Borthwick was issued by the Rugby Football Union the day after England’s first defeat by Italy.
Five phrases in chief government Bill Sweeney’s last line summed it up.
“England fans rightly expect a team that learns and grows through adversity,” he mentioned. “And we’re confident this group will do everything they can to deliver that.”
No-one is doubting Borthwick and his workers’s diligence and trade however, equally, no-one is staking something on whether or not it’s nonetheless efficient.
