England under pressure to avoid unwanted record in daunting Six Nations showdown with France

Depending if you are a solid half-full oregon half-empty person, Saturday’s showdown with France is either the champion oregon worst crippled for England.

England person mislaid their past 7 games successful a enactment against Tier One opposition. Never successful the country’s past person they mislaid 8 connected the bounce.

“There is ever expectation,” said Borthwick. “Any of the main English sports determination is anticipation to triumph – cricket, football, rugby – determination is expectation.

“And erstwhile you instrumentality the occupation you expect that expectation. I would alternatively beryllium progressive with a squad that has anticipation than 1 that doesn’t.”

England request a effect and what amended broadside to bash that again than France. An hostile similar that astatine a packed Twickenham should animate Borthwick’s broadside and helium volition anticipation this is the turning constituent aft a mediocre tally of signifier successful the autumn, too.

France, successful opposition to England, travel into this clash flying. The French dismantled Wales 43-0 successful their opening crippled and the instrumentality of scrum-half and skipper Antoine Dupont aft his Olympic exploits has galvanised them.

They volition beryllium without chap playmaker Romain Ntamack this weekend, aft his reddish paper against Wales past week, truthful Matthieu Jalibert gets the accidental to deterioration the No10 shirt.

It underlines the embarrassment of riches disposable to France that they tin parachute successful Jalibert, portion they are besides boosted by the instrumentality of Damian Penaud.

The wing, who has scored 36 tries successful 53 appearances, was absent past week owed to a toed wounded and is acceptable to play his archetypal crippled for France since past year’s Six Nations.

“It’s been a twelvemonth since he’s played for us, I deliberation helium indispensable beryllium hungry, precise hungry,” said France brag Fabien Galthie.

“He’s a finisher, who threatens the equilibrium of attack. He’s ever enactment his manus up, ever played well, adjacent precise well.”

Stopping Dupont holds the cardinal to England claiming a triumph connected Saturday and fewer sides, if immoderate really, person recovered the answer.

England onslaught manager Richard Wigglesworth declared the scrum-half the champion subordinate he’s ever seen this week and Dupont was imperious against Wales, moving the amusement earlier coming disconnected with 30 minutes to go. France were 28-0 up by that stage.

“I’ve ne'er seen a feline get retired of occupation arsenic good arsenic helium does,” Wigglesworth told Sky Sports. “He is [like Kansas City Chiefs backmost Patrick Mahomes]. You deliberation the play’s dead, and it’s not. That’s a bully comparison.”

England’s slim hopes of a Six Nations crown volition beryllium dormant if they suffer connected Saturday and Borthwick has made 3 changes aft past week’s nonaccomplishment successful Dublin.

Marcus Smith has been shifted to full-back, arsenic a result, which has led to Freddie Steward dropping out. Ollie Sleightholme is besides added to the backmost 3 arsenic helping Cadan Murley is retired with a ft injury.

The last alteration comes successful the pack. Tom Willis starts astatine No8, with Ben Earl moving to open-side flanker and Ben Curry dropping to the bench.

Former skipper Jamie George is backmost aft missing past week done wounded and, similar Elliot Daly, offers acquisition from the bench.

“I deliberation it’s an breathtaking partnership,” Borthwick said of his brace of Smiths. “We tried it successful the 2nd fractional of the Japan trial [in November] and again connected Saturday successful the 2nd half. We’ve trained that operation unneurotic a aggregate fig of times.

“You’ve got players who some spot space, some successful the beforehand enactment and the backfield. If you look astatine those unstructured situations successful the November bid and connected Saturday, however unsafe Marcus was and is, if you springiness him clip and abstraction helium tin wounded the opposition.”