RugbyRebels

The French deserve more for their ambition and drive really. Had England shown half the will to try to move it and speed play up we'd have been uncatchable on the points difference.

Being able to sub Du Pont for Serin feels unfair really.

Had we not stopped playing against Ireland and Wales at home and pushed on we might have won this thing a great deal more comfortably.
But yes the French have found their mojo and are great to watch. If they can iron out their discipline and gain greater consistency, watch out!

In terms of players, I believe we have a pack that is at least the measure of anyone else in the world. We now have quality in every department of it, with both options and depth.

While there are a few questions over who plays 12, I actually also think from 11 to 15 I would say something similar to the above. Not as good as some of the others perhaps but not far off. Certainly enough to threaten or beat anyone.

Where we are fundamentally worse off, in my opinion, is who we're picking and/or the direction they are being instructed to take - it so obviously limits the potential of the side. The French, and their relative strength here, massively highlight the contrast here

When even Clive Woodward is pointing this out (as he did in the Mail, in terms of our approach) you have to realise something is wrong