Sunday 21 March 2010

Sour Grapes

A third Grand Chelem in a decade is not to be sniffed at, and France were this season's best Six Nations team by a distance.

Are you ready for the "But..."?

But... Gods, they were boring! Controlled aggression in Scotland, followed by a clinical demolition of Ireland in Paris, seemed to show a ruthless streak allied to their usual flair; and if that flair had seemed rather subdued this time... well, that wouldn't last, right?

Wrong. France proceeded to strangle a Wales side that played 100% of the rugby on display, winning with interceptions and penalty goals. Mightily impressive once more, but - whisper it - a bit dull? Where was the élan? Where was the gallic swagger? Well, we got some at last - against Italy. Big deal. Finally, a previously timid and directionless England side stepped up for the slaughter in Paris. Surely this was the cue for the show to finally start?

...12-10?!?!

England - Martin Johnson's England, for Pete's sake - showed all the ambition, all the passion, and scored the only try of the game, a peach from New White Hope Ben Foden. France scored one scruffy drop-goal and three penalties. England won the second half 3-0.

Even from an armchair in Swansea - a vantage from which watching England lose never seems to get old - it felt like one final English push upfield, ending the French party with a Wilko special, would have been no more than natural justice.

We rightly praise teams for pragmatism; for knowing the right time to concentrate on playing rugby, and the right time to focus on stopping the opposition from doing likewise. But we could frankly do without teams who choose safety first, second and third. France had a license to cut loose against an England side who, for all their bravery, could not possibly have resisted them had they done so. They chose not to do so. No, it wasn't England forcing France back into their shells - they withdrew there of their own accord. Always in complete control, they deliberately opted for negativity.

Congratulations, France. But shame on you, too.