When the final whistle sounds France and England will look back on this year’s Six Nations championship and wish they could edit the narrative ever so slightly. Barring a spectacular Irish collapse against Scotland in Dublin, this edition of “Le Crunch” will in effect be a shootout for second place, hardly the grand finale that either team or the tournament organisers ideally visualised.
It remains, nevertheless, a psychologically significant contest for all involved. France, having fallen short at their own World Cup, have been searching for their best form and an upbeat end to their campaign would ease the pressure on their head coach, Fabien Galthié. The visitors, similarly, are keen not to wave adieu to the feelgood momentum generated by their stirring win over Ireland last Saturday.
