Six Nations: England pluck victory from chaos against France

Inside the Allianz Arena, the cheers of 81,000 spectators were deafening, requiring no prompting from the sideline announcer. Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, and their battle-scarred teammates used their last ounce of strength to salute the stands, responding to this epic and undulating match. This victory demonstrated the team's perseverance and connection with their fans.

This victory encompassed joy, validation, and relief. England fans have long been accustomed to their team putting them through various trials. Three tries in the final ten minutes? A lead that changed hands like a revolving door? This seems to have become a common occurrence in southwest London. In the previous Six Nations, England narrowly defeated Ireland with a last-minute drop goal from Marcus Smith. This victory was a testament to the team's resilience under pressure.

However, after suffering six losses in the past seven test matches, this England victory feels particularly precious. This win can finally alleviate the players' weary bodies and spirits. Although the players' efforts and commitment were evident in previous matches, inspiration was always fleeting, and this game didn't improve much in that regard. The team can now look forward to building on this momentum.

France displayed a more sustained threat during the match, outperforming England in both meters gained and line breaks. However, they committed fatal errors in their handling. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, despite scoring two tries, missed another opportunity due to a careless pass. Damian Penaud also had a handling error, dropping a catch. France's defense coach, Shaun Edwards, said helplessly after the game: "We made a lot of basic mistakes. Every time we got close to the try line, we seemed to drop the ball, which is unbelievable. French players are usually excellent handlers of the ball." These errors ultimately cost France the game.

But these mistakes were irrelevant to England. This time, it is others who need to reflect. For them, this victory, full of courage and determination, looks incredibly beautiful from every angle. In the final stages of the match, the momentum shifted constantly, and the scene was chaotic. All England could do was to do their best and find a way to win. With the game clock exceeding 79 minutes, England relied on substitutes and a young fly-half to complete the turnaround. At the final whistle, England ultimately won the game. Young fly-half Fin Smith commented after the game: "This game was far from perfect, but my God, this team fought so hard today. We kept giving ourselves opportunities and eventually got over the line."

Head coach Borthwick's bold personnel choices paid off. But more questions followed. Will Fin Smith, who gradually found his form in the second half, permanently secure the number 10 jersey? Will Marcus Smith, who avoided France's aerial assault in the match, become a full-time fullback? Is it feasible to switch between the two depending on the opponent? Or will this undermine the stability that the coach has been emphasizing? In two weeks, Scotland will bring more challenges, having won their past four encounters with England and not losing to England at Twickenham since 2017. At least tonight, all of this can be put aside for the moment. There are no investigations to be conducted, only a score worth celebrating. England made their voice heard with this victory, and the other teams in the Six Nations will take notice.