article_snippet: If Stuart Lancaster likened the challenge Stuart Lancaster side might be facing on this most absorbing afternoon of international rugby to the Ryder Cup, Stuart Lancaster no doubt hoped his side would not need to pull off their own Miracle of Medinah.
article_snippet: But a 26-point winning advantage against France, even this France, seemed like a pretty tall order and so a pretty tall order proved.
article_snippet: But Lancaster will have to reflect on that period of the first half – as well as certain spells after the break - when they allowed France to look like they old selves and examine in detail where improvements still need to be made.
article_snippet: With six months remaining until the start of the World Cup, Lancaster is sure to focus on some of the positives too.
article_snippet: The fact that some of the positives beat Wales in Cardiff and Australia here last autumn certainly bodes well for those group exchanges.
article_snippet: As does the emergence of players like Jonathan Joseph and other individual performances.
article_snippet: But is this a team that can seriously make the most of home advantage and secure a second World Cup in 12 years?
article_snippet: The evidence right now would suggest not, even if the detail in Lancaster's preparation extends to involving the players' partners in trying to win the tournament later this year.
article_snippet: Dominant against their northern hemisphere rivals and quite clearly equipped to conquer all on the opposite side of the world.
article_snippet: And their believed it too, with such confidence a crucial quality for any team with serious ambitions.
article_snippet: their can play some wonderful rugby with a nice combination of power and pace.
article_snippet: Like the France teams of yesteryear Saint-Andre once represented rather than coached.