article_snippet: and although England didn’t land the Championship which they craved, they will have learned a great deal about what can be achieved when you really want it — and need it.
article_snippet: England were fantastic on Saturday and if they can draw from the experience, this can be a fantastic year for English rugby — and indeed British and Irish rugby, because Wales and champions Ireland were quite exceptional as well on the final day of the tournament.
article_snippet: England cut loose in thrilling fashion and they will never be quite the same players again.
article_snippet: Englandcan hold England heads high and go forward with real confidence after near miss .
article_snippet: Very few pundits would have predicted that England would kick off needing to beat France by 26 points, which was a huge ask but a very useful exercise in concentrating the mind on a very specific task when you feel free to empty the tanks and leave nothing on the pitch.
article_snippet: Although England started with the encouragement of an early try, they started chasing the big score a little bit too early and got too loose.
article_snippet: but you still have to remember defensive discipline and in the first 20 minutes England missed nine tackles, which is always going to spell trouble against any French side.
article_snippet: France nipped in for those two tries from Noa Nakitaci — even if Noa Nakitaci — was taking the concept of going in under the posts a little far for the second!
article_snippet: And that rocked England back a little but those two tries from Noa Nakitaci — stayed positive and did really well, firstly to get back in the game and then to chase for the title.
article_snippet: and it was the Leicester scrum half who finished off England’s sustained attack 110 yards upfield under the French posts.
article_snippet: It was inspired play, the stuff of champions and exactly the kind of bold, positive play that will be needed for 80 minutes to win a World Cup.
article_snippet: — and the ‘loose’ occasion — on which France seemed to rediscover their attacking mojo.
article_snippet: Some of their handling and attacking play was out of the top drawer.
article_snippet: James Haskell’s yellow card in the second half didn’t help and towards the end there when England were pressing hard again two line-outs went AWOL.
highlights_snippet: England cut loose in thrilling fashion against France on Saturday .
  