England and Borthwick backed up to the brink in Paris
Damian Penaud gleefully scampering past Alex Dombrandt on his way to the line and a 53-10 scoreline – England's heaviest home defeat – remains an image that haunts the home of English rugby. In 2024 in Lyon England shut that gap. Only a 79th-minute Thomas Ramos penalty ensured a 33-31 win for France.
And last year England overtook France, as Elliot Daly glided in for a decisive last-gasp try in a 26-25 victory. If only it were that simple for Borthwick and his team. Instead, the 2026 Six Nations has cast doubt on the whole project.
Defeats by Scotland, Ireland and Italy are new low points to be plotted on the graph. France will relish extending the losing streak and ratcheting up the sudden and considerable pressure on Borthwick. Just as in 2022, when England were swatted aside 25-13 in the final game of a clean sweep, this was supposed to be the match in which they clinched a Grand Slam.
Instead, France's dreams of a full house were punctured by an extraordinary 50-40 defeat in Scotland last weekend. A streetwise Scotland smothered France in defence and ran them through in attack, at one point stretching their lead to a scarcely credible 33 points. It provides a recipe for England – deny offloads and transition opportunities, lock down the breakdown on attack, feed front-door runners like Jack Dempsey, allow Darcy Graham to roam looking for holes, add in some fiendish strike plays, full heat for 60-odd minutes and voila.
Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, and, with live text commentary, on the BBC Sport website and app But that Murrayfield loss also provides motivation for France. The Stade de France is putting on plenty of pomp on Saturday. France will play in a special-edition light blue retro shirt.