England need a clear gameplan in Dublin if they are to heal France wounds

T his has been an excruciatingly difficult week for Steve Borthwick’s players, booed off the pitch after a record defeat by France, and I know how they feel. England’s previous worst result at Twickenham was the 42-6 beating by the Springboks in 2008. Watching from the stand, five years on from lifting the World Cup, was manager Martin Johnson, and the dressing room was a desolate place to be after that game.

It was a dark day for me too, as I was on the left wing, and for the England captain, a certain Borthwick. But then, as now, there was some consolation as we could get the defeat, in what was an autumn international, out of our systems. The pity for us was that it was the All Blacks who were coming to Twickenham the next weekend. We were beaten again but it was an improved display – it could hardly have been worse – and for England on Saturday the challenge is similarly formidable.

England are facing the best team in the world, hardly a balm for their injured pride. England can be at their best but if this outstanding Irish side are also at their best they will make history by becoming the first to complete a grand slam in Dublin.

One cliche that should be avoided is that England are coming to Dublin to spoil an Irish party. The mindset of the England team has to be to avoid external events and concentrate on internal ones. The 2008 team I was a part of was not a good one. The 2023 version has some excellent players. This is their last competitive game before the World Cup and the last time many of this group will be together.

Ellis Genge has talked of the “point of grief” after last weekend, but the wounds can be healed. What England need is total belief in the clarity of their gameplan. That clarity breeds