Ollie Sleightholme: England believe France win a game-changer

England wing Ollie Sleightholme feels their last-gasp Six Nations victory over France has lit a fire under Steve Borthwick's side.

Elliot Daly’s converted final-minute try on Saturday snatched a 26-25 win at Twickenham.

England are level on six points with Les Bleus and four shy of leaders Ireland heading into a rest week before hosting Scotland at Twickenham in their third encounter of the Championship on 22 February.

"I think we have to have every confidence in ourselves after that win at the weekend," said Sleightholme.

"It has proven to us that we can do it, in a weird way. We have come so close and hit the crossbar so many times.

"That has now given us the belief and we know that when we put our game on the pitch and we do our best to nullify their threats that we can get results against the top teams in the world."

Sleightholme – unlike some of his team-mates, he suspects – called it an early night, going home to his partner and to take care of their young daughter, who was in attendance for the triumph.

And while Sleightholme favoured tranquility on Saturday night, it had been a rather different story on the pitch that afternoon.

Early on in the France encounter, the 24-year-old found himself in altercation with his opposite number Damian Penaud (below) and some said he was lucky to escape without punishment.

"There wasn’t really a thought process," admitted Sleightholme.

"It was an 'in the moment’ thing. Looking back on it, it looked a bit worse than what it was. I thought I fell into him but it looks like I’ve shoulder-charged him – which I didn’t. There wasn’t much in it."

Asked if he relished that contest, Sleightholme added: "There’s a side of me that does but I know I have to keep my cool and be calm while playing but