England are banking on big-match temperament to help them overcome in-form France when the two northern hemisphere giants collide in a titanic World Cup semifinal showdown in Sydney on Sunday.
Favourites before the tournament began, the odds on an English World Cup victory have lengthened with each stuttering performance by this year’s Six Nations Grand Slam champions.
The English pack has creaked, superstar flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson has performed fitfully, and even the team’s world number-one ranking has been ceded to New Zealand.
South Africa, Samoa and Wales all caused England problems before the sheer bloody-mindedness in coach Clive Woodward’s team kicked in and each awkward opponent was subdued.
France, the only team to have beaten England in the past two years, have by contrast not put a foot wrong and are now tipped to reach their third final in five World Cups following appearances in 1987 and 1999.
Powerful and precise, France’s blend of uncompromising forward strength and scintillating back play has made them the team to beat.
A breathtaking first-half display in last week’s quarterfinals in Melbourne, when they tore Ireland apart to lead 27-0 at the break, bore all the hallmarks of a side destined for greatness.
England know that if they reproduce the form shown in the first 40 minutes of their quarterfinal against Wales, when they trailed 10-3 at half-time, they will be beaten.
But Woodward, who for the first time this tournament has been able to field his strongest starting XV, is adamant that England’s vital knack of winning close games has been underestimated.
Asked why he was so confident his team could win at a press conference in Sydney on Saturday, Woodward was frank.
”Look at our track record over the past two years — we know how to win games,” Woodward said.
”Why on earth would I think anything different at this stage? We’ve got a great team and a great captain and we’re playing against France in a World Cup semifinal. It’s a huge, huge game and I have no doubt England will absolutely step up to the plate on Sunday night.”
The mood in England’s camp has brightened with news that influential blindside flanker Richard Hill is fit to play after four weeks out with a hamstring injury, along with fullback Josh Lewsey.
Both players will start against France, with veteran centre Mike Catt earning a surprise recall at inside centre.
Woodward admitted that England had not played well but said his team’s recent poor form — and that of France — was irrelevant.
”You can’t read anything into the form going into it,” he said.
It’s who is mentally tough enough that will win the game on Sunday.
”It’s true that sometimes things don’t turn out as you’d like them to turn out. But the biggest thing is winning and that’s what we keep doing.
”In all the games we’ve come through. We beat South Africa 25-6 and were criticised for the way we played. The All Blacks beat them by something similar and were lauded to the roofs.
”It doesn’t matter how you get there as long as you get there. If we win and play badly on Sunday I really don’t care.”
England captain Martin Johnson has been characteristically forthright about what was needed.
”It’s time to stop the soul-searching and get on with it,” said the inspirational second row. ”We know if we don’t improve, we’ll get beaten. It’s as simple as that.”
England’s problems have focused on the form of Wilkinson, who has struggled to get his backs moving from stand-off. Catt’s inclusion is aimed at easing the decision-making load for England’s young fly-half.
Wilkinson, meanwhile, has seen French counterpart Frederic Michalak establish himself as the tournament’s best all-round flyhalf, with the 21-year-old Toulouse player in superb form.
Whether England are able to contain Michalak on Sunday will depend on the outcome of what is likely to be a ferocious forward contest.
France’s scrum and lineout have been rock-solid, while the back-row combination of flankers Serge Betsen and Olivier Magne with number eight Imanol Harinordoquy has been superb.
The same back-row successfully shackled Wilkinson in France’s 2002 Six Nations defeat of England in Paris.
Woodward though believes England’s thirtysomething combination of Hill, Neil Back and number eight Lawrence Dallaglio will have the measure of their French counterparts.
”To see Hill, Dallaglio and Back against the French back row is going to be one hell of a clash — and I know who my money is on,” he said.
With no selection problems to address — France are fielding the starting line-up that demolished Ireland — Laporte has spent most of this week talking up the English.
”The press and everyone else is talking about England being a laborious side but no-one has actually beaten them yet,” Laporte said.
”A lot of people say they know how to box Mike Tyson before they get into a ring with him. But actually getting into the ring is a bit different,” said Laporte. — Sapa-AFP