Six Nations: Back Steve Borthwick and England to the brink against France in Paris

But this loss of Murrayfield also provides an incentive for France. There will be plenty of pomp at the Stade de France on Saturday.

France will play in a special version of the classic light blue shirt. The match will be preceded by an elaborate show featuring Hair, Peru and Frederic Michalak.

Nominally, it’s all a celebration of Le Crunch’s 120th anniversary – the rivalry with England. But it is difficult to believe that the possibility of this also coinciding with a Grand Slam show did not occur to the organizers.

If France loses, the title will likely disappear and the party will fail. That would be an unbearable climax for the hosts.

Add to that the fact that they wasted a host of chances in last year’s loss to Twickenham, and there is a lot that can be rectified for France.

A heavyweight line-up – including the 22-stone Emmanuel Mevo in the second row – were selected to make their way through England at the front, with the breakneck pace of Louis-Bel-Billard, who has scored in his last nine Six Nations appearances, lurking in the distance.

For England, the consequences of defeat are difficult to predict. The title is long gone, and the possibility of their coach pursuing it hangs in the air.

A lukewarm vote of confidence in Borthwick was issued by the Rugby Football Union the day after England’s first defeat to Italy.

Five words in CEO Bill Sweeney’s last line summed it up.

“English fans expect a team that learns and grows through adversity,” he said. “We are confident that this group will do everything in its power to achieve this.”

No one questions the diligence of Borthwick and his staff, but, likewise, no one is betting on whether this approach is still effective.