Match Previews 
/ Will Greenwood / 23 February 2011 / Leave a Comment 
England must makes themselves unbeatable at Twickenham
"Back England at [2.52] to win by a margin of less than 12.5 points and take a big step towards a first championship for eight years."
Two out of two for England and so far so good for Will Greenwood's bets on Johnno's men. But Saturday's match against France poses a big test to their Grand Slam ambitions and their aim of becoming one of the most feared teams in world rugby.
Is England v France a Six Nations Championship decider? The truth is this: if France win then, with only a trip to Rome and the visit of Wales to come, they will probably have wrapped up the title. If England win, they're well on their way but they still have to go to Dublin on the final day for a match that could yet derail their Grand Slam dream.
This is England's biggest match for 12 months. Last year, in Paris, they put in a pivotal display in going down 12-10, there was proactivity on and off the field and the ground was laid for the victories over Australia and the subsequent resurgence which sees the Red Rose [1.5] favourites for Saturday's match. There was little shame in the result against a very strong French 15, especially when you bear in mind the old saying that the French never lose within the sound of their own church bells.
Johnno's men can learn from France on that score. I was part of an England team that didn't lose at Twickenham for five years and if you want to be one of the big dogs of world rugby you simply cannot afford to be beaten at home.
At Twickenham this week, I caught a glimpse inside the home dressing room I know so well. I remember where I hung my kit, where I listened to team talks, where I went through all my pre-match rituals. Hell, I even remember the toilet. These are the things that impress themselves on you when you make your home ground a fortress. The current England side understand that winning at Twickenham needs to become a habit and in their heads they will be [1.01] to win on Saturday.
Le Crunch can often turn into an arm wrestle. Toby Flood, my bet for top points scorer, who is yet to miss a kick, will have an enormous influence on this game. The scrum will once again be massive but England will be determined not to concede the type of penalties they gave away in Paris last time. Thierry Dusatoir has produced some sublime defensive performances from flanker and Dimitri Yachvili, scourge of England, is back at scrum-half.
So can Marc Livremont's men stop Chris Ashton? Rugby isn't like football, you can't send a man out to track a star player, press up close and stop him playing his game. The whole team need to organise themselves to stifle his creativity. That won't be easy because Ashton will roam across the backline and if he crosses the white wash on Saturday he can celebrate however he wants. I just hope his dive his technically sounder than it has been.
The important thing for England fans when having a bet is to follow their head not their heart. So far, all my England tips have come in and, just like the team, I intend to keep my perfect record going this weekend. I believe England can beat France and I expect a final score around 24-18.
Back England at [2.52] to win by a margin of less than 12.5 points and take a big step towards a first championship for eight years.
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