LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Maro has drawn something from England. One day, those small steps might turn into a stride.'

Spring in the Twickenham air, spring in English footsteps. At this time of year the possibility of what might lie ahead is on everyone’s mind. Sometimes reality doesn’t play out like that. But while England winning the 2025 Six Nations title is firmly in the realms of the improbable, they have at least given themselves a chance to profit from any slip-ups by France in Paris.

And who knows? Buster Douglas drops Mike Tyson to the canvas. 100-1 Foinavon winner in the Grand National. Japan beat the Springboks at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Strange things do happen in sport.

And while it would be a monumental about-turn in fortunes given the manner of France’s pounding win over Ireland, England have skin in the game. Given the state of the public mood a fortnight ago when Heathrow air-traffic controllers were on full alert after so much reported activity in the air as England kicked the leather of the ball against Scotland, that is a good place to be. From serial losers to fortunate winners  initially and now accomplished victors over a depressingly familiar hot-and-cold slipshod Italy, England have made progress in this championship.

And here’s the thing – lucky against feckless France, lucky against conversion-blighted Scotland, what price the trifecta and a lucky title to round it all off? There will be few longer-priced  winners at Cheltenham this week were it to happen but at least Steve Borthwick’s side have given their put-upon supporters the chance to dream of fanciful things.

They might know in their heart of hearts that they do not deserve it but who ever said that sport was fair? You scrap away, hardly daring to lift your head to see what is going on all around, and if you’re still standing at the final bell you’ll take whatever is there to be taken.

Martin Johnson’s England were by far the dominant force in European rugby at the turn of the century. Yet they blew three Grand Slams. And deserved too. As Johnson himself says, each match has its own narrative.

So what if, for all their small incremental gains, England still look a distinct cut below market-leaders France? So what if the French players will go to their graves cursing as to how profligate and careless and complacent and arrogant they were at Twickenham? This could have been a Gallic Grand Slam glory year, a fitting return in the eyes of many neutrals who thrilled at the manner in which they ripped Italy apart in Rome (something England did not manage to do on Sunday despite their seven tries) and then gasped as they pulverised Ireland with their mix of power and panache. Yes, all that is true. But England have given themselves a slugger’s chance going into the final weekend and hats off to them for that.

Martin Johnson’s England were by far the dominant force in European rugby at the turn of the century. Yet they blew three Grand Slams. And deserved too. As Johnson himself says, each match has its own narrative. England got the win over France but that doesn’t mean that they are world-beaters. France got the win over Ireland, (and how!) and that does mean that they are championship material. On such margins.

England will nurse tired bodies for the six day turnaround and the short trip down the M4 to Cardiff in decent shape, the terribly unfortunate Achilles injury to Ollie Lawrence notwithstanding. What a bummer sport can be as Lawrence, as well as Antoine Dupont, have found out over the last couple of days. Just when you think things are going your way…

Losing Lawerence so early in the game was a shame on many levels, not the least of which it denied us the chance to see how the newly-structured England attacking shape might come together. It had had a promising start with Lawrence prominent and Elliot Daly adding quality from the rear. Daly continued to show what a fine footballer he is (but with limited long-term prospects given his age) while Marcus Smith could only do as Marcus Smith has done and make the best of a cobbled-together strategy when slotting in at full-back, touching down for a fine individual score but vulnerable under the high ball as we all know he will be. You can teach many skills in training but you can’t teach height.

The most pleasing aspect of an afternoon which drifted a little, as so many Sundays do, into soporific, switch-off mode, was that England showed ambition from first whistle.

You do wish England would sharpen up on their messaging. During their fallow week training camp, Kevin Sinfield, was at pains to stress how important it was to persevere with the Marcus at full-back selection otherwise ‘it would be a wasted opportunity.’  A few days later, Smith is getting the dreaded invite for a cup of coffee with Steve Borthwick, as chilling a directive for an employee as a CEO’s vote of confidence.

Daly looked sharp and rejuvenated, picking lines and seeing space as he showed with his deft kick-through for Tommy Freeman’s try. There was more, much more from Daly and there would be nothing wrong in Borrhwick keeping to the same enforced formation for Cardiff with Fraser Dingwall at 12, Daly outside and Smith at the rear. It was good also to see the real Alex Mitchell on the field.

The most pleasing aspect of an afternoon which drifted a little, as so many Sundays do, into soporific, switch-off mode, was that England showed ambition from first whistle. We’d all grown tired of them – or Borthwick at any rate – talking a good game only to go out and shut down. Here there was a genuine sense of zip and purpose about them, using the flanks to attack through Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme while there was plenty of flip-flick passing between forwards and backs. The Sleightholme second try was a peach in that regard. More please. It’s as simple as that.

England have to go to Cardiff with the same mindset. They cannot afford to approach the fixture with anything less than a full-bore approach. No matter the usual tribal ferocity in play, England cannot tread softly for fear of losing. They have put themselves in position to be title contenders. Now they have to play like it.

The forward pack has plenty to offer with the scrum solid, the lineout too with Jamie George hitting the mark as he has done in every single one of his 100 tests. Ollie Chessum was mightily involved, as was his captain alongside. England have riches in the back-row with Curry twins vying for shared status as game-shapers every time they take the field. Tom Wilis was forthright, Ben Earl productive, combining well with Ben Curry for the final try.

Super Saturday awaits. England are in the mix, an unlikely state of affairs after the opening weekend. They are a cussed bunch, toughing it out. For that, Maro Itoje,can take credit. The captain has drawn something from them, made them look more together, more assured. One day, those small steps might turn into a stride.