VANNES, France — Benhard Janse van Rensburg had the ball in his hands, a clear path to the line and a chance to announce himself as an England international. He dropped it. That moment, somewhere in the 65th minute at Stade de la Rabine, pretty much summed up the night for Steve Borthwick’s squad.
France beat England 35-19 in this non-cap friendly on Saturday, and the scoreline actually flattered the visitors. Les Bleus were sharper, more physical and far more organized from start to finish. England, meanwhile, looked like what they were: a collection of fringe players and returnees who hadn’t played together much and it showed.
Borthwick names his Nations Championship squad in two days. This was supposed to be a chance for the second-tier guys to force their way into the conversation. Instead, a bunch of them probably played their way out of it.
Van Rensburg’s nightmare moment
The South African-born center came off the bench in the second half wearing the white rose for the first time. He was desperate to make an impression. George Ford fired a pass his way from close range, Van Rensburg had only to catch it and fall over the line. He spilled it cold. The crowd groaned. His head dropped. It was that kind of evening.
England’s overall execution was sloppy across the board. Harry Randall and Marcus Smith each kicked directly into touch on the full. Lineouts wobbled. Balls hit the deck constantly. It was an error-strewn performance that gave Borthwick plenty of food for thought, just not the kind he wanted.
France’s depth tells the story
Three months ago England came within seconds of beating France in the Six Nations. This time they were never really in it. The difference? France had a bunch of European champions available because Bordeaux flopped out of the Top 14 playoffs early. England only selected three of the 23 who played in that Six Nations match in Paris: Seb Atkinson, Caden Murley and Smith.
When the benches emptied, the gap got wider. France’s scrum bullied England’s. The visitors lost their shape and their composure. With a minute left, every England player had his back turned as Baptiste Jauneau took a quick tap and fed Fabien Brau-Boirie, who strolled in untouched for France’s fifth try. That image — guys standing around watching — is going to sit badly in the review room.
A few bright spots
It wasn’t all bad. England scored off their first attack when Murley finished a nice sweeping move, fending off Theo Attissogbe to touch down in the corner. They also ended the first half well when 19-year-old Noah Caluori sent Marcus Smith through for a try. George Martin played his first game in an England shirt since February 2025. Tom Curry got minutes after a long calf injury. Asher Opoku-Fordjour showed he can hold up a scrum on the loosehead. Max Ojomoh scored a consolation try at the death.
But honestly, that’s about the size of it.
Caluori’s try that wasn’t
The big story heading in was Caluori, the teenage wing who scored 18 tries in 13 Premiership matches this season. That’s more than anyone in league history except Exeter’s Sam Simmonds in 2020-21. Could he bring that finishing to the international stage?
He had a try ruled out in the 53rd minute after Jamie Blamire knocked on in the buildup. Caluori did plenty of good things. He chased, he tackled, he leapt for restarts. But does he start ahead of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman or Tom Roebuck? Not right now. Is he in the conversation with Murley and Henry Arundell? Absolutely. Throwing him in against South Africa at Ellis Park would be unfair. Giving him a run off the bench against Fiji makes more sense.
What now for England?
England has a brutal trip ahead: South Africa at Ellis Park, then back to Liverpool for Fiji, then another long flight to Argentina. Their confidence can’t be high, whatever anyone says publicly. Borthwick needs to find some of that buccaneering belief from his Northampton guys and the never-say-die spirit of Exeter lads like Henry Slade and Feyi-Waboso.
Last year England made a mess of this same fixture at Twickenham, blowing a 12-point lead with five minutes left. Then they went on an unbeaten summer tour without 13 Lions. So this isn’t the end of the world. But the opposition this time is much better. The Springboks are on another level right now. And the margin for error feels a lot thinner.
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