It does not feel like 13 years ago that Dorian West was sitting in Aix-en-Provence discussing his surprise at being named captain of England for the first – and, as it turned out, only – time. Clive Woodward’s side had not lost in 18 months and, even with a few reserves playing, there was no expectation of his squad’s 14-game unbeaten run approaching its end.
If England could have their time again, would they have taken that distant 2003 game in Marseille more seriously? In many ways France’s 17-16 win did not matter hugely, a warm-up game swiftly forgotten in the celebrations of their subsequent Rugby World Cup triumph. The highlight, apart from an enthusiastic Beatles tribute band in the main stand, was England’s then-kitman, Dave “Reg” Tennison, inadvertently getting in the way as France’s goal-kicker, Frédéric Michalak, lined up a touchline conversion. For all that, it will for ever be recorded as the warm Mediterranean night when England surrendered a potential world record that, otherwise, could have extended to 25 matches.
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