A climate in which flair is seen as too risky bodes ill for England v France, and the game cannot afford another turkey
Common ground is hard to find these days. Whether it be politics, the climate crisis or sport, there is generally a hardcore prepared to argue that, actually, black is white or down is up, even if overwhelming evidence exists to the contrary. The exception is rugby union, where creeping unease about the game as an uplifting spectacle is now virtually universal.
Take the Autumn Nations Cup, conceived as a means of cheering everyone up in the absence of the usual November Test schedule. From the Covid cancellations to the stultifying defence-obsessed “action” it has largely had the opposite effect, with people starting to point at the emperor and question his new clothes. If the final between England and France at Twickenham on Sunday is another dud, few could blame Amazon Prime for concluding its subscribers should be spared further punishment.
Related: Wayne Pivac angry with refereeing decisions after Wales' loss to England
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