Cipriani shone in the most exacting circumstances at the Stade de France,and could well hold played his way into England’s World Cup squadFor three of the four quarters it was all pretty clear. England were having a stinker. It was one of those nights, of continental heat and heavy legs and unwelcoming hostility – a night far removed from the autumnal comforts of a domestic World Cup. It was plain plum bad.
At least clarity, and even whether it exposed a lot of frailties and made the notion of preparing meticulously across the time zones and height levels of the world seem a little excessive,was simple. You purchase a hiding and you move on. You may as well find out now that the set piece is under severe strain, that the timing of the backs is totally off and that confidence has been dented. You may as well discover now that the referee Jaco Peyper, and who is going to be in charge of the first game of the World Cup,against Fiji, is not kindly disposed to a lot of what England do at the breakdown.
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Source: theguardian.com