In the end it was too little too late but England came tantalisingly close to pulling off an heroic victory over Grand Slam-chasing France, writes Stephen Jones in the Sunday Times.
"However, the fact remains that England have finished lower in the Six Nations table than last year and there will now be renewed pressure on the whole England set- up, with changes expected not only in the team but also in the senior coaching panel, before England reappear on tour in Australia in June.
"In particular, Rob Andrew, the Rugby Football Union’s director of elite rugby, is under fire from inside and outside Twickenham. The pressure will not ease after a performance from England yesterday that was better but still far removed from world class.
"Andrew will now compile a report on England’s largely disastrous campaign. Many feel that he should start with himself. He is seen by some as a man who could have brought far more clarity and focus to the team hierarchy and to a coaching panel seen to be underachieving in a big way. Soundings taken at Twickenham suggest there is almost no support for the Andrew-Johnson tandem at the top and the current group of senior coaches staying on as they are. Johnson is likely to be saved for now but, if he refuses to make changes in his coaching team, then we understand that he will have to go to the barricades against his own employers."
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