As England prepare for Sunday's Grand Slam decider against France in Bordeaux, their record-breaking 37-match winning streak faces its sternest test yet. The Red Roses have been leaking points at an alarming rate, and the numbers tell a concerning story.
Last year, heading into the Six Nations finale, England had conceded just 29 points in four matches. Fast forward to this campaign, and that figure has ballooned to 76. In their last two outings alone, Wales and Italy—neither of whom made the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals—crossed the try line nine times between them.
The contrast couldn't be starker. France, who scored 42 points in last year's epic Grand Slam decider at Allianz Stadium, have been in devastating form, racking up 69 points against Scotland's porous defence on Saturday. While England's attack remains slick and worthy of a fifth straight Grand Slam, their defensive fragility has injected a sense of jeopardy into Sunday's showdown that few anticipated at the start of the championship.
England's campaign began promisingly, conceding just 12 points against Ireland and seven against Scotland. But injuries have taken their toll on head coach John Mitchell's squad. Already missing four World Cup winners due to pregnancy, the injury list has continued to grow. Thirty players have featured so far, including five debutants, while forced positional shifts have tested the squad's depth.
Nineteen-year-old Haineala Lutui, typically a back rower for Loughborough Lightning, has stepped into the second row due to a shortage of locks. Flanker Abi Burton has also filled in out of position. Nine of the forwards who started the World Cup final were unavailable against Italy in Parma.
"We are going through a lot of changes and the players are still learning and growing," Mitchell acknowledged. "I am trying to explain to the younger players how important it is, and they are only growing. They don't understand how important it is at this point in their careers."
The stats underline the defensive decline. Compared to last year's campaign, England are conceding 4.8 more points per game and 0.8 more tries. Missed tackles have increased by 3.45 per game, while dominant tackles have plummeted from 12.4 to just 5.5 per match. The improvement of other Six Nations teams has also played a role.
"We have conceded more points than probably we wanted to," admitted Burton. As England gear up for their toughest test of the championship, the question on everyone's lips is whether their leaky defence can hold firm against a French side hungry for revenge.