George: "I'd be gutted if I’d turned up and seen an England team play like that”
Jamie George apologised for a sorry Six Nations performance as England’s rugby team was blown apart by merciless France.
Saturday’s 53-10 hammering was England’s biggest home defeat since international rugby began 152 years ago.
It killed off the title hopes of Steve Borthwick’s team and left them fearing another drubbing when they face the world’s number one side Ireland in Dublin this weekend.
Hooker George admitted: “That is nowhere near good enough and I want to apologise. I would be gutted if I’d turned up to Twickenham and seen an England team play like that.”
France had not won a Six Nations match on English turf since 2005 but the way they ended 18 years of hurt may take Red Rose players a lifetime to get over.
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George added: “We are sorry and we need to make sure that we get better and learn from this experience, because it’s clear we have a long way to go.
“We haven’t been good enough for the England fans for a little while now and as a supporter myself I can relate to what they’re feeling.
Lewis Ludlam, Owen Farrell and Ollie Chessum react to another French try (AFP via Getty Images)“But what I’d like to say is please stick with us because we’re going to fight and we’re going to scrap to make sure we’re a significantly better team going forward.”
The seven-try thrashing eclipsed England's previous biggest home beating by France, 37-12 in 1972. The 24-point half-time margin was another record low for England.
“As an England player you never expect to be in this situation,” said Owen Farrell, who finished the game as captain having been dropped to the bench for the first time in eight years.
Damian Penaud dives to score his second try - and France's seventh - in Saturday's rout (AFP via Getty Images)“We've got to improve and we knew that before this game. We definitely know it after. But we have to improve together.”
In the winners' changing room Fabien Galthie cried tears of joy - then went out of his way to express sympathy with England counterpart Borthwick.
The France boss never won at Twickenham as a player and also lost a World Cup semi-final to England.
Fabien Galthie, pictured tackling Neil Back during England's 2003 World Cup semi-final win, never beat France's cross-Channel rivals at Twickenham during his playing careerYet in his moment of glory his thoughts were with Borthwick for the seven-try battering his team had been given.
“It’s hard for them,” he said. “When you know the place rugby has in this country, our thoughts are with the England team who will experience a difficult moment.”
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France were installed as favourites for their home World Cup this autumn after ending an 18-year Six Nations drought at Twickenham.
Galthie: "When you know the place rugby has in this country, our thoughts are with the England team who will experience a difficult moment" (Adam Davy/PA Wire)“We wanted to do something, the players wanted to put in a big game against England,” Galthie added. “For us it means we’re for real.
“This place, this context, I’ve been coming to Twickenham for a long while, it’s emotional."
Team captain Antoine Dupont echoed the words of his boss after a win which yet again exposed the folly of England ignoring the coaching talents of rugby league legend Shaun Edwards.
France defence coach Shaun Edwards (Getty Images)“We’re finding it hard to realise when you see the scoreboard - 53-10 at Twickenham in the den of rugby,” said the scrum-half.
“I’m happy with our match, our result, the performance. It will remain historic.”
France flanker Francois Cros admitted the performance of his side was “beyond our dreams” - before revealing the secret of their success.
Freddie Steward dives over the line to score England's consolation try (AFP via Getty Images)“We knew our physicality hadn’t been up to the mark so far this year, especially against Ireland,” he said. “That was something we really wanted to fix.
“We focused all week on breakdown work, planning how we would work together to get an edge.
“It was absolutely key for us to win those battles to create the platform, to retain ball and to create phase momentum.”
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