England's Ben Foden celebrates a vital score against France at Twickenham
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Ben Foden's try helped Martin Johnson's bright young things pass their biggest test yet and put down a World Cup marker, according to The Observer's Paul Hayward.
"Nobody likes them, but they don't care. Neither the stereotypical antipathy of France's coach, Marc Lièvremont, nor a fierce first-half Gallic assault could halt England's revival here as Martin Johnson's team closed in on a first Six Nations title since 2003.
"A law of top-level sport is that you find out how good you really are when the opposition drive a dump truck through your nice long-term development plan. Then the praise stops, errors multiply and the world goes dark. Can't cope with physical pressure? Go home, find another job.
"England endured and prospered as a Ben Foden try and Jonny Wilkinson penalty after the interval drove them to a 17-9 victory. All teams can trace a moment when promise turned to reality and in a World Cup year England may remember this clash as the day they became contenders in New Zealand."
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