Philippe Saint-Andre: England undone by arrogance
The Red Rose continue their quest for a Grand Slam in Rome today with much the same line-up as they fielded in the RWC Pools, but perhaps a little less arrogance.
“They thought they would get out of the Pool stage with their eyes closed,” Saint-Andre, above, says in a book he has just had published in France.
And he thinks that streak of arrogance lay behind the fateful decision of captain Chris Robshaw, above, to turn down the chance of a draw against Wales from a late penalty.
Quite simply, he believes, England were so blinded by the vision of becoming world champions again that winning had become paramount.
Saint-Andre says: “You have to remember this England team so full of promise had been fabricated for four years with a view to becoming champs.
“So Robshaw’s decision in this particular context had some sense. The lad has said to himself: ‘We are in our own backyard and we are going to stick a try on them.’
“The players were all the more determined for having the scenario written into their schedule for a long time.
“But is not arrogant pride one of the seven deadly sins and had they not come to Paris with their best team to beat us, impress the whole world and continue their royal route to the title?”
Saint-Andre, whose France won the pre-World Cup friendly 25-20, added: “I do understand Robshaw’s choice but, as a coach, I would have asked him for the penalty to be kicked.
“England were the better side but needed to overcome the pressure and avoid a chronic lack of discipline”.
DAVID BARNES
