England have finally emerged from the shadows cast over them after their 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph. They have found a new generation of players, capable of playing with the verve and pace required to win an international rugby match. They beat France with an energised performance and expansive style that thrilled the crowds at the redeveloped Twickenham.

It may have been nearly four years in coming, but Sunday's victory over France was England’s first convincing performance against one of the world's leading nations since that epic victory against Australia in Sydney in 2003. England were back in business!

They have coughed and spluttered from game to game since the departure of Sir Clive Woodward, the line-up ever changing as Andy Robinson took a surgeon's knife to the team-sheet following each defeat. Yet each time a change was made, it wasn’t a fresh face emerging from the dressing room but a familiar one, that of a player who had played and been dropped weeks before. England were slow, lethargic, a bunch of wallowing hippos.

They needed re-energising; a new team needed to be moulded in the same way Woodward fashioned the formidable World Cup winners. Whether through inspired selections or through the fate of a lengthy injury list, that is what  Ashton has done. It’s only a start, but if he has the courage to stand by the team that took to the field against France and avoid the temptation to recall the more established players, England can grow once again into one of the great teams.

The running from deep, speed of pass and forward dynamism they showed, especially in the second half, made it a case of role reversal, as the French looked short of ideas and Gallic flair. What made it all the more remarkable was that most of the players responsible were newcomers to the international stage. They had very little time to prepare, less than other nations, and were low on confidence.

The next World Cup may be too soon; however, Toby Flood, Tom Rees, David Strettle, Shane Geraghty, Magnus Lund, Harry Ellis and Matthew Tait, all of whom are in their early 20s, will form the nucleus of a side that can develop over the coming years.

Rees, man of the match on Sunday, is the most important find of all. Never has a team in the history of rugby succeeded without an inspirational No.7. Look no further than Richie McCaw of New Zealand to see the importance of a great open-side. Many have tried to fill the berth vacated by Neil Back; none have succeeded, until now.

Rees has all the attributes. A tireless worker in attack and defence, always on the shoulder of the man in possession, inevitably he is the first to the breakdown. A strong tackler and an impressive turn of pace mean he has the all-round game required to play international rugby. All at the age of 22.

Wherever England finish in the Six Nations table people shouldn’t get carried away. Success isn’t manufactured in a month; remember it took Woodward nearly a decade to produce the final product. At least now England are on the conveyor belt and it’s moving in the right direction.

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