Six Nations 2024: Martin Johnson reflects on memorable England v France matches

World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson revelled in the rivalry between England and France.

The 54-year-old played for England from 1993-2003 - an era in which the French posed their biggest northern-hemisphere threat.

From a surprise debut to disappointment even in victory, the fixture provided the former lock career highs and lows.

Johnson, who retired in 2003 from England duty after lifting the World Cup, joined the Rugby Union Daily podcast to reflect on his battles with Les Bleus.

1993: Surprise debut

France's Didier Camberabero kicked five points in the 16-15 defeat

Back-to-back Grand Slams in 1991 and 1992 ensured history and redemption for one of the great England sides following defeat against Australia in the 1991 World Cup final at Twickenham.

Theirs was an experienced winning machine, with a young 22-year-old Johnson on the fringes having impressed at Leicester Tigers.

Johnson was in camp and learning from fellow lock Wade Dooley - a British and Irish Lion Test starter in 1989 - before a late injury to Dooley resulted in a debut against France in the 1993 Five Nations opener.

"Dooley was one of the most iconic England players of that era," Johnson told Rugby Union Daily. "You are some skinny kid coming into the biggest European game of rugby at that point at Twickenham.

"The good thing is I only had 24 hours' notice. I got called in on Friday so I didn't have to deal with the media speculation and people talking to you about it."

After a slow start, a narrow 16-15 victory ensured a winning start to Johnson's international career and signalled the start of a new era.

"This is a double Grand Slam winning team and we were suddenly two tries down at Twickenham in the opening game of the tournament, and I am thinking - is it me?" he added.

1998: The early blitz in Paris

The Stade de France hosted the 2023 Rugby World Cup final

From 1974-1998 the home of French rugby was Parc des Princes.

In 1998, France decided to up their capacity by 30,000 seats and build the Stade de France before the Fifa World Cup.

The rugby team played their first match there in February with their Five Nations opener with England.

Two tries in 20 minutes and England had a mountain to climb. The Stade de France was born.

"If you are not ready for it, then they can get ahead very quickly and suddenly you are behind in the game," Johnson recalled.

"It was disappointing as you thought we can compete with these guys and they just came out all guns blazing."

France went on to claim back-to-back Grand Slams and remain the last side to do so after England ended Ireland's bid last weekend.

1999: Wilkinson masterclass

Jonny Wilkinson made his England debut in 1998

Winning against Les Bleus did not come easy to Johnson after his debut.

Alongside their dominance in the championship, France also beat England in the third-place play-off at the 1995 World Cup.

This meant the French win streak stretched to four games, with England's last victory coming in the 1995 Five Nations.

However, at Twickenham in 1999 a fresh-faced Jonny Wilkinson kicked seven penalties to end that horrid run.

"We didn't score a try, we had become a very strong defensive team," Johnson said.

"Clive [Woodward] was happy that we had won, but he was an attacking player and had that mindset as a coach, so he was like 'we have to score some tries'."

Woodward's side ended up losing the title on points difference to Scotland. More tries were indeed needed.

2001: Fast England blow away France

Martin Johnson partnered current England head coach Steve Borthwick in the second row against France in 2001

The players clearly learned their lesson, as two years later Johnson recorded his biggest win over France.

England scored six tries under the new leadership of Johnson, who took over as captain from Lawrence Dallaglio in 1999, as their young backs grew in Test-match confidence.

"We were so fit and had some real pace in our team," the former England captain said. "Iain Balshaw at full-back and Jason Robinson coming off the bench. We just ran the legs off them in the second half.

"When you play France, and it is as true now, you have to keep the pace up. They are capable of playing at a very high pace."

The pace was so high the referee was replaced after pulling his hamstring.

England lost their final game against Ireland and Johnson was denied his first Grand Slam as skipper.

2003: 'We walked off like we had lost'

The 2003 Six Nations was Johnson's final Six Nations campaign

A decade on from his debut and Johnson was again facing France in the opening game to likely decide the title.

Either England or France were tipped to win the championship before the World Cup in Australia, with critics suggesting the game was wasted as the opening fixture.

"The chat was 'this is ridiculous', 'this should be the final game of the tournament every year', 'this is the only game that matters' - all that conversation was going on," Johnson recalled.

Les Blues took an early lead through Olivier Magne but the hosts managed to regain control and win 25-17.

Despite the result and magnitude of the game, in a World Cup year the performance was not deemed good enough.

"We walked off like we had lost," Johnson said. "Guys were really not happy with the way they played.

"Greenwood said something like it was the worst win he has ever played in. It was a weird one really."

England went on to hammer Ireland in the final game, who were also chasing a Grand Slam, to remain undefeated and maintained momentum before their World Cup triumph.

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