By Paul Eddison at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

England secured the win they so desperately needed in one of the most dramatic Guinness Six Nations clashes played at Twickenham in recent years.

Elliot Daly’s try, converted by the outstanding Fin Smith, sealed a 26-25 win over France that gets England up and running in the 2025 Championship.

With Scotland up following the rest week in a huge Calcutta Cup clash, England and Steve Borthwick now have a fortnight to build on this remarkable success, that ends a run of seven successive defeats to tier one opposition – all of which had come by a single score.

Here is what we learned from the clash:

Fin Smith is the real deal

It was a bold decision from Steve Borthwick to give Fin Smith his first Test start in such a pressure encounter against a French team that was flying high.

But the Northampton fly-half has always been a cool customer, helping Saints to the Premiership title last season, as well as masterminding a run to the semi-finals of the Champions Cup.

And while he admitted that the nerves had got to him a little in the first half, the way he seized control of proceedings after the break vindicated the decision to give him the start.

Taking advantage of his club connection with scrum-half Alex Mitchell, as well as with winger Tommy Freeman, Smith grew into the game as the minutes ticked by, even taking over kicking duties from namesake Marcus Smith after a couple of missed shots at goal.

He even had the honour of slotting the winning conversion, doing so from in front, to complete a famous victory.

With the way England’s attack started to click in the final half-hour, Fin Smith showed that he has all the ingredients to make the No.10 jersey his own.

France pay the price for missed chances

France have established themselves as one of the world’s best teams over the past five years with consistent performances from one of the most talented group of players in the game.

Yet, in the first half of this encounter, they made more handling errors than we usually see in a season, bombing try-scoring opportunity after try-scoring opportunity.

Even the likes of Antoine Dupont and Damian Penaud, two of their very best players, dropped the ball – literally – with the try-line begging.

England did well to scramble and force an extra pass on a number of occasions – particularly Ollie Sleightholme early in the second half when Louis Bielle-Biarrey looked to be away and instead had to pass inside to Peato Mauvaka who knocked on.

Still, seeing Les Bleus drop at least three walk-in tries, is the sort of scenario that happens once in a blue moon, and England certainly took advantage.

Borthwick changes work a treat

Steve Borthwick is renowned as a tireless worker and a meticulous coach, but his willingness to take chances with his selection is often overlooked.

To take on France, he took a gamble by putting Fin Smith into the starting fly-half jersey, but it was not the only big call that he made.

A reshuffled back row had much more balance than in Dublin a week ago, with Ben Earl looking much better in the No.7 jersey alongside club colleague Tom Willis – making his first start for England like Smith.

Ollie Sleightholme was given the chance on the wing in the absence of the injured Cadan Murley, and he played his part even if he was not as influential as Saints wing partner Tommy Freeman.

Just as important was the decision to add experience to the bench, with Jamie George and Elliot Daly both making a big impact after entering the fray.

George’s perfect lineout throwing ensured that England took advantage of their field position, including setting up the final try for Daly.

Add in a try for replacement loosehead Fin Baxter, who also earned a crucial scrum penalty, and some big lineout takes from Ollie Chessum, and this was easily the most impressive performance from the English bench in recent times – with Borthwick’s formula working to perfection.

Championship now wide open

A late bonus point in Ireland last week seemed like slim consolation after another defeat, but it looks rather more valuable on the back of this result.

England scored four tries in all to come away with a maximum of five points from this game, moving up to six points from their first two games.

Their title destiny is currently out of their hands, needing someone to beat Ireland to have a chance of getting their hands on the trophy for the first time since 2020.

But with France beaten, and round one winners Scotland and Ireland playing in Edinburgh on Sunday, there will be just one team who are two from two heading into the rest week.

Every point will count and for England, the Calcutta Cup is now a huge clash with the Scots having won four in a row in the fixture.

If England can end that streak, then one Irish defeat would give them a chance to contend for the Championship.

Lions chances grow with dramatic success

With each passing narrow defeat, the chances of England players making the Lions tour to Australia this summer took a hit.

But a big win against a top quality opposition is the sort of result that can influence a selector and Andy Farrell will have been impressed with a number of players.

It might be early to start talking up Fin Smith after just one Test start but he certainly caught the eye in a position where there is flux across every home nation bar Scotland.

The back row might be the most competitive area of all, and Tom Curry did his chances of going on a second successive Tour plenty of good with an all-action display.

And in a meeting with the world’s best scrum-half, Antoine Dupont, Alex Mitchell was outstanding and did his case no harm at all.