EVEN making history was not enough in the end.
But while France, deservedly, took the Six Nations crown in Paris, Steve Borthwick and England left Cardiff having sent a message of long-term intent that could be really transformative.
Yet last night, as the Principality echoed to chants of “Borthwick, Borthwick” and “Scotland, Scotland”, the Red Rose bloomed with an intensity that will never be forgotten.
Ten tries, five in each half — plunging Wales to the brink of the worst losing run by a major side international rugby has EVER known — was a statement in itself.
What really mattered was the manner of that trouncing, the Red Dragon left looking like an abandoned puppy, whimpering in the corner.
Led brilliantly by the inspirational Maro Itoje from start to finish, this was everything Borthwick had promised his side can become.
Utterly dominant upfront and in the set-piece, full of conviction in the tackle, brimming over with ambition and striking with the killer instinct of a praying mantis.
Surely, even in Borthwick’s wildest dreams — and caretaker Welsh coach Matt Sherratt’s worst nightmares — it would not have played out like this, England making huge holes in the threadbare red wall.
The starting players were brilliant, especially Ben Curry, Itoje, Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman and rookie winger Tom Roebuck.
And the replacements were arguably even more influential, with two tries each for new boy Henry Pollock and Chandler Cunningham-South, another for Joe Heyes.
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Yes, it must be tempered by reality. If anybody doubted why the men in red had lost 16 on the bounce, after this — the 17th and England’s record win in Wales — they know now.
But that was not England’s fault. Knowing any win would ensure them second place and a best Six Nations performance since winning the title in 2020, they were captivatingly good, captain Itoje put his side into the lead inside three minutes.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Cian Ducrot sings national anthem before Ireland vs France in Six Nations” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6369791651112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Fin Smith kicked to the corner after Welsh hooker Elliot Dee was offside on the ground, with Itoje soaring to gather the lineout.
Tom Curry was held inches shy of the line but, when the ball was recycled, Itoje picked up to plunge over.
Wales full-back Blair Murray had a reply “try” ruled out for an offside call against scrum-half Tomos Williams and England took advantage instantly, as Roebuck scored their second.
Two surging forward drives through the middle created the space, Fin Smith missed out three white shirts to find Roebuck and the right winger did brilliantly to outmuscle Murray and Ellis Mee before touching down in the corner.
Fin Smith’s second conversion twisted the knife and even when England were forced into an early change, with Cunningham-South replacing shoulder victim Ollie Chessum inside the first quarter, they were a class apart.
Briefly, on the half-hour, Wales threatened to make a fight of it when centre Ben Thomas walked through a gap from close range.
But that only sparked England into action, three tries in the final ten minutes before the interval ending the contest as they dominated the contact areas.
Freeman justified his switch from wing to centre with the first of them, quick hands from his Northampton club-mates Dingwall and Fin Smith allowing him to canter over to complete a full house of a try in each match of the campaign.
Then it was Cunningham-South’s turn, the replacement second row on Alex Mitchell’s shoulder from two yards out as the white wave washed over the thin red line.
With the final play of the half, after the ball pinged off Ellis Genge’s head, fellow prop Will Stuart was on hand to burrow over.
Wales needed a miracle. Instead, they failed to take advantage of a 5m scrum, after a brilliant turnover by Ben Curry, before Aaron Wainwright fumbled the ball with only the try-line in front of him. Freeman’s enforced departure saw a debut for Pollock, with Ben Earl switching to centre.
And, out of nowhere, England had a sixth, Mitchell hacking on and winning the race after another header, this time Elliot Daly’s bonce in the way of Thomas’ pass. Fin Smith converted with his final act, before George Ford came on for his 99th appearance.
Two more swiftly followed. Highly rated Pollock was in space on the right for the first, skating over when he was fed by Ford.
And next, prop Joe Heyes also had his first England score after fellow replacements Jack van Poortvliet and Tom Willis had rampaged forward.
Thomas got a second for the home side but England still had two more in the tank, Pollock and Cunningham-South sticking the knife even deeper.
As expected, it was still not enough as France, even without Antoine Dupont, held their nerve against the Scots. But it was truly immense. This England can become the real deal.