Key keywords: England vs France 2024, Six Nations Rugby Championship, England dominant rugby victory, France rugby upset, Twickenham Stadium, England rugby resurgence, France Six Nations title defense, international rugby shock, Marcus Smith standout performance Rugby fans across the globe were left stunned this weekend as England delivered one of the most dominant performances in recent Six Nations history, leaving pre-tournament favourites France completely on toast at a raucous Twickenham Stadium. The viral question “What's got into them?” has dominated social media feeds since the final whistle, as few pundits or supporters predicted the lopsided 43-14 scoreline that ended France’s 12-match unbeaten run in the competition. Heading into the clash, France were widely tipped to cruise to a second consecutive Six Nations title, boasting a squad stacked with world-class talent including captain Antoine Dupont, widely regarded as the best scrum-half on the planet. England, by contrast, had limped through warm-up fixtures and faced widespread criticism from fans and analysts alike, with many calling for head coach Steve Borthwick to be sacked just weeks before the tournament kicked off. That narrative was torn to shreds within the first 10 minutes of play, as fly-half Marcus Smith sliced through France’s defensive line to score the opening try, setting the tone for a full 80 minutes of total English dominance. England’s high-press defensive system left France’s backline with zero time on the ball, forcing 17 unforced errors from the French side including 3 misplaced passes that led directly to English tries. By half time, the score sat at 27-3, with many French fans already heading for the exits. The second half saw France mount a brief, scrappy comeback, scoring two consolation tries in the space of 10 minutes, but England quickly regained control, adding two more tries of their own to seal the blowout win. Post-match, Borthwick praised his squad’s “relentless work ethic” over the past three months, noting that the team had spent hours drilling the defensive game plan that neutralized France’s biggest attacking threats. French head coach Fabien Galthié did not mince words in his press conference, admitting his side had been “outplayed, out-thought, and out-fought in every area of the pitch”. The result completely reshapes the 2024 Six Nations standings, with England now level on points with defending Grand Slam holders Ireland at the top of the table, while France’s title defense hopes are all but mathematically over. Social media has been flooded with clips of England’s best plays from the match, with the phrase “France on toast” trending in 12 countries within hours of the final whistle.