Are England on the cusp of another losing streak or do they have a Plan B?

Jack de Menezes was in Paris as Eddie Jones’s side started the Six Nations in the worst possible way. So will the Calcutta Cup offer respite or more of the same?

England have lost back-to-back Tests against South Africa and France (PA)

A disappointing defeat at the Stade de France when so much more was expected felt oddly familiar for England as the Six Nations got underway at the weekend, and off the back of the Rugby World Cup final heartbreak, Eddie Jones’s side risk the prospect of staring straight down the barrel if this Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash goes awry.

Two years ago England departed BT Murrayfield bullied and broken by Scotland, with the fiery 25-13 defeat starting with a pre-match skirmish in the tunnel and ending with a Finn Russell-inspired victory for the hosts that triggered England’s five-Test losing streak. Jones himself was verbally abused on his return journey home by a group of Scotland fans, and though it is a trip England would much rather forget, they remember it all too well.

This time around the journey is Paris to Edinburgh via Pennyhill Park, but the dangers are remarkably similar. Just like they are now, England were without Billy Vunipola two years ago and lacking any real ball-carrying ability, which left them brutally exposed last weekend when Manu Tuilagi was forced off so early.