England were pushed all the way by brave Wales

By Neal Collins

Sir Clive Woodward promised victory over France next Saturday after England's titanic struggle with Wales.

Woodward said: "We'll beat France in Paris, yes, and I'll have my Scotland scarf on when they play France.

"It's a great championship, surprises do happen.

"We've got to beat France, that's all there is to it.

"I go in to every game believing we'll win. This is a very, very good team. Moving forward. I'm starting to build a new team."

But Woodward admitted he felt the pressure after the "shambles" of the 19-13 defeat against Ireland a fortnight ago.

He said: "Sometimes in your career, you have games you must win and this was one of them.

"Against Ireland we were a shambles on and off the pitch.

"Wales played well, but I was always confident, even at 21-16 down. It was a tough start but the last 20 minutes we were back to the England we know.

"We won the game and we can put behind us all the crap that went on in the Ireland week. We just had to win today.

"Now we look forward to France, the big one."

Woodward was full of admiration for 22-year-old fly-half Olly Barkley, who kicked six out of seven despite swirling winds on his full debut.

Woodward said: "Olly had a great game, I was surprised the experts on the BBC made Ben Cohen their Man of the Match.

"Barkley stepped up to the mark, there was a lot of pressure on him, he'll be very, very pleased.

"It will be a tough call if Paul Grayson is fit for France. But it's a good choice to have."