‘The shirt used to weigh heavy – now England players double in size in it’

In his latest BBC Sport column, England World Cup winner Matt Dawson discusses England’s seven-try thrashing of Wales, Tommy Freeman’s performance at centre and the lessons coach Steve Borthwick could learn from his France counterpart.

There was a time, maybe a couple of years ago, when the England shirt used to weigh heavy on the players.

The pressure seemed to inhibit them. They were not expressing themselves. Everything was safety-first and a bit meek.

No longer.

Now, that England shirt seems to make the players double in size. They have embraced this team and this stage and are relishing showing the Allianz Stadium crowd what they are capable of.

They are enjoying their rugby. And we are enjoying watching them.

Perversely, it is because the mood is so good around the team that coach Steve Borthwick and the players can be so focused on the bits and pieces which went wrong in the 48-7 win over Wales to open their Six Nations campaign.

There were no cartwheels or laps of honour after the final whistle. The players looked like they were happy with the win but focused on the next task – and aware that they will have to be better when they take on a wounded Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday.

I really love that attitude.

Tommy Freeman is rapidly approaching world-class status.

The package that he brings to Test rugby – the pace, size, aerial ability and appetite for the ball – is pretty special.

He was a starter for the British and Irish Lions in all three Tests against Australia in the summer and he is inked into this England team as one of those who will always have a place when fit.

However, there is a question over which number Borthwick will write next to Freeman’s name.

This was Freeman’s 23rd England appearance but only his third as a centre.

Considering that relatively paltry midfield experience, he was pretty damn good against Wales.

He hit superb lines, either hitting the ball up bravely into the heart of Wales defence or acting as a decoy, and worked instinctively with Northampton team-mate Fraser Dingwall inside him at 12.

They are turning into a dangerous and cohesive pairing – and England have been crying out for a midfield combination with those qualities for ages.

Where once the supply of centres was quite low, there are now a bunch of alternatives.

Ollie Lawrence, who is working his way back from a minor knee injury, may be available for Scotland. Max Ojomoh was very impressive against Argentina in the autumn. Seb Atkinson has credit in the bank from his performances on the summer tour of Argentina.

It means England can mix and match according to the opposition.

Do they want a punch in midfield or the ability to distribute quickly into wide channels? Gas around the outside or the ability to probe behind with kicks?

The ability to change tactics with different midfield selection is very, very exciting.

South Africa – the gold standard for everyone in world rugby at the moment – have the same.

The mix of Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Canan Moodie, Damian Willemse and even Andre Esterhuizen gives them different ways of playing.

That adaptability is a fantastic attribute for any team.

Inevitably, Henry Arundell’s first-half hat-trick for England caught the eye against Wales, but it will have been the smaller details that most impressed Borthwick.

Defensively, Arundell has been questioned in the past, but he was strong in that area against Wales.

When you see him up close, he is strong and solid, as well as fast. He packs 15st 2lb into a 6ft frame and is physical and intimidating in defence. But he is also canny.

His positioning was good against Wales. He did not step out of shape and get isolated, as he has done previously.

His six months or so at Bath, under Johann van Graan and defence coach JP Ferreira, have really brought Arundell’s game on in that respect.

Late in the game, with England well over the horizon and the win secure, he also came in off his wing, looking for work and holes to exploit with his pace.

That is another side of his game that is developing. He is no longer only hanging out on the edge, waiting for the ball to come to him.

After France and England’s dominant first-round performances, the expectation around their final-round meeting in Paris on 14 March has risen another notch.

But you would be foolish to draw a straight line from this opening weekend to a Grand Slam decider on the final one.

There are going to be tougher moments for each side before that. The test will be how they react to being under the pump, away from home in tricky conditions. Scotland showed how hard that can be during their defeat by Italy on Saturday.

Borthwick will not be looking too far ahead, but one lesson he can already take from France is the ability to create competitive internal environments.

Opposite number Fabien Galthie shook up his squad selection for the tournament, leaving out established players Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou and Gregory Alldritt. Perhaps they will come back in for later fixtures. Perhaps not.

But the new faces – and the sense of playing for your place – pushed France to a great performance against Ireland.

Borthwick now has the depth to be as bold in his team selection. That is a wonderful place to be.