Statistics. It was the word that kept cropping up at France’s new conference on Thursday.
“The stats are on England’s side,” said Gaelle Mignot, one of France’s head coaches. “The stats aren’t in our favour.”
“There’s no other team in any sport with those stats,” said the other, David Ortiz, in reference to the Red Roses’ run of form.
They are right, of course. Ortiz and Mignot were only confronting the obvious. England’s numbers loom large over every opponent.
Since the last Rugby World Cup final, England have won a record 31 straight Tests. They have won 61 out of their past 62 matches, racking up massive winning margins in most. No-one has got within 30 points of them in this tournament.
France themselves have lost their past 16 matches against England, a miserable record that stretches back more than seven years.
In the shade of such stats, belief can soon wilt.
Previewing Saturday’s semi-final, French newspaper L’Equipe, external referred to England’s dominance as a “new Ice Age” that “seems far from finished”.
But if France delve beyond those headline figures, into the fine detail, the numbers offer more comfort.
Because no-one has come closer or pushed harder during England’s current winning streak.
France are the only team to finish within seven points of England over the period, fighting back to within a point at Allianz Stadium in April, and losing out by five on the same stage two years before.
France also average the most tries (3.4), the most entries into the opposition 22m (10.8), the most defenders beaten (27.4) and the skinniest losing margin (16 points), of any team in their meetings with England since the start of 2023.