History has always told us that no matter how good a team you are, Grand Slams rarely come easy and we saw that again in Paris on Saturday night when this England team had to dig very deep to write their chapter in the record book.

It was helter-skelter stuff best watched from behind the sofa at times but England got there in the end in what was comfortably the most absorbing game of the tournament. England are deserved Grand Slam champions and how sweet that must feel six months after the World Cup debacle.

It’s a great achievement because the disappointment of those defeats by Wales and Australia last autumn is still tangible but England rugby is on the up again.

The England players celebrate as they lift the Six Nations trophy after winning the Grand Slam

England begin their celebrations at full-time having become Grand Slam winners for first time since 2003

This team are only going to get better. That was nothing like their best last night but it was still good enough and Eddie Jones has a wealth of talent to work with going forward. What an exciting prospect.

Eddie has done brilliantly. If you put the right coach in place, with the right skillset and experience working with quality players, the results should come. I’m delighted for him and all the England team, not least the former skipper Chris Robshaw who took it all on the chin last autumn. He had a big game.

It was a nervous start by England and although you would always hope to be more composed this was a hugely pressurised game against a French team in Paris who were clearly up for it.

With a penalty against Watson straight from the kick-off and another against Itoje at the next play, France were straight into the game, which was exactly what they wanted.

Virimi Vakatawa was on fire on the wing, Scott Spedding was enjoying a big game as well and those two gave France real presence going forward. For a while they looked very dangerous, though they tailed off in the final quarter.

France should have built a lead but England hung in well and what they did was make the best of their chances. Danny Care’s try was a beauty, exactly the kind of heads-up rugby you pick him for.

Danny Care bursts through the French defence in Paris to sprint clear and secure England’s first try

Care leaps over to score a fine break away try after 12 minutes of the Six Nations clash at Stade de France

At the ruck you could see him take a quick glance and he knew it was on, even though he was 40 yards out.

England were still under the pump and although they lacked a dominant figure the core of their team that never stopped functioning was the lineout. George Kruis, Itoje and Dylan Hartley never wavered.

France had done their homework in the backs and stood really deep to offset the rush wolfpack defence and a few doglegs appeared in that English defensive line which had your heart in your mouth.

Maxime Machenaud got France off to a quick start after Mauro Itoje conceded a penalty

England also seemed to change their exit strategies, playing too much rugby in their 22 before clearing the ball.

But just when it was feeling a bit fraught, England took their next chance when Dan Cole rumbled over. France complained about a possible obstruction although I didn’t think there was much to it.

England started leaking penalties either side of half-time but at least they kept positive in attack and were well rewarded with Anthony Watson’s try.

Towards the end England finally started to boss the game. They won it the hard way. England fans can smile again.

England prop Dan Cole forced his way over to notch up England’s second try of the night