Mike Catt shook both fists at the sky as the final whistle blew, the Twickenham faithful roared their approval and all was well once more in the world of England rugby.

Well, maybe not everything, but what a difference two weeks make. You have to hand it to head coach Brian Ashton.

Anyone who can inspire a side to rise from the debacle of Croke Park to give the committed performance which saw England beat France 26-18 and deny them a potential Grand Slam must have considerable inspirational powers.

True, it was the flattest of French performances. They looked out of sorts as sometimes they can for no apparent reason.

But, make no mistake, this was a match which gave England a platform on which to build.

It showed them they can win without Jonny Wilkinson and the 16 points delivered by his replacement Toby Flood, underlined that point.

Before the match the crowd were invited to sing along for a recording of the World Cup version of Swing Low Sweet Chariot.

If anything, that highlighted the fact that the defence of England's crown is just six months and five matches away. Barely time enough to get the team suits tailored, especially as a fortnight ago you would not have given a prayer forthe fraying fabric of England's team.

Ashton recognised the need for wholesale restructuring, gambling on 11 changes. And it worked, despite an error-strewn match in which neither side would have concerned the men from New Zealand.

Perhaps one 40-yard pass by Josh Lewsey following a throw in to himself which went to straight to French centre David Marty said so much about England's attitude.

They were a team desperate to play with adventure. They had an attacking licence from Ashton. At times they also had little innate understanding of each other. The result was a stream of unforced errors, dropped passes a speciality.

It made for a fragmented match, one which did not do justice to the splendour of the spring sunshine.

But we have to remember the shame of Croke Park. And in that sense this was a huge stride forward.

The positives? For one, England confined a team going for the Grand Slam and one of the World Cup favourites to so few scoring chances from open play.

There were others. Lots of them. Scampering scrum half Harry Ellis is here to stay. So is Tom Rees, the Wasps flanker who gets around the field in such sprightly fashion and was deservedly named man of the match.

And there was Flood, showing the fearlessness of youth plus a vision and a willingness to take the game to France.

For a 22-year-old with just five caps it was a display of some maturity until he limped off to be replaced by the equally impressive Shane Geraghty just before the hour mark.

Neither could have impressed, however, if the forwards, with Martin Corry huge in his new second row berth, had not provided the fire lacking of late.

They matched the French pack at every turn and that set the platform for the work outside them where wing David Strettle gave another dynamic performance.

But above all there was Catt, the 35-year-old who played his last Six Nations match in 2001 but had returned to lend England control.

An emotional decision some said. One bound to fail said others. That did not take account of the Catt mind which remains pin sharp. Nor the enduring zip in the legs which daintily scythed through the French defence.

A swift feed to Flood and suddenly England, down 12-9 at the interval, held a 16-12 lead.

Catt was also instrumental in England's second try after a brilliant break by Geraghty, although this time it was the captain's fumble which fell into the grateful arms of Mike Tindall for the touch down.

When such things happen you know you are doing something right.