Rugby Union: The Twickenham factor: England players recall the last five home battles against Les Bleus Interviews by Simon Turnbull

Richard Hill

1987: England 15 France 19

Former Bath scrum-half was captain the day England suffered their last defeat against France at Twickenham.

I remember one thing distinctly. I gave an interception to Philippe Sella on halfway and he ran 50 metres, rounded Marcus Rose, and scored. We may have lost but I think it was the turning point in England-France games. It was the first time our forwards stood up to French aggression. English rugby had been in a very sorry state since 1984. We'd already lost in Dublin that season and we had a big heart-to-heart, saying we were going to stand up and be counted. Wade Dooley, Dean Richards and Gareth Chilcott in the pack really dominated. The French forwards realised they couldn't bully England any more. Of course the Wales game exploded in violence later on, but I think from the day of that French game the English forwards earned respect.

Andy Robinson

1989: England 11 France 0

The Bath flanker scored his one international try in England's first victory against France since 1980.

We worked hard on our discipline, making sure we didn't fight back or give any penalties away. That's very difficult with Gareth Chilcott in your team. But my memory is not just of my try but of Gareth picking himself up from every scrum with water in his eyes. That day I realised how tough he really is. The French did all they could to provoke him, and he took it. My try came when we were pressing near the end. Dean Richards emerged from a ruck with two defenders on him and 12 people on the floor and just flipped the ball to me. I probably had room to run in under the posts but I dived straight for the line. I've got a photo here on the wall of me throwing the ball high in the air when I'd scored. It's a wonderful feeling to score for your country.

Simon Hodgkinson

1991: England 21 France 19

The Nottingham full-back kicked four penalties and a conversion, setting a championship record of 60 points and clinching England's first Grand Slam since 1980.

The significance was not just that it was the climax of the season. Because we lost the Grand Slam in Scotland in 1990 we knew it was vital we won or we would be seen as lads who were talented but who won nothing. The pressure was huge. I probably built it up too much; I was very nervous. We got off to a dream start but that was eroded by the great try Philippe Saint-Andre scored after the French ran the ball from under their own sticks. I thought "Oh no.Here we go again." But the forwards turned it round and Rob Andrew was brilliant - he was all season. There was a lot more to winning the Slam than grinding down the opposition and kicking points. I'm extremely proud, looking back.

Ian Hunter

1993: England 16 France 15

The Northampton wing scored England's only try after a Jonathan Webb penalty bounced off bar and into his arms.

I didn't realise it was my last international try. It seems so long ago now. I could have followed up penalties a hundred times and not got another chance like that. In fact I haven't had one since then. It's just one of those things that sometimes come off. The game was typical England-France. Brian Moore said we used our get-out-of-jail-free card but I don't know. It was very, very touch and go. That England side was completely different to today's team. They had won two Grand Slams playing to a set formula, playing to strengths up front. Today England are far more dominant in all aspects. They play much more of a 15-man game. They're so far ahead in their strengths I can't see anyone stopping them in the Five Nations.

Tony Underwood

1995: England 31 France 10

Two late tries by the wing clinched England's eighth successive win against France, by their biggest winning margin since 1914.

Despite the final scoreline, I remember it as a game of attrition. France were very hard to break down. It wasn't until quarter of an hour from the end that we started to pull clear. That's when I scored my tries. It had been nip and tuck up to then. The first one came from a kick through by Rob Andrew. Mike Catt set up the second with a blind-side break. It was my first game against France. In fact it was my only game against France. Ian Hunter had been picked ahead of me in 1993. The French are moving from Parc des Princes so I guess I'll never play there. I suppose I have got a 100 per cent record against France, but there are a few England players who can boast that.