Opening try: Manu Tuilagi
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England made it three away wins in the 2012 Six Nations when they weathered a France storm to run out 24-22 winners in Paris on Sunday.
The visitors outscored their hosts three tries to one in a thrilling encounter that went down to the wire as the French fought in vain to keep their 10-match unbeaten run at Stade de France intact.
It was a passionate performance from the English, who never relinquished their lead after centre Manu Tuilagi crossed for the opening try in the 13th minute of the match.
France's efforts in the first half had been disappointing, and the 14-9 deficit at the break was a good reflection of this, but also the superb work of the visitors.
England came out with the same passion and vigour in the second 40 as they had done in the previous half, bruising in the forwards and creative in the backs.
They were unrelenting up front, while France looked rudderless at times when they had the ball.
Their defence was outstanding and managed to hold France off on a weight of possession, until the French staged a dramatic fightback that was ultimately thwarted by their nemesis team.
England, mathematically at least, will head into the final weekend with a shot at the title - and Stuart Lancaster's bid to become the next full-time coach is building momentum. Wales, though, are now all but guaranteed the Six Nations title.
England's aggressive defence really rattled and disrupted France early on and the visitors took full advantage with two first-half tries.
Chris Ashton made a big hit on the halfway line and Owen Farrell and Lee Dickson combined to unleash Tuilagi who out-sprinted the cover to touch down in the corner.
Farrell converted with a terrific kick from the touchline and England doubled their lead five minutes later.
Number eight Ben Morgan thundered through the French defence before offloading to his namesake Foden and the England full-back scrambled to the line. Farrell added the simple conversion.
France kept in the game with three first-half penalties, Lionel Beauxis landing two and Julien Dupuy slotting one.
Farrell landed a penalty early in the second half as England survived a period with Charlie Sharples in the sin-bin for a deliberate knock on. On his return, though, Beauxis and replacement Morgan Parra cut England's lead.
However, the decisive moment came when Tom Croft was given space to hit full stride before cutting through the French line and rounding the cover.
Farrell's tough conversion was crucial as France rallied once again.
Finally France crossed the tryline to make it a tension-filled last five minutes as Wesley Fofana went over in the corner for his fourth try in as many matches after being fed by Parra, who then converted from the touchline.
The French went roaring back into the English half spearheaded by Aurélien Rougerie but replacement Francois Trinh-Duc's effort at a drop-goal fell short and England held on.
Man of the match: England's victory truly was a group effort, and a team gong is richly deserved. However, it's hard not to single out some outstanding performances - namely from Dan Cole, Geoff Parling and Owen Farrell. But in the end we thought Ben Morgan gave as good as he got with a tough and uncompromising effort at number eight for England.
Moment of the match: Take your pick! There were many, but England's third try did it for us as Tom Croft sent Aurélien Rougerie the wrong way and broke one tackle to touch down. Brilliant.
Villain of the match: There was a yellow card for Charlie Sharples, but we really don't think there was hardly any malice involved.
The scorers:
For France:
Try: Fofana
Con: Parra
Pens: Beauxis 3 , Dupuy, Parra
For England:
Tries: Tuilagi, Foden, Croft
Cons: Farell 3
Pen: Farrell 2
France: 15 Clement Poitrenaud, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Yohann Maestri, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: 16 William Servat, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Lionel Nallet, 19 Louis Picamoles, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Francois Trinh-Duc, 22 Maxime Mermoz.
England : 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manusamoa Tuilagi, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Charlie Sharples, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 Tom Croft, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Alex Corbisiero.
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 Phil Dowson, 20 Ben Youngs, 21 Charlie Hodgson, 22 Mike Brown.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
By Dave Morris
Comments
APV1 says...
@ jonesy2 - we'll have to agree to disagree on that. 3 tries by England, some monster hits from both teams, some fantasic running rugby by both, some idiot decsions by some players (and officials), a couple of solid knocks and bruises and a tight game, going until the last minute. Were you watching a different match? Test rugby is rarely as flamboyant as club rugby, especially Super rugby, as it's ofetn played on firmer pitches.
But it's still fantastic to watch.
Posted 10:12 14th March 2012
jonesy2 says...
APV1 -- hey seriously i dont do it for the sake of ruffling your feathers, i am just geniunely dissappointed because every time i go to watch a six nations game i hope that they have learnt how to play and when i realise they havent it saddens me. wales are looking like they are getting the hang of it (cheers gatland). and just when i think england might get a coach that can make them into a quality team they look like they are going to stick with the current one. seriously you should be doing all you can to get kirwan or mallet, or even eddie jones. jake white was a decent idea.
Posted 07:33 14th March 2012
Rosbif says...
@Toulousain. I had a look at the tape again. Not really sure Rolland signals the knock-on. But it would not have been his only mistake, let's face it. As you say, it certainly seems that the ball is knocked forward from the group of players who compete for it in the air, of which the white shirted player seems closest. Who knows? Better question would be: "why on earth were Beauxis and Dupuy kicking so poorly off first phase in the first 30 mins?"
Having watched the replay, what was more worrying was how slow Dupuy was to cut off Tuilagi. Poitrenaud also has a 15 metre head start but just waits for Rougerie to make the tackle. Even by France's slow-starting standards, it all looks pretty feeble...
As some-one once said: "hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard".
France have talent for sure. Bags of it. But they seem overly work-shy early on in games these days. RWC final has left it's mark. I remember the Eng team of 2003 had 3 very poor years after their final. Will Fra care about the Wales game? Will they be unexpectedly brilliant because they just don't care anymore about the 6N?
Who knows? Forecasting what Fra will do is "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma...."
That's why we love them. Allez!!!
Posted 20:05 13th March 2012
Rosbif says...
@APV1. that's the one. superb!
Posted 19:46 13th March 2012
APV1 says...
@ Rosbif - great minds think alike:
"I'd like to have an argument please!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y
Posted 16:21 13th March 2012
Rosbif says...
@APV1. argumentative? the french..? no they're not.... oh all right, maybe yes, they are a little. but, really they're not. just sometimes they are... but not often, right. In fact hardly ever. Just occasionally. When provoked. But that's not argumentative. Or is it? Blast you clever English, you've got me all confused again. Let's have a war to sort it out. Or not....? Whichever you don't want...
I vaguely remember Monty Python running a sketch along these lines....
Posted 15:48 13th March 2012
craigsman says...
liam2me
Tuilagi - been in England since he was 12-13, how long do you have to live somewhere to qualify?
Barritt - Eligible due to his parents and fully committed to England
Botha - Has played all his club rugby in the UK. Fully nationalised. Again, how long do you have to live somewhere to qualify?
Hartley - Attended school in the UK and lived here since 2000. Not gonna ask the same question a third time.
Corbisiero - Born in the US but spent most of his life in the UK and has at least 1 English parent. This is getting boring.
Dickson - British (Eng/Scot) parents and educated in England.
Sharples - Born in Hong Kong. Are you saying that people born in Gibraltar or the Falklands would not qualify either?
Stevens - English parents. Played in Bath since 2002.
It is not like the England coaching team is scouring the world looking for players in foreign leagues and bringing out some long lost relative to prove Englishness. As far as I am concerned, if someone is eligible through either where their at least one of their parents are from or if they move to the UK and fully commit to the country (and to a slightly lesser extent played most of their rugby here) then they can play for the team.
You could say that George North should qualify for England based solely on where he was born, but he wants to play for Wales because he played his rugby there (and therefore should be grudgingly respected for that). Based on your logic you could quite easily say someone does not qualify for England if their mum happened to be on holiday in Spain when she gave birth.
Isn't it time you and other Trolls dropped this?
Posted 14:41 13th March 2012
APV1 says...
@ Frank81 & Saint_Andre91 - thank you.
@ Rosbif - don't those stats just prove that the French are just plain argumentative..!! ;-)
@ liam2me - you're just a prat. Go away and leave the rugby discussions to the grown ups and take your nationality issues elsewhere. I'll point you towards the BNP HQ if you like? You and Nick Griffin will have a lot to chat about.
@ jonesy2 - please don't watch anymore English rugby. For your sake and mine. For yours, so that you're not put through the pain and trauma you obviously suffer every time you do. For mine, so that I don't have to put up with your constant knocking of all things English and your nonsensical comments. Please.
Posted 14:06 13th March 2012
Rosbif says...
@Justice. No worries. My second favourite team are the boks. My winter home is in rondebosch, just up the road from bishops. A fine rugby neighbourhood indeed. Wine's not bad either hehehe :-)
Posted 11:36 13th March 2012
pahel81 says...
Interesting .. , France axe players for coaching mistakes .. true , Dupuy , Bauxis ,Malziue and the others were not up to the international level... they didn't show the passion in the Game ..But How about the coaching Staff ? there were a lot of defensive mistakes ..and they lacked the integrity in the attack too.. we all know ,they are a good attacking . But defense was always the problem
I am a neutral supporter . but certainly , I don't think France's backs coaches are living up to the International standard .perhaps they are good at Top14 level. Rugby is getting more innovative and competitive in terms of defense and attack . France need to address this problem ...
Posted 05:13 13th March 2012
jonesy2 says...
horrible game of rugby. couldnt believe it was two international teams playing
Posted 03:26 13th March 2012
liam2me says...
@chinstan,
Tuilagi, Barrett, Botha, Hartley, Corbisiero, Sharples and Dickson, that makes 7.
Maths and especially research are clearly not you strong point, back in your box!
For a country that produces more players than any other in the world, having to pick other sides cast offs doesn't bode well.
Posted 23:49 12th March 2012
Rosbif says...
@ Justice. I know you're having a go at JLJ and all...but...really...describing Fra as "sliding down the IRB rankings to find your natural level slightly above Scotland" seems a bit off the mark to me. Then you go on....."You played better than anyone could have expected in the RWC final--a flash in the usual French pan--but you didn't deserve to be in the final and when there deserved to lose! Sorry, you are good at wine, quite good at food, and crap at rugby."
I'm sure you don't really mean the things you say. I suspect you secretly like France, but just don't want to admit it :-) A kind of guilty pleasure. Like good wine or food, as you say. Nice place to go on holiday too. You should come to the south west (if you've not visited already). A good chance you'll inadvertently have the best meal of your life, and bump into plenty of kiwis, south africans and australians all happily playing rugby with the locals......
And coming back to the rugby, a RWC record of 6 out of 7 semi-finals or better ain't so shabby. Only the ABs can match that methinks....but happy for you statisticians out there to shout me down.
And for all those out there that cling to the "cheese-eating, white-flag-waiving" stereotype, I was rather surprised to see the BBC history write-up:
"The military history of France encompasses an immense panorama of conflicts and struggles extending for more than 2,000 years across areas including modern France, greater Europe, and European territorial possessions overseas. There have been 53 major wars in Europe, France has been a belligerent in 49 of them; the UK 43. In 185 battles that France has fought over the past 800 years, their armies have won 132 times, lost 43 times and drawn only 10, giving the French military the best record of any country in Europe".
Have a go at JLJ by all means. Mais pas la belle France mon ami :-)
Posted 21:44 12th March 2012
Toulousain says...
Also, why nobody here talks about the knock-on by England before the Tuilagi try? Ball is kicked high in the air. Rolland puts out his hand to signal knock-on by Foden I think. France has the ball with Szarzewski and a big advantage to go left, so Rolland lets the play go on. Szarzewski makes a horrible pass and England score. Why not go back to scrum for France for the knock-on?
I am happy EdF loses this game. Too much old players who are friends with PSA. We need new start and younger players (Buttin, Galan, Maestri, David, Huget, Nyanga) before 2015. Like Lancaster did with England team. Very good for him and for England. Wales is young team. Australian is young team. EdF has not so many young players yet.
(Excuse me for my bad English please!!)
Posted 20:41 12th March 2012
golden_statenba says...
Being a French side it would not surprise me at all if they come out and give Wales a beating.
Someone on this forum suggested a hangover form the world cup.
I'm not French but it seems like its in there culture to have to have some purpose and motivation before they go into a match.
Flash back to the world cup. Everyone was on there back after there loss to Tonga they beat England. People were picking Wales to whip them in the semi they beat Wales. No chance in hell against the ABs...
In all the world cup games against the ABs they have played they have been huge underdogs and people have given no chance at all. Its like disrespect motivates them.
Give them no hope they win. Put them on a pedestal they fall off.
What do the French think to this???
Posted 19:12 12th March 2012
RobinMasters says...
So the ref has to be blamed, whatever the outcome...
Posted 16:56 12th March 2012
chubbylugs says...
the problem with rolland despite his glaringly obvious mistakes was his management of both sides which was not consistent. If he is selected to officiate because he is fluent in both tongues, then why does he treat the two sides so differently?
it's not so much a case of being biased, but to shout hands off white at every defensive ruck and then say nothing in reverse is just bonkers. he seems to offer so much leniency towards the french, but in a way that seems generous purely for the language barrier.
his general incompetence is not really worth commenting on, but if you want an interpreter, then employ one rather than a referee, an interpretter would probably manage the game better
Posted 16:48 12th March 2012
Carpelone says...
Well done to England, although obtained through a Saracenesque style (although effective, it is not my favourite).
France need to sort the 9-10 combo out, since it is the only department in which they are inferior with respect to the other team.
Hat off to Farrell, if I am not mistaken, he did place some monster hits too.
Equilibrium is the word that better describes this 6N. Just imagine what if Italy would have defeated England, Ireland Wales and England tied with Wales.
In spite of come comments here, I do not see much differences among the teams.
Posted 16:31 12th March 2012
Rosbif says...
@lawynd: I've had a day to cool off, and you're absolutely right. Eng totally deserved it. The pens and yellow card were all mysterious shall we say!! Fra asked for a kick up the backside, and duly got one.
Seems the mood in the French camp has changed a great deal already. The vets will not have a final swan-song. In with the new, or at least the newer. Buttin especially is a real talent. He'll almost certainly be on the bench, but look what Hogg did earlier in the season when he came on :-)
Still see problems for Fra at halfback and in being too "programmed" in their phase play. Then there is the whole "who cares least" attitude. Boff. We are a Latin people. Winning isn't everything. It's hard to explain sometimes to the "north" europeans. But put simply, if you're French and you lose without trying (or go behind early with a few intercepts), then it doesn't count as losing. Just like, I suppose, if you're Greek and you don't pay taxes, it doesn't count as cheating... (Please note: tongue firmly in cheek!!)
Oh, and for the record, we mainly hate Rolland too. Peace :-)
Posted 15:42 12th March 2012
Saint_Andre91 says...
@Dingbat32: pretty harsh on Poitrenaud. Close to man of the match if not playing for the loosing side. Immense under high ball, delivered clever passes for line breaks by Fofana and Bonnaire, even broke the defence line himself on two occasions. He might not be your fastest 15 (and never will be) but he was very good yesterday.
Posted 14:23 12th March 2012