England coach Stuart Lancaster was delighted with his side's composure as they fought back to defeat France in the Six Nations.
A first-half try from Wesley Fofana and problems at the set-piece saw England go into half-time 9-10 down, before responding after the interval to run out 23-13 winners at Twickenham as they improved throughout the second half.
"It was a proper test match. France brought their A game and got their try, but we're happy with our composure and our discipline. If you had offered me a 10-point win before the start of the match, I would have taken it," said Lancaster.
"It showed a great level of maturity for a young side with an average age of 24, playing against a side which has been to a World Cup final.
"We had our moments with a tough time at the scrum and the lineout, but the ability to problem solve is encouraging.
"The overall message was about finishing the game in the last 20 minutes and that is what was happened."
Lancaster reserved praise for England captain Chris Robshaw, who was named Man of the Match for the second successive fixture, whilst allaying fears over Owen Farrell who limped off in the second half.
"It's not too bad. Owen has a quad strain and the longer he went on the worst it got, so it made sense to bring on Toby [Flood]," added Lancaster.
"Chris was outstanding and I thought that he and Tom Wood were like rocks in the side. I thought Chris showed great leadership but also his ability and his performance under pressure are a testament to him.
"You make your luck in terms of your intensity at the breakdown and the way that you defend. As the game went on we got stronger and started to knock them back. Credit to Andy [Farrell] and the players defensively for that. We got a couple of intercepts, but that's not by luck.
"It was a soft try and Fofana did extremely well to score it, but there was no panic in the changing room. We talked about the breakdown and getting off the line defensively, and we were always confident that our bench would come on and we would see the fruits of our labour."
England forwards coach Graham Rowntree was pleased with his side's gradual improvement at the set-piece, whilst also praising Robshaw and Wood for their performances.
"They were a handful at scrum-time with Domingo and with Samson at the lineout, but we did some problem solving," said Rowntree.
"That said we will have to look at possession lost. I thought Robshaw and Wood were exceptional - it was arguably Tom's finest game in an England shirt and he didn't win man of the match which showed how well Chris played."
by Ben Coles
@bencoles_
Comments
kybone says...
jontheref- You're skirting around the real issue. If the FFR deemed the incident serious, as you do, then why have they not reported Farrell? The fact that no further action has been taken completely blows your argument out of the water.
Posted 10:09 03rd March 2013
lawynd says...
@jontheref - you're blind, as well as repetitive. Just so we're clear:
1. Farrell did throw an arm back, it was not however an elbow to the throat. I suspect if that was actually the case, Parra would have been poleaxed for a lot longer than he actually was...which coincidentally was just short enough to get to the next breakdown.
2. 'Premeditated' doesn't mean what you think it means. If your so-called elbow to the throat was premeditated that means Farrell knew Parra was going to be behind him and close enough to elbow and decided that that was his course of action BEFORE it happened. Go back to school if you're going to insist on clouding an issue with incorrect adverbs.
3. Are you seriously condoning football-style amateur dramatics? If you are, I'd prefer if you just stopped paying attention to rugby right now, that sort of attitude and play has no business in our sport.
4. You quote the trip on Farrell and the push as two separate incidents. They weren't, the push was immediately after the trip, with Huget mouthing off at him. I don't blame him for being annoyed about it.
Posted 09:39 01st March 2013
jontheref says...
All this talk about parra diving, yes he did, but it was cause and effect.
Take an elbow to the throat, see if I can milk it.
If there had not been an elbow to the throat, he would have just got back onside.
All the appologists quoting something else that happened to Farrell, so what?
Go complain about that, does not excuse this incident of foul play.
Premeditated. As was the brain fart of a push in the first couple of minutes.
But he probably knew Joubert would ignore it.
Posted 15:25 28th February 2013
Coshie78 says...
Farrell's slight push with his forearm to the chest of Parra seems to getting a few people excited...
They do not seem so excited about him being tripped by Picamoles when attempting a charge down... If Vunipola yellow would have made a difference, Picamoles would have made an even bigger difference, thought he was excellent..
I watched the game next to a Frenchman and he was disgusted at Parra, wanted his head for it. Slightly over the top but shared his sentiment that no place for football style over-reactions (holding his face). For me the ref did the right thing and ignored him. He then made the inevitable miracle recovery and got up to make the pass from the ruck! Hope he was made to dress as a schoolgirl all the way back to France!
I think England weathered an almighty storm superbly. Fofana try was soft, but let's be fair and put it down to his brilliance! France would have expected to be 10-12 points clear for their efforts... Rather than England being rattled they held their shape well and ended the game much the better side...
They had nothing left in the tank and were showing signs of being on the back foot, Lancaster timed his substitutions perfectly. He could have replaced Lawes/Hartley earlier, but Haskell/Yougs were very effective when they came on. I think this was because of the timing...
All the substitutes had a positive impact, but they have a lot to thank to guys who went off and Lacaster for this. Had they started they would've struggled as well. France were brutal for 35 minutes...
The overall Possession/Territory stats are in England's favour largely down to the last 25 minutes of the game...
Personally, if PSA had left his team unchanged I think it would have been 20 point margin. His team is so powerful but tires badly and his bench cannot match it!
Posted 16:49 27th February 2013
kybone says...
lacroix- If the Parra incident was so serious, then why hasn't Farrell been cited? I think Parra was the one acting like a 12 year old footballer. Stop making excuses for your team and drawing attention away from their dismal form.
Posted 15:49 27th February 2013
heart_of_oak says...
Lawynd, I apologise for making the point in an unkined manner. My point is of course that it serves no purpose to keep selecting a guy you've no intention of playing. But I acknowledge I could have made the point in a less hurtful way.
And just to show I am not anti Leicester, let me say how please I am that Croft has made a full recovery from what could have been a career ending injury.
Posted 12:28 27th February 2013
lawynd says...
@heart_of_oak - it seems a little unfair to criticise a player who never made it onto the park during the game. I, or rather we, know you don't like him, there really isn't a need to attempt to stick the knife in at every oportunity.
Posted 11:11 27th February 2013
lacroix says...
erm, in what way was farrell shaky? by reacting like a petulant 12 year old ....by risking a citing with a stupid move on parra...that's not class or composure. just silly. he's a great, great player with immense potential but he got unsettled.
like i say, interesting to see how quickly and easily france rattled them.
and for 40 minutes they had englands scrum on the rack. cole looked out of his depth first half. so , will wales get to them in cardiff....very different there ...
Posted 23:59 26th February 2013
kybone says...
heart_of_oak- He makes the props sat on the bench look slim for the tv cameras.
Posted 17:50 26th February 2013
heart_of_oak says...
I'm still hoping someone will describe to me the contribution made by Waldrom.
Any thoughts, anyone ?
Posted 15:59 26th February 2013
kybone says...
lacroix- In what way was Farrell shaky? Fired up yes, a bit too hot headed, maybe, But shaky, absolutely not. Made his tackles and kicked his goals. Owen Farrell is almost exactly the same age as Paddy Jackson, and the difference in their respective abilities to handle the big game pressure is immense. I don't think shaky is a word that should be put anywhere near Farrells name.
Posted 14:00 25th February 2013
markpat says...
The biggest improvement for England, in my opinion, was the decision NOT to make changes just for the sake of it. The fact that 12trees and Waldrom stayed on the bench (and hopefully Flood would have as well, if not for Farrell's injury) showed an understanding of the state of the game, rather than blindly following planned subsitution procedures.
Posted 12:14 25th February 2013
heart_of_oak says...
lacroix - some English may resent your comments but I have to agree with you. I think Ashton behaved like a petulant child. We have 2 great wingers at Wasps who should be given their chance and Mike Brown could then go to full back, the position he plays at club level. You're also right that Farrell displayed poor temperament. Things like that can be worked on by opposition teams. I've seen football games involving Joey Barton for example where the opposition go in extra hard on him with the deliberate and obvious intention of getting him sent off. In his defence, Farrell is still in his early 20s. For Ashton though, there's no excuse. I cannot stand the bloke and when I see his childish behaviour it makes me embarrassed to be English. Thank God I can look at Robshaw and see a bloke that goes about his business with little or no crap. Likewise Wood. But Ashton needs to change his ways, to say nothing of upping his game.
England played with too many players out of position in this game - something that's been a problem for France in their first 2 games. I hope that for the last 2 games we can see players playing their preferred role if both SL and PSA realise that for England, it didn't work out as well as hoped while for France, they are much much better when their play Fofana in the centre.
On another note there were some interesting stats from this weekend's games - according to the BBC England conceded 12 penalties to France's 11. But PSA complained about France being penalised alot. In the Scotland game, Ireland had far and away the better of the match and the possession yet Scotland won. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Rugby is such a great game.
Posted 11:42 25th February 2013
lacroix says...
interesting how clearly rattled england were. obviously we know ashton is suspect- and frankly he had a dismal day even by his own over rated and recently thoroughly poor standards, but farrell was shaky and childish.
something for england to sort out. the real test comes in wales...psa rendered this a non contest.
Posted 23:01 24th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Tvaddict and Kybone: well done for dealing with the morons. Farrell showed the same "petulance" he showed in the AB game. I suppose Martin Johnson and George Greegan were also similarly weak characters.
Posted 18:23 24th February 2013
tvaddict says...
@astrospange, Admack, dannyboy
Irish players stamps and it's all about how it's just a tough part of the game. English player pushes another player and you burst into tears crying foul play. Grow up and stop being so pathetic. Farrell never lost control and was just playing an 'in your face' style.
Ashton is a player I don't particularly like anyway, but Fall did start the incident. Anyway, Ashton shouldn't be in the team based on his performances lately regardless of his 'petulant' actions.
Posted 16:08 24th February 2013
pierredelot1 says...
Thats the second time I've seen Ashton throw his toys out of the pram in a match. One day somebodies really going to bait him and he'll get a yellow or a red. It's childish stuff and that silly laugh of his after the event illustrates his juvenile mentality. England need mature players he needs to grow up and quick. Farrel no problem though.
Posted 12:18 24th February 2013
dannyboy says...
Farrell was petulant. So much for his steely mental attitude. Great kicker but he'll be targeted now that it's been shown he has the Ashton temperment. Tuilagi show progressed amazingly though.
Posted 10:41 24th February 2013
kybone says...
Admack and astrospange- Benjamin Fall instigated the incident with Ashton at the end. Yes to throw the ball was a bit childish, but it was started by Fall. The French are better than anyone at the cry baby antics, especially when they're losing and so it was yesterday. I have no simpathy, though i do wish that the England players had risen above it.
Posted 10:19 24th February 2013
Admack says...
England look good, however, mature... No... They lack sportsmanship. Ashton was a disgrace at the end and Farrell through out the game. Just backs up gatlands commets re English selections for lions tour
Posted 02:57 24th February 2013