England 17 France 28
England’s successful run on the opening day of the Rugby World Cup Sevens came to an abrupt and perhaps surprising end when they lost their pool game match to France, losing 28-17.  But England Sevens Coach Mike Friday is convinced that the defeat, which was England’s first loss in four years in Hong Kong, will make his team even stronger when they return for the second day of the tournament.  “I am sure that this result will give the players extra fire in their bellies and they will come out tomorrow with all guns blazing.  Tomorrow there aren’t any second chances for England and we have to win, and we have to play well.”

England had kept a clean score sheet going into their third pool match but France attacked hard early on in the game to score two quick successive tries. England were given hope of evening the scores by NEC Harlequins winger Ugo Monye when he scored one of his trademark tries just before half time to make England trail by just seven points (France 14 England 7).

A further England try by Newcastle Falcon Phil Dowson took England closer to France but England lacked the impressive form they had shown in their earlier games and conceded a further try by Julien Carraud.

Geoff Appleford (London Irish) closed the gap once more, taking advantage of the fact that Renaud Dulin was in the sin-bin, but some further basic errors by England led to the French scoring a final try to take the final score to 28-17 to France.

Mike Friday accepts that the better team won on the day, “They were more hungry than we were, and were more clinical in some of their play.  We were sloppy in parts and made unnecessary errors.  We simply didn’t play well enough or as we should and they won.  However, tomorrow is another day and we will use this and learn from it.”

England play Chinese Taipei tomorrow (Saturday) at 05.01 UK time. 

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