Rugby Football Union - England lose to France

England lose to France

by RFU Press Office


	Paul Grayson of England looks for a pass photo by Allsport

FRANCE 17 ENGLAND 16

England’s 14 match unbeaten run came to an end in the hostile atmosphere of the Stade Velodrome, Marseilles, this evening losing to a full-strength France side in the first of two World Cup warm-up matches between the nations.

At the end of the day it was the boot of French fly half Frederik Michalak and his 64^th minute penalty that decided the outcome as the two sides battled for supremacy.

Despite the defeat England can take heart in that they had made 10 changes to the side that had put Wales to the sword the previous week and that they were far from fielding their full World Cup line-up.

Considering all the changes they did well to hold the might of France and could even have snatched victory in the closing minutes as man of the match Paul Grayson had a drop-goal attempt charged down and then put a second wide of the posts.

They will, however, be disappointed with their performance at the line-outs and at a lack of discipline at times that cost them match.

England found themselves behind within two minutes of the start when they were penalised at a scrum having knocked-on from the kick-off.

Michalak converted with ease, but England’s first real thrust to the French 22 caught the home side offside and the sure-footed Grayson banged over the levelling score.

It was a Grayson kick for touch, poorly handled by full back Nicola Brusque to give England a line-out, that put the visitors into the lead for the first time.

Skipper Dorian West threw brilliantly to the tail of the line, flanker Martin Corry took the ball on until stopped with Healey finding Grayson whos little show of the ball opened up the gap for centre Mike Tindall to power his way through to the line.

Grayson added the conversion to put England 10-3 in front, but Michalak couldn’t reply a minute later at the other end as his penalty attempt sailed past the posts,

The Toulouse player had a second long-range attempt on 26 minutes but again failed to find the mark.

But it was him who eventually cut into the England lead after France had opted for a five-metre line-out when prop Graham Rowntree had been penalised for coming in the side of a ruck,

Despite the England forwards best efforts the ball reached Michalak for the simplest of drop-goals.

Worse followed from the re-start as France ran the ball and England were stretched out wide on the right for Brusque to finish off a superb unconverted try.

Suddenly England were trailing 11-10, but they hit back themselves from the kick-off as Alex Sanderson charged down Michalak’s clearance only to fail to ground the ball over the line.

The pressure did bring a 45^th minute penalty for Grayson only for England to give away a penalty at the restart for obstruction and for Michalac to give his side the edge 14-13 at half time.

England again made a nervous start to the second-half with Brusque almost scoring immediately in the left-hand corner from scrum half Fabien Galthie’s cross-field kick that required the television officials help to sort out.

Michalak also missed minutes later when his drop-goal attempt drifted wide and as injuries took there toll the game became disjointed.

It was England who eventually put together a worthwhile move with Josh Lewsey, Jamie Noon and Ben Cohen all combining to take England into the French 22 and catch the home side offside.

Grayson slotted his third penalty only for England to hand France the chance to reply, once again from the restart, as flanker Lewis Moody went in on the side of a ruck.

Michalak’s kick went in off the posts to put France back into their one point lead 17-16 and they did enough to hold on to it including surviving two last-ditch drop-goal attempts from Paul Grayson.

The Northamptonshire fly half and amany of the team will now face a nervous wait until Sept 8^th when Clive Woodward announces the 30 man World Cup squad to play in Australia.

England will announce their squad on Wednesday for the Investec Challenge match against France at Twickenham next Saturday (Sept 6^th), kick-off 6pm.

FRANCE: Brusque (Biarritz); Rougerie (Montferrand), Traille (Pau), Jauzion (Toulouse), Dominici (Stade Francais); Michalak (Toulouse), Galthie (Stade Francais-capt.); Crenca (Agen), Bru (Toulouse), Marconnet (Stade Francais); Pelous (Toulouse), Thion (Biarritz); Betsen (Stade Francais), Harinorduquy (Pau), Magne (Montferrand). Reps – Ibanez (Saracens), Milloud (Bourgoin), Auradou (Stade Francais), Chabal (Bourgoin), Tabacco (Stade Francais), Garbajosa (Toulouse), Leibenberg (Stade Francais).

ENGLAND: Balshaw (Bath); Lewsey (Wasps), Smith (Leicester), Tindall (Bath), Cohen (Northampton); Grayson (Northampton), Healey (Leicester); Rowntree, West (capt), White (All Leicester); Grewcock, Borthwick (both Bath); Corry (Leicester), Sanderson (Sale), Moody (Leicester).

Reps used – Thompson (Northampton), Leonard (Harlequins), Shaw (Northampton), Gomarsall (Gloucester), Noon (Newcastle). Not used: Hazell (Gloucester), Walder (Newcastle).

Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)

Attn. 62,000