Full match report for you.
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Steve Borthwick is giving his view.
“We’re a team that want to score tries and we did, we outscored a very good France team four tries to three. And there’s more to learn for us.”
He must feel happy today not just with the win, but that some of what he’s trying to do is delivering on the evidence of what he refers to here.
Right, I’ll address some of the forward pass chat I’ve received.
1. Forward passes remain illegal
2. Lots of passes that look forward are not because they are backwards or lateral out of the passer’s hands. The law is about that, not where the receiver catches it
3. Refs are regularly ignoring actual forward passes more than they used to for the purposes of keeping the game going. Rugby is impossible to ref if applying all the laws and moreover would be hideous to watch if they did.
All three of the above are true at the same time. Get used to it.
There will be plenty of chat about where France struggled, and it would be wrong to ignore the performance of Dupont which was pretty poor when it came to game management basics; too often not kicking well or not kicking at all.
Fin Smith, player of the match, is talking.
“We really backed ourselves and couldn’t go into our shells. France are an awesome outfit but we kept playing. I felt like a rabbit in the headlightd in first half, if I’m honest, but I found my feet in the second half.”
What a hugely mature character he is. How many players at his age would basically admit to being overawed at the highest level? On the quiet, he could be a real gift for England.
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If nothing else, England have certainly answered the question around whether they can maintain their intensity for the whole match, eh?
France will feel that this was a missed opportunity as they had enough ball and plenty of chances to score more, particularly amongst the first half parade of clown hands.
But this feels massive for England, a win they desperately needed that showed a lot of character and physicality, plus a full 80 played by Fin Smith who marshalled their attack superbly when it mattered.
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There’s been a load of chat in my inbox about the forward pass law, but NOW IS NOT THE TIME!
FULL TIME! ENGLAND WIN BY A POINT!
80 mins. The restart is gathered by the home side which allows the ball to be despatched to touch and into a cacophony of jubilation
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TRY! England 26 - 25 France (Elliot Daly)
79 mins. Can you believe this? England have a lineout that they form into a maul that Mitchell digs out and sends the ball to the backs where Fin Smith delays his pass beautifully to find sub Daly to score!
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TRY! England 19 - 25 France (Louis Bialle-Biarrey)
75 mins. France clearly take the SNCF personally. Penaud gets free on the right and kicks on for Le Garrec, who manages to win the ball back to regain possession in the England half. The attack moves left where Penaud reappears and looks to have ruined it when he ignores his support to go alone before getting wrapped up.
However, calmness prevails as the ball is recycled and put through hands all the way left to Bialle-Biarrey to score another try.
Ramos converts.
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73 mins. England are hammering into everything like they are apoplectic about Eurostar prices and blaming the SNCF. Every tackle is driving blue players back and every ruck a personal battle. We’re in for one hell of a final fifteen minutes.
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TRY! England 19 - 18 France (Finn Baxter)
71 mins. Finn Baxter takes revenge for the earlier penalty by doing a brilliant job to win a scrum near the French 22. The ball goes to the corner and two phases later the young prop picks up and over from inches.
What a few minutes for Quins forward!
Fin Smith takes over kicking duties, drills it through and England are ahead!
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MISSED PENALTY! England 12 - 18 France (Marcus Smith)
67 mins. The kick is opted for and Smith pulls it horribly left. That’s the second kick he’s done that with and it’s five points England don’t have as a result. He looks incredibly tight when striking it, will Fin Smith now take over?
66 mins. France are offside as they scramble to cover the England phases. It’s an easy kick for three points, but there’s a conference between Itoje and his players about the best option to take. I can see why they would hesitate as England have had some joy when attacking from lineouts close in.
Jalibert is off for Le Garrec. That means Dupont will finish the game at stand-off.
64 mins. England are now fully into the period where so many games have drifted away, and it has to be said they are looking in decent shape to do better this week. They are on the ball and in the French 22.
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63 mins. It’s England’s turn to counter-punch with an attack up the right side that finds Tom Curry with an offload. He can see the line and his dreams of scoring in front of him but a brilliant covering tackle from Jegou hauls him down before the ball is lost forward on the recycle.
This has really come to life now and there’s still nothing in it.
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TRY! England 12 - 18 France (Damien Penaud)
61 mins. France waste no time in reasserting the pattern of the match by getting back on the ball and into the England 22. There’s more shape this time, and Bialle-Biarrey has crossed to the other side of the field to drift outside Sleightholme and find Penaud who actually catches the ball to go over in the corner.
That’s a brilliant riposte from the visitors.
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TRY! England 12 - 13 France (Tommy Freeman)
58 mins. A fabulous kick chase from Freeman on the kick-off has England on the front foot in the French half immdiately. Two phases later Fin Smith chips a cross kick back towards the winger and he again gathers it and this time steps inside to score!
Marcus Smith misses an important conversion.
An absolute gut-punch for France.
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PENALTY! England 7 - 13 France (Thomas Ramos)
55 mins. Fin Baxter collapses the scrum and Ramos extends the lead.
53 mins. In a similar way to the first half, France are making all the running, the latest attack featuring Jalibert angling a boot in-goal for Bialle-Biarrey to meep-meep after at full tilt. All the scrambling defender Earl can do is ground it for a drop-out under the posts.
51 mins. Itoje wins a penalty as he clamps on the ball at the ruck and France are pinged for holding on. That looked fortunate for Itoje, as to my eyes it appeared the ruck had formed before he went for it with his hands.
The kick to touch results in very little though, as France win the ball back on their 22.
PENALTY! England 7 - 10 France (Thomas Ramos)
49 mins. France have more territory and a penalty inevitably comes, which Ramos does the job with.
“Feels like a stupid comment but both of France’s dropped passes in the first half both looked forward. Are forward passes legal now?” asks Ed Kay. “France scored from a very obvious one last week. Clarity, if you can offer it, would be appreciated.”
I can give some measure of clarity. They remain illegal, but it’s definitely the case that they are being ignored a bit. Think the same way feeding the scrum remains illegal but nobody bothers reffing it anymore.
That clear? No, didn’t think so.
44 mins. This game has fully exploded into a carnival of farce. France are again away, this time Bialle-Biarrey free and running up the left before Sleightholme does an incredible job of catching him and forcing a pass inside towards Barrassi who drops the bloody thing AGAIN!
As it spills loose the Sleightholme grabs it and he’s away and running 25 metres back up the field before he clearly becomes so exhausted he decides it’s best to punt it away.
Everyone then sucks in some air while they presumably have a long, serious word with themselves.
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42 mins. The first French possession is an intricate move in midfield that already has England scrambling, with Penaud again off his wing to create both an extra man and chaos in equal measure. The only trouble is France move forward so quickly they end up isolated and that gives Cowan-Dickie a chance to nick it from the ruck, but he fumbles it forward.
Second Half!
Jalibert boots us back underway.
The entirety of that half will, oddly, give a huge boost to England despite being nowhere for most of it. They repelled most of what France hurled at them – albeit with some help from Les Bleus having hands like feet – and on the rare occasions they hit the French 22 they caused problems.
For the visitors, this is all about mentality now as they must not drive themselves mad wondering how the hell they are still level.
Brendan Large emails
“I completely agree with the sentiments of Bill (17:06) about England needing to raise the tempo, but (optimistic England fan here) are they maybe preserving energy so the last 20 aren’t the shambles they have been? Come 60 minutes they are gonna be all over France (or possibly way behind). It’s the hope that kills ya.”
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“Evening Lee,” says Andy Bradshaw, “England somehow being level after that half, is very, very funny.”
Not if you’re Fabien Galthie, Andy, I can assure you.
Half Time! England 7 - 7 France
40 mins. PEEEEP! Nothing much else happens before the ref blows up to end the half.
38 mins. France are determined not to die with the music in them as Ramos once again tries run from the 22 after receiving a reverse pass from Dupont. You really can’t write this stuff. However, it all makes a bit more sense when you realise that it was being done on a penalty advantage.
TRY! England 7 - 7 France (Ollie Lawrence)
36 mins. The scrum is won and England start working the ball around the ruck close to the line before Mitchell releases it to the backs. The French defence has been pulled in to repel the earlier phases and Lawrence has an easy walk-in near the posts.
The conversion means England are level once more despite having very little of this half.
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33 mins. England counter punch from a lineout on the French 10m line for Freeman to crash the ball in midfield and take them over the gainline. The recycling is sharp and worked left then right to Mitchell hugging the touchline who puts a cute kick in-goal, but the big prop Gros scrambles across to dab it down.
It’ll be 5m scrum to England.
TRY! England 0 - 7 France (Louis Bielle-Biarrey)
30 mins. France launch an attack from halfway that is all hands, angles and offloads. The ball makes its way to Penaud, off his wing in the left 13 channel, who caresses a short kick into the corner on the run for his winger to gather and ground.
Ramos doesn’t miss the conversion and France have the lead their play has deserved.
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29 mins. The penalty is sent to the corner which presents England with a good platform from which to attack in the French 22. A platform that is duly set alight by the lineout being stolen again.
27 mins. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but France have the ball in the England half, they put it through hands before it inevitably loses shape and momentum. This leads to some inconsequential kicking and eventually an English player getting a jackal turnover, this time good work from Ollie Lawrence.
24 mins. Dupont puts a big kick up which Alldritt is first to reach, but his attempt to tip it backwards to he own side is mistimed on the stretch and he instead punches it forward.
22 mins. The visitors recover the position via Roumat nicking the lineout throw. The ball is moved to Penaud on a great angle but he is the latest to drop the bloody ball! This is very frustrating for France, but credit to England’s defence who keep harrying and scramblin to put some doubt in Gallic minds.
All these dropped balls could prove VERY IMPORTANT for later if this continues to be a game of precious scores.
20 mins. England win it well and they are in behind quite easily before Cros matches Curry with a fabulous jackal turnover. Les Bleus go quickly and have England in all sorts of bother in broken play with Ramos flying to take pass from Bialle-Biarrey and up to the 22. He looks left to see Dupont in support but the little magician spills the pass with the line at his mercy!
17 mins. France have the ball again and this time Dupont decides he fancies wellying it downfield, which allows Smith to boot it back and then Curry clamps on to win a great turnover as the visitors try another attack.
This will give England and lineout in French territory and their first real attack.
An email from Bill.
“England need to lift the tempo, get a stomp on and push France back. And keep them back. France’s strength is incredible and they can seemingly run on empty yet still are able to reach into the hat and spill out a bunch of thrilling heroics.
The ITV comments team, however, is absolutely dire today. Talking over the referee and offering insights such as ‘what does a scrum smell like?’. Hideous.
Should be an easy French victory, here, but as the cycle continues, England will improve.”
14 mins. France continue to dominate possession and territory but it’s a little shapeless which means it’s busy while not amounting to much. The latest attack finds Penaud out right but he can’t hold the ball and knocks on.
One one hand it feels like only a matter of time before France start to move away on the scoreboard, but on the other England will take heart that the visitors may punch themselves out with very little to show for it.
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MISSED PENALTY! England 0 - 0 France (Thomas Ramos)
12 mins. The French pressure tells in England giving away a penalty, which Ramos takes on. It’s about 35 metres out and just to the left of the post, which is usually meat and drink for the Toulouse man, but he slices it right.
10 mins. More French possession and the ball moves through hands to the right where Ramos has joined the line to race into the 22. He’s hauled down and on the recycle Dupont takes the poor option of trying a long pass to Roumat, but the time the ball is in the air means Curry can fly up and hit the lock forward and force the ball loose.
8 mins. Tom Willis has a carry in his own half that gives a bit of go forward ball for Fin Smith to kick and give Freeman a chance to chase. But the winger is too keen in that chase and takes Bialle-Biarrey out in the air quite a while before the ball arrives.
6 mins. The visitors are busiest so far, with the latest attack up the left freeing Barrassi outside Freeman. The centre looks inside to find Bialle-Biarrey, but his pass is fizzed too hard and bounces off the winger’s chest to give the ball back to England.
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4 mins. The first scrum of the game is a French one near halfway, which they win snappily and move it to the right. Dupont jabs a grubber towards the touchline but Penaud can’t reach it before it dribbles over the line.
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2 mins. Ben Earl has a carry up towards halfway and the recycle Fin Smith dallies a bit and this allow Alldritt in to charge it down. The ball bobbles all over the place and mercifully back in English hands to kick clear.
An early difficult moment for the young 10, let’s see how he deals with it.
Kick Off!
Ref Amashukeli blasts his whistle and Fin Smith sends the ball into French hands.
The anthems are all done and we are minutes away
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The teams are out in a decent south London evening. There will be a minute’s silence for Tom Voyce, the former England player who tragically lost his life in the recent storms.
Officials today
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referee 1: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referee 2: Damian Schneider (Argentina)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Not that Le Crunch is ever a small affair but this one feels huge for both sides. France want a Grand Slam and England really need to assert some dominance again after a faltering year.
What are your thoughts? Send them all to me on email or you could use the Bluesky.
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Teams
More selection shifts from Steve Borthwick as he seeks to tinker his way to a victory. Northampton youngling Fin Smith is asked to run the team from 10, while Marcus Smith moves to fullback at the expense of Freddie Steward. The two Curries plan from last week is jettisoned from the back row with Tom Willis replacing Ben Curry, a decision that nudges Ben Earl to the openside. Injury to Cadan Murley brings Ollie Sleightholme onto the wing.
France are without the suspended Romain Ntamack and so the usual backup Mathieu Jalibert slots in at demi d’ouverture. In better news for the visitors, Damien Penaud is back on the wing.
England: Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Ollie Sleightholme; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Will Stuart; Maro Itoje (capt), George Martin; Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Tom Willis.
Replacements: Jamie George, Finn Baxter, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Curry, Harry Randall, Elliot Daly.
France: Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Pierre-Louis Barrassi, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont (capt); Jean-Baptiste Gros, Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio; Alexandre Roumat, Emmanuel Meafou, François Cros, Paul Boudehent, Grégory Alldritt.
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille, Georges-Henri Colombe, Hugo Auradou, Mickaël Guillard, Oscar Jegou, Nolann Le Garrec, Émilien Gailleton.
Preamble
There are some things that shouldn’t last more than an hour: Roman Catholic mass, zumba classes, meetings, episodes of Strictly Come Dancing to name a few. Unfortunately, some of those often last much longer and Steve Borthwick must powerfully wish that rugby matches were not in this bracket, as for the best part of a year his England team have resolutely struggled with the inconvenient final quarter of games. The latest attempt to sort it will play out in the face of France, a team that traditionally doesn’t trouble itself with such humdrum things as the constraints of the time continuum.
England haven’t beaten France since 2021, and the last time Fabien Galthie’s side rolled into SponsorNameDome Twickenham they dished out a 53-point whomping to a hapless home side. Both squads are in a different place now; England more resolutely organised after two more Borthwick years, and Les Bleus still capable of hammerings (just ask Wales) but more uneven in their form.
France are more fancied, but as Ireland can testify England capable of beating anyone at home regardless of form coming into the match. It’s not too fanciful to suggest this could happen again today. Just keep your eye on that pesky clock when it hits 60 minutes.
Kick-off: 4.45pm GMT.
In the meantime …
