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Mar 14, 2023
England 10 v 53 France
France ended their Twickenham hoodoo in exciting model, thrashing England to stay their identify hopes alive. It was once a wonderful efficiency from a French aspect that had failed to search out most sensible tools entering the sport and a remark for somebody doubting them in lieu of latest effects. France became Twickenham right into a playground, barrelling England into submission with relentless physicality, streetwise savvy, and a sprinkle of magic. It was once a savage efficiency from the French, ruthlessly environment friendly in the whole thing they did, razor-sharp when any attacking alternative introduced itself. There have been heroes from one to 15, however Antoine Dupont produced a show as outrageous because it was once exceptional, cementing his standing as an international famous person.
It was once a sobering afternoon for England. The optimism that were effervescent forward of the sport was once punctured through half-time. Through the tip, that they had slipped to a report house defeat, luggage no participant desires to hold. France deserve a platitude of superlatives, however England had been by no means on the races, stressed and humbled through a rapier-like French aspect. England’s strengths towards Wales had been became to jelly; France bossed the kicking sport and bullied them on the breakdown. Statistically, England marginally had extra ownership and territory, but aside from a short lived five-minute spell at the beginning of the second one 1/2, they by no means appeared threatening. England spent 80 mins at the canvas, France pulling all of the punches.
The pre-game fireworks had slightly dissipated ahead of France had their first check out of the fit. Two English mistakes had been ruthlessly exploited; Jack van Poortvliet’s field kick was once too lengthy, and Henry Slade made a misinterpret in midfield. Gregory Aldritt made the preliminary half-break, feeding the rangy Thibaud Flament, who beautifully offloaded to Ethan Dumortier, and the winger fed Thomas Ramos to attain. It was once a frantic opening, however France saved their composure, with Jonathan Danty proving a threat on the breakdown, as England needed to scrap laborious at each and every ruck. England had been accountable of under-resourcing some breakdowns and, as reimbursement, over-resourcing others, harming their segment play. With the rain beginning to come down, England struggled to drag any attacking punches of their very own, France’s defence relentless.
France’s 2nd check out stemmed from a second of excellence from Antoine Dupont, the scrum 1/2 recognizing England realigning within the backfield and setting up an exact kick, leading to a 50/22. France didn’t waste their attacking platform, the exceptional Flament barrelling over with a difficult line across the nook. England were given at the board with a Marcus Smith penalty in a while afterwards however dedicated the cardinal sin of infringing on the restart. Foolish consequences had been hurting England, and France had been in no temper for mercy, Ramos’s penalty restoring their seventeen-point buffer. That they had their 3rd check out in a while ahead of halftime, Aldritt peeling off the again of an impressive scrum ahead of feeding Charles Ollivon on his inside of to attain. France led 27-3 happening the tunnel, Twickenham in entire surprise.
If there was once any type of solace for England, it was once that France had fallen off the boil in the second one 1/2 in their win towards Scotland. England began the second one 1/2 having a look sharper and virtually had their first check out, however Max Malins couldn’t regulate Smith’s crossfield kick. On the other hand, they didn’t have to attend lengthy, the coming of Alex Mitchell injected some much-needed pace, and Freddie Steward picked an excellent line to present England a sniff. On the other hand, any notions of a comeback had been quickly destroyed as France wrestled again the momentum thru their kicking sport, penning England again. Dupont was once as soon as once more instrumental of their fourth check out, his suave kick in at the back of being tipped on through Romain Ntamack into the thankful fingers of Flament, who powered over.
France’s 5th check out was once all about velocity of concept, Ramos recognising the knock-on benefit and reducing in the course of the England defence ahead of setting up a well-placed kick downfield. Smith did effectively to mop it up first of all, however France’s chase was once starving, forcing him again over his line. Crucially, Smith didn’t dot the ball down, and Ollivon confirmed nice consciousness, achieving over the ruck and touching it down for the ranking. It was once a ranking that epitomised the sharpness of the French, repeatedly alert to any alternative. France virtually pressured every other ranking thru their kicking sport, Dupont amassing his chip from inside of his personal 22 ahead of booting the ball on, Smith in a position to hold it over his line this time.
Any sense of reduction was once short-lived, and once more all of it got here from a kick, Gael Fickou recognizing a knackered Alex Dombrandt marking Damian Penaud within the broad channels. No contest. The jet-heeled winger glided away, diving over for France’s 6th check out. The floodgates had opened, and France’s ultimate check out got here from a slick line-out transfer, speedy arms environment Penaud unfastened for his 2nd check out. England appeared lifeless on their toes on the finish, Ollie Lawrence’s harm forcing deficient Dombrandt to line up within the centres, one thing they brutally uncovered for his or her ultimate check out. The general whistle supplied mercy for England and sparked scenes of French jubilation, the Twickenham curse banished.
It was once a depressing afternoon for England, the rain can have been intermittent, however the heavens effectively and really opened on them. It was once a defeat that may pose many questions on England’s taste of play and choice as they had been comprehensively outplayed. The choice of Marcus Smith over Owen Farrell was once a key speaking level forward of the sport, however in the end England had been left short of far and wide the park; particular person persecution is senseless and unhelpful. What’s extra being concerned is how slow England appeared, sluggish to conform to occasions, a being concerned trait that was once steadily used as a persist with beat Eddie Jones. Steve Borthwick summed it up completely when he mentioned, “We were given uncovered these days”. A rampant Eire lurk across the nook, a disconcerting concept, and England will have to temporarily haul themselves up from the canvas.
France can bask within the glow of arguably their greatest-ever Six International locations efficiency, regardless that they are able to’t be overly hopeful of England serving to their identify rate subsequent weekend. Their victory on Saturday is the magnum opus of the Galthié and Edwards generation, all sides in their sport coming in combination; energy, precision, potency, and a sprinkling of aptitude. France’s identity of area is unheard of, and so they brutally and again and again uncovered England. If their defeat towards Eire and not more convincing victories over Scotland and Italy had created some doubts forward of the International Cup, Galthié’s aspect squashed them emphatically.
