Marlie Packer scored the decisive try as England got their Old Mutual Wealth Series off to a 10-5 win with victory over France.
The Red Roses made early territorial dominance pay in the first half when Amy Cokayne went over from a catch and drive in the 22nd minute, having missed an earlier penalty. and a half time score of just 5-0 seemed meagre for the huge effort from the girls in white. Equally one wondered how much would have been taken out of the French team with their resolute defence.
Les Bleus started the second half brightly and it was England’s turn to feel the pressure, which they soaked up well and the match looked as if it was heading for a tight Red Roses win, until France seized on England indecision and Christelle le Duff went over in the corner seven minutes from time.
A determined England went on the attack again, and when Camille Grassineau was sent to the sin-bin three minutes later for a tip tackle on Fiona Pocock, England took full advantage.
From the resulting line out the Red Roses pack charged towards the line and Marlie Packer dived over to give England their first win against France in England since 2013.
England prop Rochelle Clark matched Jason Leonard’s England cap record of 114 after she came on in the 56th minute. The Worcester prop will equal Donna Kennedy’s all-time international record of 115 caps if she appears in Sunday’s game against Ireland in Dublin.
England Women head coach Simon Middleton paid tribute to his side’s clinical edge after their late try: “We’re absolutely thrilled to get the win against last season’s Six Nations champions,” he said. “It did have the feel of the first game of the season and players who hadn’t played alongside each other for a long time.
“But there was also evidence of players who wanted to win for England and dug in with some great goal-line defence when we were right up against it and we showed great character at the end.
“We showed fantastic execution with that killer blow. We’ve talked for a while about what being ruthless looks like and that was a great example of it. To get a penalty, kick to the corner and catch and drive and score a try to close the game out was fantastic.”
Middleton also paid tribute to Clark after her record-equalling appearance.
“Rocky is amazing, she’s indestructible,” said Middleton. “She gets better, she works so hard on her game and her physical wellbeing. She’s a credit to the sport and she’s far from finished.”
Wednesday’s Test opened the first-ever sponsored women’s autumn series, with the Red Roses hosting two more home games, against the world’s number one side New Zealand on Saturday 19 November (Twickenham Stoop, KO 12pm) and Canada, ranked second in the world, on Saturday 26 November (Twickenham Stadium, KO 5.05pm). England Women will play an away fixture against Ireland this Sunday at University College Dublin, KO 2pm.
Scorers
Tries: Cokayne, Packer
England match-day 23 against France
15 Danielle Waterman (Bristol, 61 caps)
14 Kay Wilson (Richmond, 37 caps)
13 Claire Allan (Saracens, 33 caps)
12 Rachael Burford (Aylesford Bulls, 57 caps)
11 Fiona Pocock (Aylesford Bulls, 30 caps)
10 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 78 caps)
9 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield, 30 caps)
1 Vickii Cornborough (Aylesford Bulls, 18 caps)
2 Amy Cokayne (Lichfield, 17 caps)
3 Laura Keates (Worcester Valkyries, 53 caps)
4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 95 caps)
5 Emily Braund (Lichfield, 24 caps)
6 Alex Matthews (Richmond, 25 caps)
7 Marlie Packer (Bristol, 37 caps)
8 Sarah Hunter (Bristol, 82 caps) (c)
16 Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens, 52 caps)
17 Rochelle Clark (Worcester Valkyries, 114 caps)
18 Sarah Bern (Bristol, 3 caps)
19 Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield, 35 caps)
20 Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol, 21 caps)
21 La Toya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 57 caps)
22 Emily Scott (Saracens, 13 caps)
23 Ceri Large (Worcester Valkyries, 51 caps)
Old Mutual Wealth Series
England v France, Wednesday 9 November
Twickenham Stoop
10 – 5
Ireland v England, Sunday 13 November*
University College Dublin, KO 2pm
*Not part of Old Mutual Wealth Series
England v New Zealand, Saturday 19 November
Twickenham Stoop, KO 12pm
Tickets available here
England v Canada, Saturday 26 November
Twickenham, KO 5.05pm
FREE entry after the conclusion of the men’s game
Report courtesy of England Rugby
