England v France
Result: England 13 France 7
Player of the Match: Alex Matthews
This was a first chance for Kiwis to experience a Crunch live. Now they know exactly what all the fuss is about.
Sadly the game was distorted early on by two vital injuries to leading French players, Laure Sansus and Romane Ménager. That the Red Roses could construct only a single try speaks volumes for French courage and determination.
We have to remember that the two sides are almost inevitably going to meet again. The question is whether France can raise their game again and overcome the mental barrier of a lengthening series of losses. A win at any stage of the play-offs would make all that suffering worthwhile.
The Match
France kicked off and won the ball back. Only a knock-on by Emilie Boulard stopped a promising attack.
The tone was set, defences were next to impenetrable. England’s quick hands made breaks look inevitable, but French tackling, not least by the centres, Gabrielle Vernier and Maëlle Filopon, was exemplary.
England had to play a very different game from the previous weekend. Zoe Harrison was to hoist more high and long kicks than I can remember for many a match. Caroline Drouin followed suit; defensive positioning and catching had to be spot on.
Most of the first ten minutes saw England in the French half, their slick inter-passing catching the eye.
France’s tackling suffered its first big loss on 12 minutes, when Sansus had to leave the field on the motor-trolley. That was a huge blow for French hopes.
Even worse; Ménager soon followed her to sympathetic applause. That was two key figures in the blue line-up removed from action.
Attention briefly turned to off-field matters: would either of them be able to resume active service later in the tournament? The outlook was grim.
Over the first quarter the Red Roses pounded away at French defences without reward. Then finally Leanne Infante sent the ball out, Harrison ran across field, reversed the ball inside to Emily Scarratt and Pauline Bourdon couldn’t hold on to her. Scarratt converted. (7-0)
But there was no question of England running away with the game. It continued at its frantic pace with deft handling bringing just a few errors, ditto the tackling.
For fans who disapprove of kick-tennis, this was a game to avoid, but it tested both the kickers’ accuracy and the defenders’ positioning, safe hands and choice of response. Even Scarratt kicked a ball out; Drouin did so more than once.
France had another worrying moment as Annaëlle Deshayes, their important loose-head, went down injured. She recovered, but she was replaced earlier in the second half than Thomas Darracq might have wished.
As the game edged towards the break, Harrison angled a kick deep into French territory. Only ten metres to go, but once more Vernier put in a masterful tackle to halt England in their tracks. Helena Rowland made one of the few breaks she was allowed, England pressed hard. When Joy Neville offered them a penalty, it was no surprise that Scarratt was summoned to pop a penalty over.
Half-time 10-0
The Kiwi crowd had savoured just what all the fuss is about when these two sides meet. The question was: would England pull away as usual with their superior fitness and powerful bench?
The answer in one word was NO.
Despite having to make 127 tackles in 40 minutes, the French would prove as resilient as ever. Young Coco Lindelauf had to replace Deshayes on 47 minutes, but the French still won a scrum penalty.
Harrison varied the diet with a delightful chip. Claudia MacDonald, who had an outstanding game popping up all over the field, drove on, but as the ball came back down the threes Scaz actually dropped the ball. It was that sort of day.
So tense was the scene that what are politely known as handbags broke out twice. It may have been Neville’s calm control and experience that avoided any yellow cards being shown.
Gaëlle Hermet scores – Photo: Hannah Peters – World Rugby via Getty Images)
Simon Middleton made his first changes as early as 55 minutes – Cleall and Botterman on. The moment Abby Dow replaced Lydia Thompson (60 minutes), Harrison called a move to give her the ball by first-class post. She was held, but the French yielded a penalty that Scarratt converted. (13-0)
Just three minutes later, when England might have expected to be taking charge, France stood the game on its head. Drouin launched a perfect cross-kick into the hands of Joanna Grisez on the right. As she was hauled down just short of the line, there was Gaëlle Hermet to finish the job. Drouin’s conversion left the French just six points behind. (13-7)
Nerves on edge from Berwick to Biarritz and beyond.
Thirty players continued battering away at each other; kick-tennis played its part. As the game edged towards its climax, the Red Roses kept tight possession, putting together thirteen phases as they sought a concluding score. They couldn’t find one.
Instead, as the hooter sounded, Harrison hoofed the ball into the stand to ensure victory, but victory by a hair’s breadth.
Stat: France 214 tackles!
Teams:
England:
15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Lydia Thompson, 13 Emily Scarratt, 12 Helena Rowland, 11 Claudia MacDonald, 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Leanne Infante, 1 Vickii Cornborough, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Sarah Bern, 4 Zoe Aldcroft, 5 Abbie Ward, 6 Alex Matthews, 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Sarah Hunter
Bench:
16 Connie Powell, 17 Hannah Botterman, 18 Maud Muir, 19 Cath O’Donnell, 20 Poppy Cleall, 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Abby Dow
France:
15 Chloé Jacquet, 14 Joanna Grisez, 13 Maëlle Filopon, 12 Gabrielle Vernier 11 Emilie Boulard, 10 Caroline Drouin, 9 Laure Sansus 1 Annaëlle Deshayes, 2 Agathe Sochat, 3 Clara Joyeux, 4 Célia Ferer (captain), 5 Madoussou Fall, 6 Charlotte Escudéro, 7 Marjorie Mayans, 8 Romane Ménager
Bench:
16 Laure Touyé, 17 Coco Lindelauf, 18 Assia Khalfaoui, 19 Safi N’Diaye, 20 Gaëlle Hermet, 21 Pauline Bourdon, 22 Lina Queyroi, 23 Marine Ménager
Officials:
Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU)
ARs: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) and Kat Roche (USAR)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Pool C table
| Team | P | L | B | Pts | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | |||||
| 2 | France | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |||||
| 3 | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |||||
| 4 | Fiji | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SA and Fiji play on 16 October at the Waitakere Stadium, Auckland
Other Results
12 Scotland 14 – yet another heart-breaking loss for the Scots, after a 14-0 lead
USA 30 Japan 17 – a more predictable win
