France Vs England, Six Nations 2020

[sparky]

Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris

France: Bouthier; Thomas, Vakatawa, Fickou, Rattez; Ntamack, Dupont; Baille, Marchand, Haouas, Le Roux, Willemse, Cros, Ollivon (c), Alldritt.

Replacements: Mauvaka, Poirot, Bamba, Palu, Woki, Serin, Jalibert, Vincent

England: Furbank; May, Tuilagi, Farrell (capt), Daly; Ford, B Youngs; Marler, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Ewels, Lawes, Underhill, Curry.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Stuart, Kruis, Ludlam, Heinz, Devoto, Joseph

[sparky]

Five minutes in. England look the better team, but lack composure.

Loud French crowd and Sean Edwards-coached French defence not making life easy for the English.

[sparky]

Great break by Thomas. Then Rattez in. Missed tackle by Ben Young. Tricolores everywhere and now La Marseillaise. Sung with considerable passion.

Conversation over. France 7 England 0.

Wonderful atmosphere. Very hostile to the English on Brexit weekend. Jeu Sur!

[sparky]

This crowd is something else.

England with a strong scrum but Curry leaves if behind. Nearly a French 2nd try.

[sparky]

Dupont very lively for the French at half back. Itoje creeping up the side of the rucks. Nigel Owens sees it. French penalty. On the 22 by near the right touch line. Roman Ntamack. Over.

France 10 England 0. Paris delighted.

16 minutes Manu Tuilagi off. Big start by France.

[sparky]

Good response by England, putting together the phases deep in the French half.

13 phases now. But not really going anywhere. Kick it up. Overkicked. Easy for Ntamack

[sparky]

Ollivon in but TMO review coming.

[sparky]

Did that go off Lawes' head?

[sparky]

Try stands. Schoolboy error by the English. Not playing to whistle.

England freezing in the face of a passionate, noisy crowd.

France 17 England 0 after 20 minutes.

[Bones]

@sparky said in France Vs England, Six Nations 2020:

Did that go off Lawes' head?

Nah, arm.

Johnny May you moron.

[Bones]

When did O'Connell become a bigger England fan than the walrus?

[sparky]

Better by the English forwards now. Good work by Curry at the breakdown.

[Bones]

The debuting fullbacks are having rather contrasting games.

[sparky]

Bouthier excellent for France.

[sparky]

Good lineout steal by England, but terrible hands by Farrell. Drops one cold.

[sparky]

England look very rusty, a shadow of the team they were in the Rugby World Cup. Poor composure, poor option-taking, a fullback who appears out of his depth.

Need some points before half time, then start again.

[sparky]

Very impressed by Dupont. Toulouse half back pulling the strings.

[sparky]

Nigel Owens pings Itoje again for offside. He has lost his cloak of invisibility from the RWC Semi.

[sparky]

Heading to half time. Lots of drop balls from both sides in the rain. A long way back for England.

[sparky]

Big scrum by England. Win a penalty. Farrell kicks long. England one more chance before half time.