England go one up
There was greater continuity in this match than in the earlier match as the teams were served by scrumhalves who were quick, no-step, head-down passers of the ball. In the first half France were set on playing to one-off runners, forwards mostly. But in the second half they spread the ball wider and were much the better for doing so, In fact it was a match which they could well have won.
In the second half France turned down a simple penalty in front of the posts when the score was 12-7 in a vain tilt at scoring a try. Then they got over the line for what looked like a clear try only for the TMO to advise the referee that there had been obstruction, which there had been. Both sides tried bashing at the line, without profit.
England did the early attacking – a maul from a line-out which France repelled, a knock-on with an open line. Then the lively scrumhalf Jack Maunder tapped a penalty under the French posts and sent a long pass to Wellington College's Sam Aspland-Robinson whop was over in the corner. 5-0 after 16 minutes.
From the kick-off France got on the attack with clever play by Thomas Darmon and Nathan Decron getting them close but they were penalised. (The penalty count was 11-6 against France and it was a silly penalty that led to England's second try.)
France were attacking but were – again – penalised. Maunder tapped and ran. Then he threaded a grubber through the flat French defence and off the ball went bouncing in empty space. First there Sam Aspland-Robinson who grabbed the generous ball and rounded for the try. If he had not scored it Darren Atkins would have because the French were far away. Theo Brophy Clews converted and England led 12-0 at the break.
France were a different team in the second half, changing tack to play a more expansive game and it had immediate results when they advanced down the field with many short passes till Nathan Decron burst into open space and scored a try which Darmon converted. 12-7.
The French were back on the attack and captain Selevasio Tolofua but the referee asked the TMO to check for obstruction and he found a fairly obvious won that made the gap for Tolofua.
The only score in the second half was a penalty goal by Brophy Clews when France were offside.
It was close but England deserved their win with a more considered way of playing.
Scorers:
For England:
Tries: Aspland-Robinson 2
Con: Brophy Clews
Pen: Brophy Clews
For France:
Try: Decron
Con: Darmon
Teams
England: 15 Darren Atkins, 14 Sam Aspland-Robinson, 13 Dominic Morris, 12 Max Malins, 11 Roti Segun, 10 Theo Brophy Clews, 9 Jack Maunder, 8 Callum Chick (captain), 7 Will Allman, 6 Archie White, 5 Alex Moon, 4 Nick Isiekwe, 3 Billy Walker, 2 Joe Mullis, 1 Billy Keast
Replacements:16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Jake Pope (h), 18 Charlie Capps, 19 Josh Caulfield, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Zach Mercer, 22 Alex Mitchell, 23 Johnny Williams, 24 Max Wright, 25 Gabriel Ibitoye, 26 Ali Crossdale
France: 15 Romain Buros, 14 Lucas Tauzin, 13 Nathan Decron, 12 Selevasio Tolofua (captain), 11 Nathan Torest, 10 Thomas Darmon, 9 Baptiste Couilloud, 8 Julien Ruaud, 7 Valentin Sese, 6 Kevin Kornath, 5 Mickael Capelli, 4 Baptiste Pesenti, 3 Thomas Laclayat, 2 Florian Dufour, 1 Pierre Commenge.
Replacements: 16 Elyas El Ansari, 17 Peato Mauvaka, 18 Daniel Brennan, 19 Jessy Jegerlehner, 20 Willy Ndiaye, 21 Mickael Romera, 22 Maxime Alric, 23 Théo Millet
Referee: AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Luc Ramos (France), Jabian Jeftha (South Africa)
Television match official: Jason Jaftha (South Africa)
