Bell hits right note
GLOUCESTER defence coach Jonny Bell was delighted as his side finished their Anglo-Welsh Cup campaign with a 24-13 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons.
Neither team could qualify for the semi-finals but Gloucester’s win means they finish second in Pool Four behind Leicester.
The success was secured through tries by Cameron Orr, Henry Trinder and Ben Vellacott, along with nine points via three conversions and a penalty from Lloyd Evans.
The Dragons rallied at the end as Matthew Screech score two unconverted tries to add to a penalty from Tom Prydie in the first half.
Bell said: “We took our opportunity well when it came and that was a big boost for us.
“That was an experienced Dragons side and a relatively inexperienced Gloucester side and our young guys did very well.”
The New Zealand-born centre flew off the bench in the second half to race over for his first try in his fourth appearance for his adopted country.
It proved the match winner and kept alive England’s dream of winning a second Grand Slam and beating the All Blacks’ 18-match winning record.
Eddie Jones looked worried as England trailed 16-12 in this opening Six Nations clash until Te’o pounced to make it a record 15 wins on the trot since he took over from Stuart Lancaster.
Head coach Jones said: “We can’t get any uglier than that. The performance was ugly but the result was beautiful.
“Perhaps the preparation wasn’t good enough but things worked a lot better in the second half.
“It’s a game of rugby and human beings are involved, and it took us a long time to respond. But we made a lot of silly handling errors by rushing things.
“We have so many good finishers and Benny Te’o came on and took his try very well.”
– Handling errors and poor discipline had seen the French grab a 9-6 lead but a long-range penalty from Elliot Daly then levelled things on the stroke of half-time.
Noa Nakaitaci threatened to give the visitors a dream start when a quick French breakaway saw the wing race 30 yards and kick towards the home line.
But the English defence managed to clear the danger and push centre Remi Lamerat into touch just inches short from a potential opening try.
Yet England’s indiscipline cost them when flanker Tom Wood was penalised at a ruck and fly-half Camille Lopez kicked the first points. Owen Farrell responded quickly with his own penalty when England managed to put some pressure on the French defence for the first time
England were dealt a major blow when Jonny May was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle as he lifted Fickou up by one leg and the Frenchman fell awkwardly to the ground, hitting his head hard on the turf.
Lopez’s subsequent penalty edged France ahead once more and a botched England lineout and then a Maro Itoje high tackle sounded more alarm bells. And Lopez sent a long-range effort from near the touchline floating between the posts to increase the lead.
Owen Farrell kept calm and in control of his kicking skills, nailing a lengthy penalty to give England some respite.
Northampton man Wood ruined a threatening England move as they surged to within 15 yards of the French line but the flanker was penalised for going to ground at the ruck. He did the same again six minutes before the break but Lopez let England off this time by sending his kick wide of the posts. Daly