England serve up a mess in Massy

A SLOPPY start set the tone for England U19s yesterday as they were convincingly beaten by France in Massy.

They made the worst possible start to the game after failing to collect the kick-off and conceding a penalty.

Matthieu Jalibert slotted it to give the French an early lead and 12 minutes later they were 6-0 in front after the Bordeaux fly-half was once again on target from the tee.

England were at sixes and sevens with persistent handling errors crippling their game.

They went 11 points behind after 26 minutes as Iban Etcheverry came off his wing and broke through three defenders to score the first try of the game.

A powerful line in midfield from Nathan Decron saw the Agen centre touch down at the foot of the posts to put France further in control.

James Grayson eventually put England on the scoreboard on stroke of half-time with a penalty.

However, his good work was undone at the start of the second half when a carbon copy of the firsthalf knock-on from kickoff gifted possession back to France.

France attacked from the scrum with Hugo Bonniface powering over from close range.

It went from bad to worse for an English side incapable of stringing any phases together as five minutes later they conceded a fourth try with Clement Laporte pouncing on the ball after a kick through from his No.9.

A yellow card for Maxime Lamothe for cynical play spurred England on and they managed to get their first try through Sale No.8 Sam Moore with just over ten minutes to go.

But they failed to collect the restart and France made them pay with Etcheverry getting his second try in the corner.

Ted Hill and Dino LambCotta grabbed consolation tries late on but the game had been long lost by then.