May grabs hat-trick as England thump France

Jonny May ran in a first-half hattrick of tries as England thrashed France 44-8 at Twickenham on Sunday to make it two wins from two in the Six Nations.

Kicks behind the French defence on a rainswept pitch proved the visitors’ undoing, with May repeatedly tormenting opposing wing Damian Penaud.

England’s 36-point margin of victory was only just shy of their largest against Les Bleus — a 37-0 win in France’s first match at Twickenham in 1911.

May opened the scoring in the second minute. And the half ended with outside centre Henry Slade crossing for England’s fourth try to leave them in complete command at 30-8.

This victory followed England’s 32-20 win away to reigning champions Ireland last week and was another impressive display ahead of 2019 World Cup. For France, who will be one of England’s pool opponents at Japan 2019, it was their second straight defeat this Championship after they squandered a 16-0 half-time lead in a 24-19 loss to Wales in Paris.

Barely had the anthems finished when France’s bid for a first Six Nations win at Twickenham since 2005 was rocked by May’s opening try.

England captain Owen Farrell missed the tough conversion but the flyhalf soon added a penalty before France scrumhalf Morgan Parra kicked one of his own before a 40m Farrell penalty made it 11-3.

And after sustained forward pressure, Farrell’s cut-out pass found May, who crossed for another try in the left corner.

May clinched his hat-trick in the 30th minute when Parra knocked on a high ball and a clever kick from fellow wing Chris Ashton, making his first Championship start in six years, saw him sliding in again.

Farrell kicked the conversion and England were almost out of sight at 23-3.