Wane a world away England easily rattled
France 10
By Julie Stott
SHAUN WANE put on a brave face after an inexperienced England side failed to send out a World Cup rallying call.
It looks a convincing win on paper but the big hitters from Down Under will hardly be quaking in their boots at this performance.
England ran riot in an impressive opening 20 minute spell but were too easily rattled when a weak France team hit back at them.
Poor defence allowed the home side to score twice, winger Tom Davies bombed two try-scoring chances and not enough players took control when it went wrong.
In the end, England did enough to win but a display like this will be punished ruthlessly by the likes of
England 30
Australia and New Zealand in next year’s postponed World Cup.
But Wane, who only has two more games ahead of the tournament, said: “If someone had given me that scoreline on the way over I would have been happy.
“I thought the lads did really well considering. We had a tough day’s travel and only had three sessions on the field as a team.
“There will be lots of lessons we can learn and we need to improve but I was happy with the performance.
“We have not been together long but we will get better. We bombed three or four tries but we will improve on that.”
Eight players were handed full debuts and scrum half Jordan Abdull caught the eye in the opening four-try blitz.
Fellow Test newcomers Paul Mcshane and Davies
also shone early on, with hooker Mcshane setting up a Liam Farrell try and Davies scoring a spectacular diving effort.
Experienced stars Tommy Makinson and John Bateman – captain in place of injured Sam Tomkins – also scored and England were cruising at 20-0 after 18 minutes
Weak
But the best teams in the world maintain intensity, no matter how weak the opposition looks, and crucially England didn’t.
France finished the first half the better, without scoring, but came out after the break scenting blood.
Corentin Le Cam sounded the alarm bells with a deserved 46th minute try, just after Davies had dropped the ball with a try at his mercy.
Tony Gigot and Mark Kheirallah had efforts disallowed and they were nervy moments for England, with Wane admitting he was worried “a couple of times”.
He said: “Credit to France, they would not go away. They kept coming back.”
Tries from Makinson and Bateman, either side of a Justin Sangare effort, saw England home – but the performance leaves Wane with plenty of questions.
FRANCE: Kheirallah 7, Escare 6, Laguerre 5, Jussaume 4, Yaha 5, Mourgue 7, Gifot 6; Navarette 6, Marcon 6, Dezaria 6, Jullien 7, Seguier 7, Goudemand 6.
Subs: Pelissier 7, Puech 6, Sangare 7, Le Cam 6.
ENGLAND: Evalds 6, Davies 6, Hardaker 6, Lyne 6, Makinson 7; Lomax 7, Abdull 6; Walmsley 7, Mcshane 7, Cooper 7, Bateman 7, Farrell 6, Knowles 6.
Subs: Currie 7, Leeming 6, Oledzki 7, Philbin 7.
MAN OF MATCH: Walmsley. England were better when the prop was on the field.
FRANCE: Tries: Le Cam, Sangare Goals: Kheirallah
ENGLAND: Tries: Farrell, Davies, Makinson (2), Bateman (2) Goals: Abdull (3)