Classy England claim thrilling 24-13 win against France
Jonny Wilkinson kicked England to another win
Also In The News
|
A & M Records, out Monday March 3rd 2008. |  |
Saturday, 23, Feb 2008 10:06
England claimed a magnificent 24-13 victory over France in the RBS Six Nations match at the Stade-de-France this evening.
Tries from Paul Sackey and debutant Richard Wigglesworth and 14 points from Jonny Wilkinson helped England to a famous win and kept them with a shout of winning the Six Nations Championship.
England got off to a fantastic start as a brutal tackle from Jamie Noon dislodged the ball from the hands of Cedric Heymans. As the ball drifted towards the French try-line, wing Paul Sackey outpaced everyone else to score the try. Wilkinson added the two points.
However, replays showed England were very lucky to score the try as Noon knocked the ball on as he tackled Heymans.
Wilkinson increased England's lead with his first penalty of the match. France lock Pascal Pape was penalised for holding the ball when tackled.
France were expected to play free-flowing attacking rugby and that's exactly what they did – often running the ball from deep in their own half. But for all their flair, they failed to create many chances and it was an England error which got them back in the game.
Sackey was penalised for coming in from the side of a ruck and France kicked the ball deep into the England area from the resulting penalty. The French forwards overpowered their England counterparts form the line-out and captain Lionel Nallet crossed over. The French added the extras to make the score 10-7.
But England increased their lead five minutes later when Wilkinson added another penalty as France were deemed off-side.
The second-half was a much tighter affair and three more penalties kept England ahead as France themselves kicked two penalties. But England secured the points with a late try.
French fly-half David Skrela dropped the ball and knocked on in front of his own posts. With only five minutes left on the clock, England's forwards ate away time with a number of phases of play and in the end young scrum-half Wigglesworth darted through a tired French defence to cap of a brilliant win.