You are in > manchester.com  > News > France dominate England in Marseille

Rugby Union

France dominate England in Marseille

19/08/2007

France condemned England to a second defeat in two weeks with a 22-9 victory at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

The visitors were strong in defence but struggled to show any creativity as France gradually asserted themselves on the game.

England took an early lead via a Jonny Wilkinson penalty after Josh Lewsey had pressurised Christophe Dominici into a mistake.

But Jean-Baptiste Elissalde replied in kind soon after to level the scores. Wilkinson and Elissalde then missed chances to move their sides into the lead, while the two teams tussled for midfield dominance.

England's indiscipline eventually proved costly as they gave away a pair of penalties midway through the half, which Elissalde slotted calmly through the posts.

With half-time approaching England then lost two players. Simon Shaw was sin-binned for a high tackle on French centre Damien Traille and captain Phil Vickery was injured in the collision and had to be stretchered off.

Elissalde converted the penalty for the high tackle to give France a 12-3 lead at the break.

Wilkinson claimed another penalty at the start of the second period but was needed in defence to stop a certain French try moments later. Yannick Nyanga broke through the English defence but the Newcastle man was there to knock the ball out of the flanker's hands.

From the resulting scrum the home side claimed the only try of the game. Fly-half Frederic Michalak freed Yannick Jauzion with an inside pass and the centre crashed over for the score.

Wilkinson again responded with a penalty but it was too little too late. France failed to take advantage of an overlap with the try line beckoning but Michalak eventually put the game beyond England's reach with one final penalty.

© Adfero Ltd