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Good evening and welcome to the last game of this Six Nations between France and England. There are a number of points of interest for the England team and their future direction but tonight is all about the French and whether they can complete the Grand Slam.
Les Bleus certainly deserve the trophy this year and have shown such strength and cutting edge that you cannot see them failing against this English team. Their attack has been stunning at times but it is the all-round completeness of their game, especially in defence- best demonstrated against the Irish, that makes them stand out.
I heard Austin Healy suggest that, with the possible exception of Dan Cole, that England were weaker in every position. Interesting one but difficult to see where he might be wrong. Foden and Ashton come in to see if they can bring some of their flair from playing together at the Saints but it is surely a big ask to do it against this French side on their own turf.
Additionally Moody is in for Haskell and gets a double promotion to Captain as Borthwick is out with a dodgy knee. Seems a strange decision and indicative of some hap-hazard thinking but there may be a masterplan- answers on a postcard if you can tell me what it is.
You can let us know what your views, predictions and feedback on our Facebook or Twitter pages. Kick-off is at 19.45 so if you can't watch the entertaining game taking place in Dublin you can review Graham Jenkins preview here.
19.40 Five minutes to go and the teams coming out. It's a party atmosphere in the stadium and England are going to have a job to stop this crowd getting behind their team tonight.
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| 2 |
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The opening exchanges are fairly even until trinc- Duc finds touch with a massive kick into the England 22.
Hartley continues to have problems throwing and is not straight giving France an attacking scrum in great position.
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| 3 |
3 - 0 |
First points to France A squirted drop goal but a succesfull one none the less from that scrum.
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| 4 |
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What a start for Foden.! TRY! Straight from the kick- off England regain the ball. They move it left, Tindall and Flutey link well and Ashton slips Foden free and his pace does the rest.
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| 5 |
3 - 7 |
It was right in the corner but Flood bisects the posts. What a start and game on!
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| 8 |
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It's a hundred mile an hour start here. England are right at the French- Cueto has had a good run up the left wing and his chip was blocked. But that is one of several useful attacks with most of the forwards involved around the flanks and the backs moving it well. So many lines of attack and so much pace and intent- where has al this come from. More importantly- can they keep it up?
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| 10 |
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The scrums are less fluent and we have had a minute of fiddling around at both so far. Once we get going France have there chance to attack and look good but are shackled well.
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| 11 |
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England are caught off-side at a ruck but Parra misses the resulting penalty. The rain is coming down now- let's hope it doesn't restrict this as a spectacle because it is great so far.
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| 13 |
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Flood makes a half break but knocks on. France are resorting to kicking game but they can play any game know and England are forced to defend a line out in their 22 again.
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| 14 |
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Enhgland win a penalty but it is reversed as Shaw tackled without using his arms. It is his last action as he is forced to go off with injury to be replaced by Palmer.
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| 16 |
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England's defence is good as they force the French runners wide and into touch. The crowd that were so loud has quietened a bit.
Of course as soon as I write that they try to rouse there team and the noise rises.
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| 17 |
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Tindall tackles Bastereud well and is holding up OK so far in the battle of the big centres. However the supporting players go off their feet and Parra has another crack at goal.
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| 18 |
6 - 7 |
It's quite straight forward and slotted easily.
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| 20 |
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England are still looking to run with ball in hand but are allowing more mistakes to slip in. A knock on from Worsley and an exchange of kicks goes in France's favour. England need to get up field and take a bit more control to stop France imposing on this game.
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| 22 |
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More messy confusion setting the scrum again. France's drive is too much for the England pack and they go to ground- Parra has a penalty chance 15 in from the right flank.
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| 24 |
9 - 7 |
His kicking has been reliable all tournament and he makes no mistake. France have the lead and they also have the moment- they have weathered England's early purple patch and have the upper hand.
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| 25 |
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Filthy weather , rain is poring down now.
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| 26 |
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The rain is not working in England's favour as they are trying to run and keep their early pressure up but you can see footing and grip is not easy. However they are keeping hold of it an presenting it back.
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| 28 |
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Confirmation of the weather situation from our man on the ground " Torrential rain failing to dampen the atmosphere here at the Stade de France - the place is rocking!"
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| 29 |
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Lawrence Dallagio reckons " France haven't been made to work too hard to to retake the lead. England need to cut down the error rate and play down in the French half".
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| 31 |
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Another attacking position goes begging as Cole goes to ground at the scrum- simply lost his footing I think, but a penalty nether the less and France are back well in the English half.
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| 34 |
12 - 7 |
More woes at the scrum for England as they go to ground again. The ref accepts it is the footing but it is England's responsibility to keep their feet. This is kickable again and Parra slots it over to extend the lead. It all illustrates Mr. Dallagio's point.
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| 36 |
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In response to the conditions England have played several phases tight, using forwards as first receivers and going in with support. It works for a while but eventually Deacon gets the ball stuck underneath him and the French counter ruck forces the penalty.
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| 37 |
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Foden takes a brilliant catch under a high ball under severe pressure and secures a mark. A good sign as no full back wants to invite that sort of high ball attack in this weather.
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| 39 |
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England have a chance for one more attack having won a much more solid looking scrum.
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| 40 |
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But it is France who look like they have the greater chance of scoring after Hartley knocks on. The English defence is all over the place and Tindall slips tacking Bastareaud but they scramble back and Flood boots into touch to end the half.
France have the lead and are half way to the Grand Slam. Not their best performance of the tournament but after the first 15 minutes they have had the better of it- making less mistakes and controlling the game; it's the sign of a confident, winning side.
England have been better and are looking far more positive; the rain came at the wrong time for them breaking their early dominance, although the French may have done that anyway. Still there is quick ball, running with ball in hand and getting over the gain line- they will need a lot more of it in the second half.
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| 40+1 |
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Jonny Delgado in the stadium says "I think there are three bands vying for air time in the stadium- all French- did someone not get the memo"
As long as they have something to celebrate I don't think any of them will mind!
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| 40 |
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Dan Cole and Hartley both off for the second half- not sure yet if they are both tactical although I think Cole's is to strengthen the scrummaging.
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| 43 |
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England star well with the ball in hand again in the second half, Foden leading the charge again. France secure a lineout and drive up field though, to relieve pressure.
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| 44 |
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There are some enormous sods of turf loose on the playing surface. The pitch is cutting up badly and some of them are dangerously big.
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| 45 |
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England still running after a misplaced Parra kick. Care starts things off tapping quickly from a free kick, eventually the chip ahead won't bounce in field for Foden and France have a defensive line out.
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| 46 |
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They steal the line out though and attack again, they have several phases but the French defence is again good in their 22.
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| 48 |
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Oh no! Ashton is through, he has Poitrenaud to beat and has men in support and chooses to chip. The French full back is able to get back and cover- if Ashton had released it they would have scored.
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| 50 |
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France are into the England half for just about the first time this half, that's how dominant they have been this half. However England have not scored and converted their pressure.
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| 51 |
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Cole's substitution seems to have sorted out whatever the problem was at the scrum and it is looking a lot more solid.
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| 53 |
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France get going with ball in hand and look good when they do. The crowd pick up too and cheer a number of neat off loads before they spin it wide. Ashton does well to bring down Palisson who has the outside with a bit of space.
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| 55 |
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Marty is almost through! We have had a bit of backwards and forwards in the midfield with little of note but from now-where marty explodes through the defence, he looks like he might have unlocked England here, the second tackers can;t scrag him either but he can't find the off load and is isolated.
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| 58 |
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The rain seems to have completely stopped now.
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| 59 |
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England win the turnover- great counter rucking and Care chips ahead. Ashton shows some football skills to volley it in field but the French cover are able to get back relatively easily.
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| 60 |
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England are over the line but no try. It was knocked on by Care before being knocked over the line and Moody dives on it. It was a lovely break but again the passing is forced and lacking a bit of precision. England have had all the play this half but are yet to score.
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| 61 |
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They can't make anything from the resulting scrum. Moore asserts that they have been the better team and they have. But they have to score for it to count.
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| 63 |
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Wilkinson first play is a kick but it is a good one. It finds touch in the French 22 but the lineout is taken quickly to clear. Still advantage England as they have field position.
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| 65 |
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England win a penalty almost on the touch line and almost on the half way line. Wilkinson is going to have a go at goal anyway; I guess for all England's advantage this half they have failed to convert so it makes sense.
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| 67 |
12 - 10 |
It certainly makes sense when it puts it straight down the middle. Two points in it! 12 minutes to go!
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| 69 |
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Big mistake. Foden takes a quick line out and it is a long throw to Wilkinson, it bounces and has gone forward, gifting France an attacking line out on England's 22.
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| 71 |
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At the second attempt the French scrum is rock solid and they launch an attack. This is their best, their only, really attacking position but you would not put it past them pulling it out when they need to.
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| 72 |
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However they don't and France are looking quite short of spark. They appear not to be playing with the confidence that has characterized their campaign in this tournament. They concede possession to a knock-on.
The crowd find their voice and you can feel them trying to lift their team for the final effort.
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| 75 |
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Having said that, play is all taking place in the middle of the field and it is all quite slow and tight. As the clock ticks down this will suit the French as they close it out.
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| 77 |
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Still France in possession. More drives and slow ball, the ref tells them to use it but they take a few more seconds before going again and more slow ball Malzieu has a dart and takes it up several metres winning the penalty as England go in illegally in their desperation to get their hands on the ball
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| 79 |
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The French trundle forward still and the clock is ticking down. But England have a penalty! The ref says we have time for a line out- 30 seconds or so.
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| 80 |
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But France take the ball and that's it! They make sure they have the ball and take their time; once they are sure they boot it into touch and are Grand Slam champions.
France have won and are elated. They undoubtedly deserve it over the weeks of the tournament even if they did not play at their best on the night. They did what they had to and closed it out. They didn't score at all in the second half, or a try in the game, but their defence was solid, the set pieces were solid and they had a little luck- all marks of champion teams.
England were miles better. They failed to take the opportunities- Ashton's was the glaring occasion, but as a team they were collectively guilty, they dominated the second half but could not cross the line. However real positives can be taken from this performance (as opposed to the positives that have supposedly been taken from every performance). What would have happened if they had tried this approach a little earlier though?
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