Chabal masters England
Tries from Sebastien Chabal and Fabien Pelous gave France a 21-15 victory over England.
By Phil Jackson
Last Updated: 12/08/07 1:26pm
Tries from Sebastien Chabal and Fabien Pelous gave France a morale-boosting 21-15 victory over England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Brian Ashton's world champions paid the price for their lacklustre backline, as Les Bleus scored a huge psychological victory away from home.
The timing could not have been worse for England, in their penultimate warm-up match for the tournament in France, as well as coming just three days ahead of the final announcement on their 30-man squad.
Olly Barkley got England underway with a good kick-off, but it was France who offered the greater danger with ball in hand amongst the backs.
Forward momentum
England's forwards continued to show their skill and power, and it was good work from Ben Kay in the lineout, which led to England's break downfield and an eventual penalty, to open the scoring.
Barkley converted the kick to give England a 3-0 lead, but the French riposte came hard and fast. Missed tackles in front of the sticks saw Bernard Laporte's side switch the ball over to the left, and Skrela's beautifully weighted ball sent second rower Fabien Pelous - winning his 111th cap for the country - in for an easy finish on the wing.
Skrela missed the conversion, but soon put France into an 8-3 lead after England had again shown slovenly indecision in attack.
Veteran skipper Mike Catt provided England with a big lift on 25 minutes though, punching through the line to offer hope of a try before Skrela tackled back well. Spurred on by that break, Catt's side went 9-8 up through Barkley, after Aurelien Rougerie had conceded a penalty for obstruction.
Skrela restored France's lead with a penalty kick, before Barkley completed his excellent half with the boot with his fourth successful kick to take England into half-time with a 12-11 advantage.
The French fly-half missed an early kick to put France back up after the re-start, and Jamie Noon then made his mark with some hammer tackling to rough up the opposition. But England still lacked consistent impetus from the backs, and Andy Gomersall came on to replace Shaun Perry at scrum-half to try and rectify that fact.
The Bath sub made an immediate impact, kicking a drop goal to follow up more good work from the forwards, as England claimed a 15-11 lead.
Turning point
France replacement Jean-Baptiste Elissalde kicked France back within one point on the hour mark, though, as England continued to flounder despite dominating possession.
After showing real strength in defence, England built their first real try-scoring opportunity, through good work from Josh Lewsey and Nick Abendanon. But after a slightly fortuitous break, substitute Phil Vickery was halted by a thunderous tackle from Dimitri Szarzewski when he seemed certain to score.
Chabal then showed England how to finish a try off, by marching through Abendanon and then Lewsey to touch down over the line. Ellisalde added the conversion and France had a 21-15 lead.
Despite the sight of Johnny Wilkinson on the pitch at the death, England have real worries ahead of the re-match in Marseille on Saturday, and the even more difficult World Cup defence which lies ahead.
