Vickery scare for England
Phil Vickery was carried off as England lost their final World Cup warm-up match in Marseille.
Last Updated: 18/08/07 10:25pm
Captain Phil Vickery was carried off as England's final World Cup warm-up match ended in a 22-9 defeat to hosts France in Marseille.
Yannick Jauzion scored the only try of a full-blooded contest, with Jean-Baptiste Elissalde adding four penalties and a conversion for Bernard Laporte's men, before Frederic Michalak rounded off the scoring with a late penalty.
England, who begin their defence of the Webb-Ellis Trophy against the United States on September 8, were unable to respond to Jauzion's touchdown, and had only three Jonny Wilkinson penalties to show for their efforts as they slipped to a second successive defeat against Les Bleus.
However, the more pressing concern for England coach Brian Ashton was the injury to skipper Vickery, who left the field on a stretcher after colliding with team-mate Simon Shaw.
Martin Corry took the captain's armband, but he too was taken off late on to receive treatment for an injury to his left knee.
Vickery was left prone after a collision which led to Shaw being sin-binned for a high tackle on France centre Damien Traille.
And England, who have now lost 15 of their last 16 away games, never really recovered.
Decisive moment
Jauzion's 49th minute try ended England's hopes of finding a way back into a tight contest after they went in at half time trailing 12-3.
Only Argentina have ever beaten France in Marseille, and England never seriously threatened to emulate the Pumas.
It was a another tryless England display, following up their 21-15 home defeat against France last Saturday, leaving Ashton with plenty to contemplate over the coming days before the world champions head to their Paris training base on September 3.
Previous French scalps in Marseille included England, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, which underlined the degree of difficulty facing Vickery's team.
Vickery led a side showing 11 changes from the one beaten by France a week ago, with only Shaw, wing Josh Lewsey, scrum-half Shaun Perry and hooker Mark Regan retained.
Regan answered a late call to replace sprained knee victim George Chuter as England targeted only a fourth away win from their last 18 games on the road.
The visitors threatened early scrum dominance, but Wilkinson let France off the hook when he blundered by miscuing an attempted penalty to touch.
Defensively, both sides were assured and organised, and it was England who drew first blood on 13 minutes when Wilkinson rifled over an easy penalty.
England had settled well, but their hard-earned advantage was quickly wiped out through Elissalde landing an equalising penalty strike.
Tempers flare
Tempers boiled over entering the second quarter of a lively contest, with Irish referee Alain Rolland issuing a stern lecture to Corry and France lock Fabien Pelous after they grappled on the floor.
Another brief skirmish prompted a general warning from Rolland to rival skippers Vickery and Raphael Ibanez as the referee saw his patience tested.
Elissalde edged France in front when England's forwards infringed, then he completed his penalty hat-trick on the stroke of half-time for a 9-3 lead.
But England ended the half with 14 men when Shaw was yellow-carded, before Elissalde landed a fourth penalty.
England were stretched in defence at the start of the second period, and it took a brilliant Tom Rees tackle to deny French flanker Yannick Nyanga a try in the corner.
It was a narrow escape for England, yet it could not last, and France converted quick scrum ball into a seven-point maximum when Michalak's delightful inside pass sent Toulouse star Jauzion crashing over.
Elissalde added the extras as Shaw returned, meaning France had scored 10 points in the Wasps lock's absence and eased into a confident 19-6 lead.
Corry found himself in another scuffle minutes later - it spilled over into touch - and England had to reassert themselves as France threatened to run away with the game.
But they could never manage it as the form book held true and France moved ominously towards staking their claim for 2007 World Cup glory.
