LE FRENCH CRUNCHED BUT ONLY JUST!!!
Publié le 28/02/2011
Words had been spoken all week by all parties concerned, but when 18.00 arrived Saturday afternoon it was all down to the 30 players on the park to show the rugby world just who really was going to boss this game. One remarkable statement was the minute of silence for the recent New Zealand earthquake, 80,000 packed into the London Temple and you could hear a pin drop, remarkable!!!! The difference often stated between Rugby Union and other sports, all present must be credited for the support and humility of a national disaster of these proportions.
The Crunch as it has been labelled in recent years had all the expectations of two sides still able to perform the Grand Slam in this years 6 Nations competition, but who was going to be the stronger of the 2 well balanced sides. England had been quoted as favourites and the French well as always which side was going to turn up.
The game was played at an intensity rarely seen but with greasy conditions ball handling was always going to be difficult and far too many mistakes were made by both teams in the first half.
The 2 kickers, Yachvili and Flood exchanged penalties 3 apiece, and both defences held up well, but scary moments were on show from both sides. The French took on their English counterparts upfront and showed great aggression but the last pass, forward, or the knock on thwarted all possible chances that came their way, eventually both sides went to the pause on equal terms 9-9.
The home side started the second half better and after a Yachvili charge down, the first and only try of the game was scored by full back Ben Foden in the corner, the conversion was missed but England had finally got their noses in front. England scored 2 more tries both disallowed because of infringements but another Ref on another day may have allowed them Wilco came on to replace the injured Flood and immediately kicked a 50mts penalty and that is where the scoring ended. France did have a couple of chances , one after a fine chip kick by Montpellier’s Trinh-Duc but a bad bounce and Rougerie went over the line empty handed.
England quickly closed down the game in the last few minutes and France kept repeating their mistakes of the first half, with the game over, England got their Le Crunch victory with little to spare and just about deserved it, bit it was a close run encounter.
Final score England 17 France 9
England march on towards a Grand Slam maybe, and France back to Paris and the drawing
Board, plus several injuries to worry about, and that makes 2 games in a row against England that France have not scored a try, worrying thoughts!!!
In the other 2 Internationals, Italy 16 Wales 24. Scotland 18 Ireland 21.
Steve Whittell.
