England Women continue Six Nations success with impressive French victory
France Women 0 England Women 28

After wins over Wales, Spain and Scotland England travelled to Paris knowing that this would be their toughest challenge yet but the tourists were not fazed and instead went out and dominated the game from the first whistle to the last. Their reward was a four try-victory against a side they have not beaten since 2003 and side who have denied them the Six Nations title for the last two years.

Despite losing Wasps hooker Selena Rudge to the sin-bin after just five minutes England weren’t put off their stride in the early stages and instead they took control.  The tourists were in fact unlucky not to go more than 7-0 up early on as they barraged France’s goal-line. Several scrums later, in which France were consistently penalised, England’s hosts finally paid the price for their ill discipline with the visitors being awarded a penalty try. Saracens fly-half Karen Andrew converted.

Henley prop Rochelle Clark then took England into a 12-0 lead with a 24^th minute try. Again England were firmly in the driving seat and looked set to go over the line for a try. Several phases later and Saracens number seven Maggie Alphonsi went close but she was held up. Clark, however, was in support and muscled her way over to score. Andrew added the conversion to put England deservedly 14-0 up at half-time.

The one-way traffic continued after the restart with Folkestone number eight Catherine Spencer this time claming the spoils. More pressure in France’s 22 saw their defence crumble and again England Women asserted their authority upfront with a well-worked scrum that saw Spencer find space on the open-side and break loose to score. Andrew again converted.

More was to come from England with wing Danielle Waterman claiming try number four just after 60 minutes. Again England’s scrum was the platform for the score with captain Jo Yapp recycling the ball out to Waterman who was waiting on the left wing. The Henley player took the pass cleanly and charged over the line unchallenged for the fourth and final converted try.

Head coach Geoff Richards said: “The players should take all the glory for this win. They were magnificent, doing everything required of them to beat France and beat them well.

“We were strong up-front with our line-out and scrums functioning well, but to be honest I was impressed with each and every player’s performance.  “France have beaten us the last two years in the Six Nations so to beat them now without conceding a point and in a world cup year is a very important win. I am delighted.”

England: 1 Rochelle Clark (Henley), 2 Selena Rudge (Wasps), 3 Vanessa Gray (Wasps), 4 Jennifer Sutton (Richmond),5 Rachel Vickers (Richmond), 6 Georgia Stevens (Clifton), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Catherine Spencer (Folkestone), 9 Joanne Yapp (Worcester) captain, 10 Karen Andrew (Saracens), 11 Danielle Waterman (Henley), 12 Kim Oliver (Clifton), 13 Michaela Staniford (Henley), 14 Nicola Crawford (Worcester), 15 Susan Day (Wasps). Replacements: 16 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 17 Vanessa Huxford (Wasps), 18 Tamara Taylor (Thirsk Sharks), 19 Helen Clayton (Saracens), 20 Shauna Vetch (Thirsk), 21 Charlotte Barras (Lichfield), 22 Vicky Massarella (Saracens)

Tries: Andrew (PT), Clark, Spencer, Waterman, Conversions: Andrew (4)

England Rugby Women's Six Nations Fixtures & Results 2006  

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