By Nicki Drinkwater RFU Press Office
March 12 2006

England U21s Win in France - A strong start was enough to see England U21s into the final round of the Six Nations with their winning record intact.

England U21s defeat French to maintain 100% record

by Nicki Drinkwater

France U21 17 - 30 England U21

A strong start was enough to see England U21s into the final round of the Six Nations with their winning record intact. 

England dominated the first half, running in two converted tries and adding three penalties and although the French showed signs of danger in attack, their defence and discipline let them down. England regularly creating gaps and but for support, breaks by Flood (first half) and Foden (second half) would have become tries.

Said coach Jim Mallinder, “I’m delighted that we put in such a good performance against a very good French side. We scored some great tries and defended magnificently, particularly in the last 20 minutes when they threw everything at us.  “It was just the start we wanted to shut up the crowd and we just kept the momentum going, building the lead as we talked about.”  “But we have a short turn around and another difficult game in six days time to keep our feet on the ground.”

Things started well for the visitors as they built up a commanding lead, going ten points clear in as many minutes as Flood slotted an early penalty before adding a converted try of his own from an excellent team effort.  But an English error from the restart gifted the dangerous French backs an opportunity. After a break down the right wing the home team moved it the width of the pitch for left wing Yann Fior to touch down in the corner to close the gap 5-10. England soon clawed three points back from a second Flood penalty.

Despite the early promise, at times England overcomplicated matters, turning ball over in contact and providing the French with dangerous counter attacking ball from which they scored a typically opportune first half try.   With both teams exchanging missed penalties, it was 20 minutes before the next score came, this time from full back Mike Brown who took a well timed inside pass from captain Matt Cornwell and outpaced the cover defence to touch down under the posts. Flood converted and Brown added a penalty just before the break to take England to a dominant 7-23 half time lead.

But within minutes of the restart the French were back in the game, an English knock on providing them with a scrum from which they moved the ball wide and full back Florian Denor slid in the right corner. When scrum half Fabien Cibray nailed the long range conversion England’s lead was cut to nine points.   England looked to have regained their composure when flanker Michael Hills dived over for England’s third try, which Lamb, on for the injured Flood, duly converted to edge England further ahead 30-14.

France came back with a penalty but as both sides tired the intensity faded and the final quarter remained scoreless as neither managed to capitalise on their opportunities.  England now face Ireland in the final match of their Six Nations campaign at Worcester’s Sixways next Friday knowing a victory would be enough to secure their second Six Nations and Grand Slam title in three years.

Scorers   3min pen Eng Flood, 9min try Eng Flood (con Flood), 12min try Fra Fior (con Beauxis), 15min pen Eng Flood,  32min try Eng Brown (con Flood), 41min pen Brown Half Time:  43min try Fra Denor (con Cibray),62mins try Hills (con Lamb).

Referee: Phil Fear, WRU   Attendance: 5,000

England U21  Mike Brown (NEC Harlequins), Thom Evans (London Wasps), Matt Cornwell (Leicester Tigers, captain), Anthony Allen (Gloucester), Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby), Toby Flood (Newcastle Falcons) rep by Ryan Lamb (Gloucester), 58mins, Ben Foden (Sale Sharks), Alex Rogers (NEC Harlequins) rep by Neil Briggs (Sale Sharks), 79mins, Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), David Wilson (Newcastle Falcons) rep by Mark Lambert (NEC Harlequins), 74mins, Richard Blaze (Worcester Warriors) rep by Sean Cox (Sale Sharks), 69min, Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), James Haskell (London Wasps), Michael Hills (Sale Sharks), Jordan Crane (Leeds Tykes, blood rep Sean Cox (Sale Sharks) 36-40min)  Replacements: Alex Rae (Northampton Saints), Nick Runciman (Worcester Warriors), Topsy Ojo (London Irish)

England U21s Six Nations Rugby Fixtures for 2006.  

England U21s player quotes

Said England try scorer, Sale Sharks flanker Michael Hills, “Today was about playing as a team. We knew we were better as individuals but on the night it was about putting in the best team performance.  “We didn’t play everything to our game plan but we played as a team and now we have to look forward to the Irish game.  “Of course I’m delighted with my try but most of the credit really has to go to Dil (Dylan Hartley, Northampton Saints hooker) for putting me into a gap. I thought the back row played well as a unit, we’ve got a strong bond and we play off each other well. It’s good to see the things we work on in training coming off in a game.”

NEC Harlequins full back, Mike Brown, whose first half try and penalty put England ahead at half time, said, “It was a good performance, we had to work for it but it’s really starting to come together for us now. It was great to play at full back again, it’s my preferred position but to be honest I don’t mind where I play as long as I’m on the pitch.  “Our aim today was obviously to get the win, personally I just concentrated on my own performance and making sure I did everything I could within my role.  “As a back three things have been good in training so it was nice that they went well for us to today. They came at us pretty well, especially in the first half and towards the end of the match with the crowd and wind behind them but we did well and stick at it.   “Ireland next week we’ll be looking to do a job on us especially on St Patricks weekend but after today we’re buzzing so we’ll be looking to do the same to them.”

Of his first game back for England U21s this year, Newcastle Falcon Toby Flood said, “I really enjoyed it tonight. It’s good to be involved again and great to get a win. As a team we got a good start, we settled quickly, had a solid set piece and built the phases well.  “We knew we had the breeze in the first half and we had to get the points on the board. Personally it was good to get on the scoreboard. We missed a couple of opportunities when we decided to have a go rather than take the points but apart from that we had a good half.  “In the second half they scored very early on and we had to refocus. We got a bit frantic with the crowd getting on board but I think we showed what we’re about to score again and hold on in to win it.”

Sale Sharks lock Sean Cox played the last 15 minutes after replacing Worcester’s Richard Blaze. “It was good to watch the boys score some points early on, it made my task when I came on easier.    “Westy (forwards coach Dorian West) told me to keep it simple and close the game out so that’s what we tried to do for the last 15 minutes. They were throwing everything at us to try and get back into it so we did well to hold on and stay with it.   “We played some good rugby but we know we’ve got plenty to work on. It’s starting to come together for us now and as a squad we’re really looking forward to taking on Ireland in the final match next week.”