France Outperforms England in Pre-Season Encounter
A French XV delivered a commanding performance against an England XV in a summer warm-up fixture held in Vannes, securing a comfortable 35-19 victory. The match, which was not a full Test, highlighted France's greater squad depth and cohesive play, even with both sides affected by ongoing domestic club playoffs.
England initially took an early lead with a try from Cadan Murley in the opening minute. However, France quickly found their rhythm, showcasing a fluid handling game that allowed them to establish control. By halftime, France held a narrow two-point advantage. The second half saw France extend their lead significantly with two rapid tries within five minutes of the restart, while England's set-piece struggled in the final quarter, ultimately sealing their defeat.
Squad Compositions and Key Performances
Both teams were missing prominent players due to their respective domestic club playoffs. England was without stars from Northampton and Exeter, who were preparing for the Premiership final. Similarly, French clubs like Toulouse, Racing 92, Stade Francais, and Montpellier retained their international players for the Top 14 semi-finals. Despite these absences, France, bolstered by seven starters from European champions Bordeaux-Begles, displayed greater cohesion.
For England, head coach Steve Borthwick can take positives from the efforts of wings Noah Caluori and Cadan Murley, Ted Hill's work rate in the forwards, and an impactful cameo from replacement scrum-half Raffi Quirke. South African-born Bristol center Benhard Janse van Rensburg, coming off the bench, came close to scoring but unfortunately spilled the ball over the line.
Match Highlights and Turning Points
England's bright start came within 50 seconds, with Murley finishing a well-executed first-phase move. However, France soon asserted dominance. Nicolas Depoortere, returning from injury, scored an early try, followed by Gregoire Arfeuil, giving France a 14-5 lead. England, despite some handling errors from a makeshift side missing key players like Maro Itoje and Ben Earl, showed promising combinations, particularly between Max Ojomoh and Murley, and full-back Marcus Smith linking effectively with fly-half George Ford. A late first-half try from Smith, stepping past defenders, brought England within two points at 14-12 going into the break.
The second half, however, belonged to France. Scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec scored a popular try at his boyhood club, followed by Antoine Hastoy, who capitalized on another sweeping French attack. Although England's Caluori had a try disallowed due to a knock-on, they struggled to regain momentum, particularly at the set-piece. A late defensive lapse allowed replacement Fabien Brau-Boirie to score under the posts, extending France's lead to 33-12. England managed a consolation try from Ojomoh in the final play, but it was too little, too late.
England's summer schedule continues with a challenging Nations Championship opener against South Africa in Johannesburg on July 4, followed by matches against Fiji and Argentina.