Monday February 25, 2013
Lancaster’s team move closer to Grand Slam after victory over France
Got you: France’s No. 8 Louis Picamoles (right) is tackled by England’s centre Manu Tuilagi (left) during the Six Nations match at Twickenham Stadium in London on Saturday. England won 23-13. — AFP LONDON: England coach Stuart Lancaster said there was more to come from his youthful side after they moved closer to a Six Nations Grand Slam with a 23-13 victory over World Cup finalists France at Twickenham.
“Our players know they have been through a very tough 80 minutes. France brought their ‘A’ game and put us under a lot of pressure,” said Lancaster.
“It shows a great level of maturity for a young side, average age of 24, 200-odd caps, that’s it, and playing a side that’s been to a World Cup final and have lots of world-class players and 500 caps in their side.”
While the ultimate goal for Lancaster is to guide the team to Webb Ellis trophy glory when England stage the 2015 World Cup, the short-term outlook remains hugely encouraging.
In beating a vastly improved France, who having been installed as pre-tournament favourites now find themselves languishing at the bottom of the Six Nations table after three straight defeats, England continued to make good on the promise they showed in a record-breaking 38-21 win over the All Blacks at Twickenham in December.
They started the Six Nations with contrasting wins over Scotland (38-18) and away to Ireland (12-6) but France proved their sternest opponents of the Championship thus far.
In a match of brutal breakdown battles and fearsome collisions, France led 10-9 at half-time after a superb solo try from Wesley Fofana was converted by scrum-half Morgan Parra, who also kicked a penalty.
But England, with fly-half Owen Farrell landing four penalties and replacement stand-off Toby Flood kicking two more late on, established a decisive seven-point lead early in the second half through Manu Tuilagi.
The centre scored England’s only try when he ran in from 40m although there was an element of good fortune in that South African referee Craig Joubert ignored an apparent ruck offence in the build-up.
Since Lancaster took charge last year, a constant figure in England’s progress has been the man he installed as captain — Chris Robshaw.
Robshaw also paid tribute to the powerful Tuilagi, on the field for the full 80 minutes after being recalled in place of Billy Twelvetrees to counter a French midfield featuring the giant figure of Mathieu Bastareaud.
Tuilagi, who on his last Test start scored one and created two of England’s three tries against the All Blacks, finished the match with 19 stitches in a left ear ripped open by an early tackle.
“Manu was great today,” Robshaw said. “You could really see his power and physicality. He wanted to prove a point and he did that. He was exceptional.” — AFP
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