- Six Nations
- 23 February 2013, 5:00pm
- Twickenham
England | v | France |
| 23 | 13 |
tries:Tuilagi | tries:Fofana | |
conversions:Parra | ||
penalties:Farrell (4), Flood (2) | penalties:Parra, Michalak | |
match commentary
80+2 mins:It's all over! The referee has blown his whistle to end the game.
80+1 mins:France have won 80 rucks so far this game.
79 mins:Dan Cole (England) is shown a yellow card.
76 mins:Toby Flood has kicked a penalty goal.
73 mins:Florian Fritz comes on.
73 mins:Mathieu Bastareaud comes off.
72 mins:The England supporters go wild as Toby Flood successfully kicks the penalty goal.
70 mins:England have won 80 rucks so far this game.
69 mins:Thierry Dusautoir has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
68 mins:France decide to make a substitution, with Antonie Claassen getting some game time.
68 mins:France decide to make a substitution, with Yannick Nyanga being replaced.
66 mins:France make a substitution with Maxime Machenaud coming on.
66 mins:France make a substitution with Morgan Parra coming off.
64 mins:France sub Jocelino Suta comes onto the field.
64 mins:Christophe Samson departs for France.
64 mins:Luc Ducalcon comes on for France.
64 mins:Nicolas Mas leaves the field.
64 mins:Trouble here as Louis Picamoles breaches the defence.
64 mins:France have won 60 rucks so far this game.
63 mins:Brad Barritt has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
62 mins:Tom Wood has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
61 mins:England have won 60 rucks so far this game.
61 mins:Toby Flood comes on.
61 mins:Owen Farrell comes off.
59 mins:Owen Farrell steps up to take the penalty but pulls it wide and to the left.
58 mins:Danny Care comes on.
58 mins:Ben Youngs comes off.
56 mins:The touch judges raise their flags as Frederic Michalak kicks the penalty goal.
55 mins:Owen Farrell has hooked the conversion to the right of the posts.
55 mins:Vincent Debaty comes on.
55 mins:Thomas Domingo comes off.
55 mins:France decide to make a substitution, with Dimitri Szarzewski getting some game time.
55 mins:France decide to make a substitution, with Benjamin Kayser being replaced.
54 mins:A bit of individual brilliance by Manu Tuilagi leads to a try for England.
54 mins:This is dangerous for the defence as Manu Tuilagi bursts through to advance the England attack.
52 mins:France make a substitution with Frederic Michalak coming on.
52 mins:France make a substitution with Francois Trinh-Duc coming off.
51 mins:England sub James Haskell comes onto the field.
51 mins:Courtney Lawes departs for England.
51 mins:Tom Youngs comes on for England.
51 mins:Dylan Hartley leaves the field.
51 mins:Mako Vunipola comes on.
51 mins:Joe Marler comes off.
48 mins:Joe Launchbury has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
47 mins:Owen Farrell adds the three points for England.
44 mins:France have won 40 rucks so far this game.
42 mins:Morgan Parra takes the penalty but the ball didn't come round, staying right of the posts.
40 mins:The second half is underway.
40 mins:The half-time whistle blows and both teams? head for the dressing rooms.
40 mins:Morgan Parra steps up to take the penalty but pulls it wide and to the right.
36 mins:England have won 40 rucks so far this game.
33 mins:Owen Farrell does the business as his penalty goal attempt goes over.
31 mins:Morgan Parra has kicked a conversion.
29 mins:A stunning solo try from Wesley Fofana.
29 mins:A gap opened in the defence and Wesley Fofana took full advantage.
27 mins:Owen Farrell makes no mistake with that penalty goal attempt.
26 mins:The defensive line has been broken as Manu Tuilagi goes through the gap.
22 mins:England have won 20 rucks so far this game.
19 mins:France have won 20 rucks so far this game.
4 mins:Morgan Parra kicks the penalty.
1 mins:Owen Farrell has kicked a penalty goal.
We are underway as the referee blows his whistle.
- Six Nations
- 23 February 2013, 5:00pm
- Twickenham
| England | v | France |
| 23 | 13 |
tries:Tuilagi | tries:Fofana | |
conversions:Parra | ||
penalties:Farrell (4), Flood (2) | penalties:Parra, Michalak | |
match report
England maintained their 100% record in the Six Nations with a 23-13 victory over France at Twickenham on Saturday.
Manu Tuilagi's try and six penalties - four from Owen Farrell and two to clinch the result by his replacement Toby Flood late one - was enough to keep England's title challenge on course and send France to a third defeat in this year's competition.
It was a hard-fought contest and France - who had lost to Italy and Wales in their opening two matches - produced a much-improved display, including a solo try from Wesley Fofana.
But Farrell's efficiency with the boot ensured England were able to stay in touch during the first half and Stuart Lancaster's men took charge after the break to move within two wins of a first grand slam since 2003.
Farrell and Morgan Parra exchanged penalties during the first six minutes as both packs tore into each other with obvious relish.
With Parra controlling things from scrum-half, France immediately looked a better organised unit than in previous rounds and their aggression at the breakdown ensured England were denied quick ball.
England's best try-scoring chance of the first half came in the 26th minute when Farrell overhit his chip towards Chris Ashton on the right wing, albeit safe in the knowledge the referee was playing advantage for an earlier penalty.
Farrell duly added those three points but France responded immediately with the opening try, Fofana evading four potential tacklers with some delightful footwork to go over in the corner after the ball had been moved swiftly from right to left.
Parra added the conversion before Farrell reduced England's deficit to 10-9 on 33 minutes with his third penalty.
France had the chance to pad their advantage but Parra scuffed penalty chances either side of half-time.
England were back in front when Thierry Dusautoir pulled down a rolling maul and Farrell landed his fourth successful kick, quickly followed by Tuilagi's try.
A loose ball was hacked out of a French ruck and dropped straight to the Leicester centre, who was able to cruise over in the left corner.
Farrell failed with the conversion attempt, then appeared to hurt his groin while sending up a high kick. He limped on, missing a penalty making way for Flood.
Parra handed over kicking duties to Frederick Michalak, on for Francois Trinh-Duc at stand-off, and he was able to land a penalty in the 58th-minute to trim England's lead to 17-13.
But France, despite a raft of replacements, were fading fast and Flood was able to add a couple of late penalties to seal England's victory.
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