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FRA vs ENG

International Rugby League

Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse

France

vs

England

8
FT
40
Action
Lineups
All
Facts Only
All
Full-Time: 8 - 40
That's all we have for this one. Stay with Tribe for plenty more Rugby League action as Round 17 of the NRL continues with a Sunday triple header later today. This is Anthony Morgan signing off.
France started the match with real vigour but once England warmed to their task they struggled to penetrate through their defence. Arthur Mourgue had some nice touches, including an early try assist but his influence was largely nullified. Benjamin Garcia (140m) showed some good footwork and went close to setting up Mickael Goudemand for a try - only for the second rower to lose the ball over the line. Romain Navarrete produced a solid 51-minute shift with 158m and 29 tackles up front.
England's back three provided plenty of spark and their four-try burst in the first half turned the momentum of the match on its head. Jack Welsby was at his classy best with 164m and six tackle breaks while Tom Johnstone and Ash Handley combined for four tries, four line breaks and 15 tackle busts from 310m on the edges. Matty Nicholson was the pick of the forwards with 113m and a team-high 34 tackles in addition to a try on the right edge.
England overcame a slow start before they piled on eight unanswered tries to beat France 8-40 in Toulouse. A 12-minute four-try burst saw England go into halftime up 8-18 before they kicked on with it in the second half. After a stalemate for the first 17 minutes after halftime, England struck a big blow in the 57th minute when Matty Nicholson pounced on a pinpoint Harry Smith grubber to score. A break by Ben Currie set up Jack Welsby in the 62nd before Mikey Lewis did likewise for George Williams with seven minutes remaining. A deft chip by Smith set up Tom Johnstone for his second try with the final play of the match.
80'
Smith converts from the left sideline.
80'
8-40 H. Smith
Conversion
80'
ENGLAND FINISH WITH A FLOURISH. France go deep with the dropout as Newman fires it to Williams in the middle. He throws a long pass to Smith who pops in a pinpoint chip towards the left corner. It sits up perfectly for Johnstone, who cuts inside one defender to score out wide.
80'
8-38 T. Johnstone
Try
79'
France work it over their 40m before an errant pass is deflected backwards by England as Handley sprints 30m down the right sideline. Lewis is tackled 15m out before Newman rolls in a grubber that is taken dead by France for a dropout.