In the end, even the win eluded them. On a thoroughly muted afternoon in a stadium barely a third full, an England XV contrived to lose to a France XV even further from full strength than they were. At the death, Romain Taofifénua crashed over from close range to clinch the match with an equally uninspiring try.
Worse, England will lose the services of a player only just making his comeback from a long absence. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s wild tackle on Antoine Hastoy in the first half earned him a 20-minute red card and with it a likely ban. England’s wing had not been ruled out of contention for the Lions tour to Australia, but now even a place on England’s three-match tour of Argentina and the US must be in doubt. World Rugby announced that Feyi-Waboso’s case, along with that of France’s Cameron Woki, would be heard by the independent disciplinary commission on Sunday; England leave for Argentina on Tuesday.
“He’s gutted,” said Steve Borthwick. “You know Manny. He’s a good guy who tries his heart out. We’ll all get round him and find out the situation in the next 24 hours.”
The tackle did look a case of over-enthusiasm, but it was a rare throwback to the amateur era in its wildness. A straight red cannot have been out of the question.
On an unfortunate day for officialdom (George Ford’s first conversion ran beyond the shot clock without sanction), France also played 20 minutes reduced to 14, when Woki was punished for his clear-out on Jamie George midway through the second half. Here it seemed the decision was bungled.
Word came back from the bunker review that the tackle was always illegal, but not of a high degree of danger. The message was that had it been dangerous it would have been a straight red, but instead it should be upgraded from yellow to the lesser red. The bunker review cannot recommend a straight red and anyone who has watched any rugby lately, let alone since the 20-minute red, is used to a low degree of danger equalling yellow or even just a penalty. Unless World Rugby have altered their protocols without telling anyone, the decision must be considered an error.
“I thought our red card was harsh,” said Fabien Galthié. “England’s was fair. I hope we will be able to defend Cameron so he is not suspended. I hope the England player is also not suspended.”
By the time Taofifénua scored his try, after some uncomplicated French battering off a penalty kicked to the corner, in the third minute after the clock had turned red, France were back to a full complement. Thus they started and finished the contest in the ascendant.
Feyi-Waboso’s match nearly started in a happier fashion, but he lost the ball in a wrestle for the line in the second minute. Instead, it was France who racked up an early lead. Gaëtan Barlot finished a driven lineout in the fifth minute, before Hugo Auradou was in support of a brilliant break by Théo Attissogbe, playing here at full-back.
England responded to the 12-0 deficit with 24 unanswered points. Tom Willis barged over from a tapped penalty in the second quarter. Alex Coles was put over on the blindside by Ford, after a carry by the impressive Seb Atkinson, to level the scores on the half hour.
Down to 14 men, England struck again on the stroke of half-time. Atkinson broke and was hauled down inches short, but Joe Carpenter was on hand to score. When Alex Dombrandt scored an excellent try on the hour, after fine approach work by Atkinson again, Tom Roebuck, Ford and Henry Slade, the hosts looked to be cruising.
Just as England had seemed inspired by their red card, so France cranked up the pressure with their heavy artillery. Paul Mallez scored with five minutes remaining in much the same fashion as Taofifénua would again in the dying seconds – ugly and from close range. Hastoy’s simple conversion won the match.
At the moment, the weather in Argentina is a good deal cooler than it is in the UK, but matters will be no less ferocious on the pitch. France had 30 or so players missing from their Six Nations squad – on duty with their clubs in the semi-finals of the Top 14 – but the Pumas gave notice in Dublin, with their defeat of the Lions, that they will not be wanting for Test-match animals.
This strange afternoon in a familiar stadium will prove a long way removed from the faraway bearpits of Argentina. England, too, will have to raise their intensity.
