Marlie Packer scored the decisive try in a scrappy England victory against France that will not live long in the memory but will go down in the history books. Rochelle Clark, 35, came off the bench at The Stoop to earn her 114th cap and level the record for an England player, held by Jason Leonard, as Packer’s late pushover try ensured a winning start to the autumn campaign.
“It was amazing to get the opportunity to run on to the pitch with all the girls looking after me,” Clark said. “I am a teary anthem singer anyway but there was a bit of added emotion for me today. I was a bit nervous on the bench but I got a lot of carries.”
Amy Cokayne’s first-half try seemed to have settled things until Christelle Le Duff capitalised on Fiona Pocock’s mistake with six minutes left to level matters at 5-5. Packer, however, ensured Clark’s milestone match ended on a high and though it was a forgettable performance, the result may yet prove significant. On the day England were drawn in the same pool as USA, Italy and a qualifier that looks like being Scotland for the 2017 World Cup, making the defence of their crown begin to loom on the horizon.
The Sevens players, now that the Rio Olympics has been and gone, have been reintegrated and, even without Emily Scarratt and Amber Reed, England could still name a squad with 1,000 caps among them. The problem with welcoming back a host of players, primarily to the backs, however is the inevitable rust and ensuing litany of handling errors.
Still Katy McLean linked well with her the scrum-half, Natasha Hunt, and, though she missed a routine penalty on 18 minutes, she soon atoned with her kicking from hand. McLean had been eyeing up France’s left-hand corner and eventually forced the mistake that gave away the lineout from which Cokayne went over. Suddenly, cracks were appearing in the French defence. In the closing minutes after Le Duff’s equaliser Camille Grassineau was shown a yellow card for a tip tackle on Pocock. Cue a perfect kick to the corner from McLean and another driving maul, finished off by Packer. Whereas ferocious tackling, led by the No8 Safi N’Diaye, had kept England at bay, now the world champions were finding gaps.
A flurry of half-time replacements included the introduction of the usual French captain, Gaëlle Mignot, and prompted immediate improvements from her side but with the help of the TMO, England held firm. Enter Clark for her landmark appearance and just a few minutes later, Cokayne thought she had her second try only to be pulled back for offside.
England had weathered the France storm, thanks in no small part to the excellent Alex Matthews but Pocock’s error – keeping the ball in play only for it to be pounced on by Julie Duval – allowed Le Duff to score in the right-hand corner.
The attempted conversion was awful and shortly after France’s Camille Grassineau, was shown a yellow card for a tip tackle on Pocock. Cue a perfect kick to the corner from McLean and another driving maul, finished off by Packer.
England Waterman; Wilson (Scott, h-t), Allan, Burford (Large, 56), Pocock; McLean, Hunt (Mason, 69); Cornborough (Clark, 56), Cokayne (Fleetwood, 62), Keates, Taylor, Braund (Millar-Mills, h-t), Matthews, Packer, Hunter (Noel-Smith, h-t).
Tries Cokayne, Packer.
France Ladagnous (Cabalou, 60); Grassineau, Thomas (Neisen, 65), Godiveau, Guiglion; Le Duff, Rivoalen; Arricastre (Deshayes, h-t), Bigot (Mignot, h-t), Carricaburu (Corson, 58), Ferer (Hermet, 69), André (Duval 58), Rayssac, Grand (Ménager, 65), N’Diaye (capt).
Try Le Duff.
Sin-bin Grassineau.
Referee A Nievas (Sp). Att 1,270.
