It didn’t take long for the rot to set in – two minutes into the game Betsen is pinged for not rolling away. Hodgson steps up and misses a 43 metre kick right of the posts. Two minutes later, Cueto gives away a penalty by making no attempt to stand up having chased a ball. Yachvili slots over a much harder kick. Two stupid penalties – France take advantage, England waste the opportunity. 0-3 France
In the first 10 minutes, England were the brighter, there were some nice breaks from likes of Ben Kay but as in Wales too often the runner became isolated and was caught in possession. The line-out was a mixed bag but we were winning quick ball and Ellis’ distribution was a definite improvement. The English were dominating possession and the French were struggling to create anything – the back row again looked disjointed with only Betsen making ground.
The first England try came from a scrum in the French 22, quick ball from the scrum resulted in Jamie Noon breaking through the French line and passing to Barkley for a try very close to the French posts. Hodgson didn’t miss the conversion. 7-3 to England. At last there was quick ball and it was used to great effect.
England continued to dominate but didn’t create much – it took more ill-discipline from the French to give England a penalty which Hodgson slotted through from 35 metres. 10-3 to England.
Now we started doing something which I had hoped we had stopped – Cueto, Hodgson and Jason Robinson all kicked possession away – why? What good does it do to kick the ball down the throats of the opposition? Josh Lewsey clearly got fed up with this nonsense and his running from his own half was outstanding – time and time again he ran the ball forward and gained his team territory and great position. The other three should watch their England colleague and learn. But Yachvili was keeping his team in with a chance – offside from England and he coolly slotted through the penalty. 10-6 to England.
Pepito Elhorgha is a player I’ve seen a few times and I’ve yet to be impressed by him – and right on cue he fluffed a chase into his own 22 and deliberately threw the ball into touch. England had numbers and were likely to score if they got the ball. Surely a case of professional foul and a yellow card but not according to Paddy O’Brien. Anyway, Hodgson compounded it by missing the penalty.
But England continued to hold sway on possession and territory – Corry and Moody were dominating the back row and the pick and drive was outstanding. On 33 minutes an English line-out secured safe quick ball and Grewcock and Lewsey linked up for Lewsey to score a great try. Hodgson kicked the conversion. 17-6 to England.
The French misdemeanours should have been punished by England – yet again Robinson went for the posts asking poor Ollie Barkley to kick from 50 metres out in blustery conditions. He missed. Two minutes later on the French five metre line, the French hands on the ball gave him another chance –he missed it. I think it was poor decision making by Robinson who was asking too much of his kickers. A kick to corner and a line-out would have given territory and the chance of the drive – England’s maul had been very secure.
Second half – well I’m not sure what I’m going to write. Clearly, we were going to have a very bad day because on 47 minutes Hodgson had another go from the French 10 metre line and missed.
The French made loads of changes – I’m sure that Steve Thompson took great satisfaction from having scrummaged Bruno off the pitch and Chabal left having had a shocker – he’s going to have some explaining to do about Jamie Noon’s tackle which took him clean off his feet and 2 metres backwards.
Meanwhile, Lewis Moody decided to run his own charity event giving penalty after penalty away – O’Brien was consistent in his refereeing of the breakdown and retreating behind the kicker so why oh why wasn’t Moody aware? First he held on to the ball having isolated himself – 17-9 and then clearly concerned he hadn’t given the French enough chances he decided to handle the ball in the ruck – 17-12 – so just to add the icing on the cake – Moody decides not to retreat after a kick ahead – 17-15. Yachvili must have thought all his Christmases had come at once!
Ah yes, of course Betsen who was everywhere decided to let our kickers have a go – well he could in confidence – and Barkley duly obliged and missed. 65 minutes gone and England were doing their collective level best to throw it away. And of course they did – 70 minutes England 15 metre line they give away a penalty that costs them the game.
The next ten minutes demonstrated for me why poor Jason Robinson should not be captain – we were dominating in the maul, yet we kept kicking possession away or even more criminally turning over the ball when Robinson himself became isolated. If we were going to kick the ball why weren’t we drilling it into the corners?
Jamie Noon gave England a chance when he chased down Dominici but the ball again was too slow from the scrum and Hodgson’s drop goal awful. Dawson managed to slow the ball to a halt and what little quick ball England had enjoyed in the second half disappeared. And so England handed the game to the French with whimper.
So what next – new fly half and new captain for me – I’d like to see Andy Goode play – he had a great game on Friday. His understanding of Ellis and Corry’s game will be very useful but most of all he must do better than Hodgson at place kicking.
Lewis Moody needs to get his head together – his good work in the maul and ruck was ruined by several stupid penalties in the second half. As for captain, Martin Corry has done enough for me – he demonstrated real leadership of the pack and he’ll not do much wrong if he follows Johnno’s example. Noon has done more than enough to retain his place and I'd give Barkley another go.
So Andy Robinson has got two weeks to put the wheels back on the chariot – I wonder what he will do?

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