Red Roses edge France after floodlight failure
The Red Roses beat France 17-15 after the game was called off due to floodlight failure at Stadium Lille Métropole.
England were leading in the 63rd minute when the game had to be stopped following the light failure, forcing the players off the field. After over a 15-minute delay, it was decided that with the time it would take for the lights to turn back on and the warm-up needed for the players to restart, the game would be called off.
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With the match having passed the 60-minute mark the result stood in accordance with World Rugby regulations.
After a tight opening exchange, it was the hosts that took the lead when a well-worked backs move saw Maëlle Filopon hit a short line off Pauline Bourdon to go over, with Jessy Trémoulière slotting the conversion.
England were level a few minutes later off slick set piece execution, when quick lineout ball was spun from the left to the right side of the pitch and Abby Dow easily rounded Trémoulière in the 15-metre channel to race in from 40 metres. Zoe Harrison added the extras.
Harrison was shown a yellow card in the 32nd minute after touching the ball coming back from an offside position and from the resultant scrum, Bourdon floated a pass to Trémoulière and the French full back rode a tackle for their second try.
MATCH ACTION: FRANCE V RED ROSES
A stunning second from Dow gave England the lead into the break, as the Wasps wing collected a kick from broken play and weaved inside and out numerous defenders from inside her own half, and rode a tackle on the line to cross for her 19th try in 18 Tests. Emily Scarratt’s conversion gave England a 14-12 advantage heading into the second half.
A Trémoulière penalty just after the break edged Les Bleues ahead by a point, but Harrison, back on the field after her yellow card, responded with a simple penalty to restore England’s lead.
In a game full of physicality and confrontational defence, an off the ball incident saw Julie Annery’s knee fall on Poppy Cleall and the French back row was sent to the sin bin.
The match ended in the bizarre circumstances with 17 minutes left as the players left the field following the floodlight failure and did not return.
The result means England continue their excellent recent record against France where they have won their last nine games against Les Bleues, and their record of winning 25 of their last 26 Tests means they remain as the number one ranked side in the world.
Teams
FRANCE
15. Jessy Trémoulière, 14. Emilie Boulard, 13. Maëlle Filopon, 12. Gabrielle Vernier, 11. Cyrielle Banet, 10. Morgane Peyronnet, 9. Pauline Bourdon; 1. Annaëlle Deshaye, 2. Agathe Sochat, 3. Rose Bernadou, 4. Madoussou Fall, 5. Safi N’Diaye, 6. Julie Annery, 7. Gaëlle Hermet (c), 8. Romane Ménager.
REPLACEMENTS
16. Caroline Thomas, 17. Lise Arricastre, 18. Clara Joyeux, 19. Coumba Diallo, 20. Laure Touyé, 21. Laure Sansus, 22. Camille Imart, 23. Caroline Boujard.
ENGLAND
15. Ellie Kildunne, 14. Jess Breach, 13. Emily Scarratt, 12. Sarah McKenna, 11. Abby Dow, 10. Zoe Harrison, 9. Leanne Riley; 1. Vickii Cornborough, 2. Amy Cokayne, 3. Shaunagh Brown, 4. Zoe Aldcroft, 5. Harriet Millar-Mills, 6. Poppy Cleall, 7. Vicky Fleetwood, 8. Sarah Hunter (c).
FINISHERS
16. Lark Davies, 17. Hannah Botterman, 18. Bryony Cleall, 19. Abbie Ward, 20. Sarah Beckett, 21. Claudia MacDonald, 22. Flo Robinson, 23. Merryn Doidge.
Fixtures and Results
Six Nations Pool B: Red Roses 52 - 10 Scotland
Six Nations Pool B: Italy 3 - 67 Red Roses
Six Nations Final: Red Roses 10 - 6 France
Six Nations exhibition: France 15-17 Red Roses
