FRANCE 4 ENGLAND 38
STEPHEN IBBETSON, Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse, Saturday

IF the purpose of a World Cup warm-up match is to identify things to work on ahead of the tournament, this will have certainly done the job for England.

Some poor spells of discipline were married to an attack which was occasionally as clunky as the risible live stream which provided the only opportunity for English fans to see the game.

Head coach Stuart Barrow picked eight of Wigan’s currently dominant domestic team in his starting line-up, clearly hoping to translate their slick and powerful performances onto the international scene.

Halfbacks Isabel Rowe and Jenna Foubister certainly had their strong moments, but there is plenty more work to be done before much sterner opposition comes England’s way in the autumn.

The chief positive was a first experience on this scene for five debutants, two of whom – Wigan’s Ellise Derbyshire (twice) and Ella Donnelly – got themselves on the scoresheet.

There was a double for Lucy Murray, who is emerging as another strong second-row contender, too.

They also got to experience playing for only 70 minutes instead of 80, as it will be at the World Cup – but the first 15 of them were of particular concern, conceding five penalties.

France scrum-half Lisa Diraison kicked for goal with the second and fifth infringements, the first points England had conceded in Europe since the last World Cup after five clean sheets.

Some of the calls by French referee Stephane Vincent were disputable but any concerns were eased when the home side were penalised in possession from the restart, shifting the momentum in an instant.

And England opened their account from the resulting set, Georgia Wilson – playing at fullback – putting her Wigan team-mate Derbyshire into the left corner for a debut try.

That was followed by four tries in the final dozen minutes of the first half as they finally found some rhythm.

Murray went through off a well-timed pass by Rowe at the line, then supported a Rowe break for a quick-fire double.

In between, Foubister fumbled a bouncing Rowe kick with the tryline at her mercy.

But with Donnelly also helping herself to a try on debut, Eva Hunter streaking away to score in the final minute of the half, and Rowe successfully kicking four of the five conversions, England took a 28-4 lead into the break.

The second-half scoring was started by Foubister, who scored one of the game’s best tries with a delicious dummy which carved open a route to the line, and a fifth Rowe goal.

Further chances came and went, as Derbyshire touched down off a forward pass by Ruby Bruce and a Murray offload couldn’t quite find Rowe after punching through the defence.

Derbyshire did score her second try, and England’s last, on the hour, receiving a pass from Evie Cousins – another of England’s debutants, the others being Mary Coleman and Megan Williams – and cutting inside smartly to finish.

But England’s discipline was found lacking again in a final ten minutes played mostly in their half.

It looked like they had been punished for that when Diraison attacked her own short kick which bounced off a post, only to be judged to have not grounded cleanly, to her dismay.

France, who never lacked for effort despite failing to score a try, are also heading to the World Cup, and should have found this tie just as instructive to their preparations as England.

GAMESTAR: Lucy Murray scored two tries and carried a great threat in only her second international appearance.

GAMEBREAKER: After a tricky opening 15 minutes, Ellise Derbyshire’s first try helped England find their feet.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Jenna Foubister’s show-and-go try was excellent.

MATCHFACTS

FRANCE
1 Manon Samarra (Lescure Arthès)
2 Perle Ramazeilles (Lescure Arthès)
3 Melissa Medina (Lescure Arthès)
4 Amaël Vilanove (Ayguesvives)
5 Margot Canal (Catalans Dragons)
6 Camille Boudard (Lescure Arthès)
7 Lisa Diraison (Lescure Arthès)
8 Elisa Akpa (Catalans Dragons)
9 Dorine Samarra (Lescure Arthès)
10 Salomé Segala (Lescure Arthès)
11 Stecy Bessiere (Lescure Arthès)
12 Perrine Monsarrat (Lescure Arthès)
13 Elodie Pacull (Lescure Arthès)
Subs (all used)
14 Fanny Ramos (Catalans Dragons)
15 Téssa Benmalek (Catalans Dragons)
16 Tallis Eranossian (Bègles)
17 Sarah Louise Vernay (Catalans Dragons)

Goals: Diraison 2/2

ENGLAND
1 Georgia Wilson (Wigan Warriors)
2 Anna Davies (Wigan Warriors)
3 Tamzin Renouf (York Valkyrie)
4 Evie Cousins (Leeds Rhinos)
5 Ellise Derbyshire (Wigan Warriors)
6 Jenna Foubister (Wigan Warriors)
7 Isabel Rowe (Wigan Warriors)
8 Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth (St Helens)
9 Keara Bennett (Leeds Rhinos)
10 Mary Coleman (Wigan Warriors)
11 Eva Hunter (Wigan Warriors)
12 Lucy Murray (Leeds Rhinos)
13 Megan Williams (Wigan Warriors)
Subs (all used)
14 Jodie Cunningham (St Helens)
15 Vicky Whitfield (St Helens)
16 Ruby Bruce (Leeds Rhinos)
17 Ella Donnelly (Leeds Rhinos)

Tries: Derbyshire (16, 60), Murray (23, 27), Donnelly (32), Hunter (35), Fobuister (42)
Goals: Rowe 5/7

SCORING SEQUENCE: 2-0, 4-0, 4-6, 4-12, 4-18, 4-24, 4-28; 4-34, 4-38

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Women of the Match
France: Lisa Diraison; England: Lucy Murray

Penalty count: 10-4
Half-time: 4-28
Referee: Stephane Vincent

Image: SWpix.com