England Women's Team for France Match 5 Nov
By RFU Press Office by Julia Hutton
November 4 2011
Richmond flanker Alexandra Matthews is set to make her England debut this Saturday when England take on France at the Pierre de Coubertin Stadium in Chateaurenard, kick off 2pm GMT.
| England Women's Team Announced for France Match | ||||
Matthews, 18, is one of nine changes, two positional, to the England starting line-up that was defeated 14-5 by France in Wednesday’s uncapped match in Marseille. And as Matthews collects her first cap tomorrow she will become the second member of the Matthews family to be capped for England. Older sister Francesca, who plays on the wing, is also a member of the England Elite Playing Squad and she has gone on to amass 18 caps for her country. Saracens’ Hannah Gallagher, Lichfield’s Harriet Millar-Mills, Bristol’s Isobel Noel-Smith and Worcester’s Ceri Large could all be set to get their first cap for England too as they have been named on the bench. England also welcome back Emily Scarratt, Georgina Roberts and La Toya Mason to the starting line-up. England Head Coach Gary Street said: “This is the strongest starting XV we can select from this squad and we will be expecting another tough and extremely physical test against a very motivated French team. We learnt some valuable lessons from Wednesday’s match and some of the players really excelled so they will have another opportunity to show what they can do on Saturday. “Alex had an outstanding game on Wednesday and I am really excited about her ball carrying skills and defensive qualities that she brings to our game. We also have four uncapped players on the bench and they have brought energy into this squad. With this being our last game ahead of the three autumn international tests against world champions New Zealand this is a huge opportunity for all our players to step up and show what they can do.” England 15 Kay Wilson (Bristol) 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester) 13 Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) 12 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield) 11 Michaela Staniford (Wasps) 10 Kimberley Oliver (Bristol) 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps) 1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester) 2 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield) 3 Laura Keates (Worcester) 4 Tamara Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) 5 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond) 6 Alexandra Matthews (Richmond) 7 Marlie Packer (Bristol) 8 SarahHunter (Lichfield) Replacements: 16 Amy Turner (Richmond) 17 Rosemarie Crowley (Lichfield) 18 Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield) 19 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens) 20 IsobelNoel-Smith (Bristol) 21 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield) 22 Ceri Large (Worcester)
England Autumn International Series Nov 2nd France v England, Jean Bouin Stadium, Marseille, France 14 England 5 Nov 5th France v England, Pierre de Coubertin Stadium at Chateaurenard, KO 2pm GMT Nov 26th England v New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium, KO 5pm Nov 29th England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, KO 7pm Dec 3rd England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, 2pm
Tickets for the game at Twickenham on November 26th are available from Ticketmaster.co.uk and group booking are available from the RFU by calling 0871 22 22 017, option 6. Prices range from £65 to £35. Junior tickets cost just £15. Tickets for the international tests at Esher RFC on November 29th and December 3rd will be available on the gate and cost £10 for adults and £5 for juniors. |
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Saturday November 5, 2011
Issued by Julia Hutton
France 16 England 15
England Women’s two match series against France ended in disappointment today (Saturday) with a 68th minute converted try sealing a 16-15 victory for the hosts at the Pierre de Coubertin Stadium in Chateaurenard.
England, who fielded five uncapped players for the test match, led for most of the game but the strong French side were never far behind and in the end made the most of their opportunities to make it two wins from two in four days following a 14-5 win on Wednesday.
England Head Coach Gary Street said: “We are obviously disappointed to lose this match, but it was very useful to get five uncapped players on the pitch today who all showed up. They have shown a tremendous amount of potential as have our other relatively young squad members.
“France put in a strong and powerful performance today and we have learned valuable lessons from that. With several of our experienced players available for selection for our three tests against New Zealand later this month I think we will be in a strong position on the back of this series.”
The match was again played in severely wet conditions with kick off getting underway in torrential rain but England played the conditions well and got off to a great start with debutant Alexandra Matthews scoring after just four minutes. Some good work by centre Emily Scarratt gave England space in France’s 22 and fullback Kay Wilson was also instrumental in taking England’s attacking game forward. Georgina Roberts was in support and a nice inside pass then saw Captain Sarah Hunter come close to the France try line. 18-year-old Matthews then finished off England’s attacking move by muscling her way over the try line. With Scarratt converting England led 7-0.
France had their chances too, first missing a penalty on six minutes, but then fly-half Aurielle Bailon made the most of a second attempt on 11 minutes to reduce the deficit to 7-3. Bailon also had a third attempt on 15 minutes but wasn’t as lucky with her strike that time.
England, however, continued to power on and the forwards made some good space in France’s territory but France were just as powerful and came close to scoring when Wilson was put under pressure in England’s 22. France overturned the ball in the ruck and recycled out to the midfield. A nice chip by Bailon handed France the opportunity to score, but Scarratt covered well in defence. But with Bailon converting a second penalty it was France who had the last word at half-time leaving just one point separating the two teams.
England came out in the second half firing, just like they had done in the first few minutes of the game, and they made an immediate impression on the scoreboard. England were in fact under pressure with France in their 22 but Scarratt was lucky to get the ball away and break through France’s defence to get the ball out to speedster Michael Staniford who charged 65 metres upfield. France’s backs didn’t have Staniford’s speed and the Wasps wing scored with relative ease. Scarratt, however, couldn’t make the conversion.
France again struck back with Bailon adding another penalty to make the score 12-9 but England kept the score board ticking over with a 56th minute Scarratt penalty.
England, however, remained under constant pressure and French executed some powerful drives in their 22. Bailon was again at the heart of their attack and a nice chip through nearly saw France score, only for England to gather up the loose ball and save the try.
France still had the upper hand though and a series of powerful drives put them in real contention to take the lead. England’s defence held firm for some ten minutes but in the end Bailon chipped ahead again and this time wing Laureline Fourcade got on to the end of it and scored in the right corner. Bailon struck the conversion and although it hit the posts it bounced the right way leaving the home side to take a 16-15 lead for the first time with just ten minutes remaining.
England threw everything they had to make up the difference with all seven replacements now on the field and it looked like they had enough with some powerful drives in France’s 22. But France’s defence held firm as they were rallied on by the vociferous home crowd and they took the victory and the two series win over the reigning Six Nations champions.
England
15 Kay Wilson (Bristol), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 13 Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 12 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 11 Michaela Staniford (Wasps), 10 Kimberley Oliver (Bristol), 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps), 1Rochelle Clark (Worcester), 2 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield), 3 Laura Keates (Worcester), 4 Tamara Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 5 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), 6 Alexandra Matthews (Richmond), 7 Marlie Packer (Bristol), 8 SarahHunter (Lichfield).
Replacements: 16 Amy Turner (Richmond), 17 Rosemarie Crowley(Lichfield), 18 Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield), 19 Hannah Gallagher(Saracens), 20 IsobelNoel-Smith (Bristol), 21 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield), 22 Ceri Large (Worcester)
Tries: Matthews (4mins), Staniford (45 mins)
Conversions: Scarratt
Penalties: Scarratt
Substitutions: Turner for Fleetwood, Hunt for Mason (both HT), Crowley for Keates (55), Noel Smith for Matthews, Gallagher for Packer (both 59), Millar Mills for Burnfield, Large for Roberts (72).
France
15 Jessy Tremoulière, 14 Fourcade, 13 Marjourie Mayans, 12 Laura Di Muzio, 11 Diono Aguerre, 10 Aureile Bailon, 9 Alice Marie Yahé, 1 Helene Ezanno, 2 Salles, 3 Chobet, 4 De Nadaï, 5 Cyrielle Bouisset, 6 Chatelier, 7 Rodriguez, 8 Claire Canal. Replacements: 16 Galle Mignot, 17 Elodie Portaries, 18 Assa Koïta, 19 Audrey Forlani, 20 Jennifer Troncy, 21 Agricole, 22 Chloe Pelle
Tries: Fourcade
Conversions: Bailon
Penalties: Bailon (3)
Half time score:France 6 England 7
Nov 2nd France v England, Jean Bouin Stadium, Marseille, France 14 England 5
Nov 5th France v England, Pierre de Coubertin Stadium at Chateaurenard, France 16 England 15
Nov 26th England v New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium, KO 5pm
Nov 29th England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, KO 7pm
Dec 3rd England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, 2pm
Tickets for the game at Twickenham on November 26th are available from Ticketmaster.co.uk and group booking are available from the RFU by calling 0871 22 22 017, option 6. Prices range from £65 to £35. Junior tickets cost just £15.
Tickets for the international tests at Esher RFC on November 29th and December 3rd will be available on the gate and cost £10 for adults and £5 for juniors. They can also be purchased in advance at www.esherrugby.com