Nowell suffers Paris heartache

By Mark Stevens

England’s Rugby World Cup preparations were dealt an untimely blow as Stuart Lancaster’s side were defeated 25-20 by France at the Stade de France in Paris.

Yoann Huget’s impressive try capped a strong performance from Les Bleus, who bounced back from their narrow defeat to England at Twickenham just seven days earlier.

As expected, Lancaster made wholesale changes for this latest encounter with only winger Jonny May the only man to start both fixtures. The Gloucester flyer was named on the left wing with Exeter Chiefs star Jack Nowell handed his latest international cap on the other flank.

A high penalty count - particularly in the first half - caused problems for England as they trailed 9-0 in the early stages. Scott Spedding delivered the first blow for the hosts before fly-half Freddie Michalak added two more successful kicks.

England then gave away a penalty at scrum time and Michalak, once again, cooly slotted the three points to give France a 12-0 lead.

Opposite number George Ford pulled the white shirts back in to the game with a penalty of his own, before Michalak capitalised on a Billy Vunipola high tackle by slotting another three.

Just before half time, though, England enjoyed their first real spell of possession leading to Ford slotting a second penalty to make the score 15-6 at the break.

Lancaster’s side made 70 tackles to France's 28 in the first period – clearly showing the extent of the pressure exerted on the visitors.

However, the pivotal moment of the match came on 45 minutes when Huget cut a sublime inside line off Michalak to wrong-foot the English defence and glide in over the line. Michalak added the extras to give France a 22-6 lead.

England made a raft of changes with Jamie George entering the fray for his first cap along with Danny Care, Dave Attwood, Nick Easter, Billy Twelvetress and Danny Cipriani.

Although Michalak added another penalty on 64 minutes, the bench made an impact for England as they enjoyed their best spell of the game.

Cipriani, who slotted in at full-back, crossed the line first as he latched on to a long Ford pass, managing to hold off Huget, and finish. Ford converted and England sensed a way back into the match.

Next to strike was Jonathan Joseph, with three minutes remaining, as the ball passed through the hands of Ford, Cipriani, Mako Vunipola and Mike Brown for Joseph to streak down the line. Once again, Ford added the extras from the touchline to bring England within a converted try of an improbable victory.

The visitors pressed hard and held possession, gaining yards, for the final few minutes but just ran out of steam and the match ended with France as deserving winners.