England Punctured In Paris

Andy Robinson’s England put in a deflated performance as France, now the hot favourites to win the 2006 RBS 6 Nations Championship next weekend, demolished them 31-6 on Sunday.

…French centre Florian Fitz, who scored a try against England on Sunday, is pictured trying to fend off Ireland’s Tommy Bowe in Paris last month…

Andy Robinson’s England put in a deflated performance as France, now the hot favourites to win the 2006 RBS 6 Nations Championship next weekend, demolished them on Sunday.

RBS 6 NATIONS: Sunday, March 12

FRANCE 31 ENGLAND 6, Stade de France (Att: 80,000)

Scorers: France: Tries: Florian Fritz, Damien Traille, Christophe Dominici; Cons: Dimitri Yachvili 2; Pens: Yachvili 4

England: Pens: Charlie Hodgson, Andy Goode

TIME LINE: 1 minute – France try: Florian Fritz – 5-0; conversion: Dimitri Yachvili – 7-0; 7 mins – France penalty: Dimitri Yachvili – 10-0; 12 mins – France penalty: Dimitri Yachvili – 13-0; 33 mins – France penalty; Dimitri Yachvili – 16-0; 40 mins – England penalty; Charlie Hodgson – 16-3; Half-time – France 16 England 3; 43 mins – England penalty: Andy Goode – 16-6; 67 mins – France try: Damien Traille – 21-6; conversion: missed by Yachvili – 21-6; 73 mins – France penalty: Dimitri Yachvili – 24-6; 79 mins – France try: Christophe Dominici – 29-6; conversion: Dimitri Yachvili – 31-6; Full-time – France 31 England 6

FRANCE: Thomas Castaignhde; Aurelien Rougerie, Florian Fritz, Damien Traille, Christophe Dominici; Fridiric Michalak, Dimitri Yachvili; Sylvain Marconnet, Raphael Ibanez, Pieter De Villiers, Fabien Pelous (capt), Jerome Thion, Yannick Nyanga, Olivier Magne, Thomas Lihvremont.

Replacements used: Olivier Milloud for De Villiers (51 mins), Julien Bonnaire for Magne (58), Dimitri Szarzewski for Ibanez (61), Lionel Nallet for Pelous (65), Ludovic Valbon for Traille (72). Not used: Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Cedric Heymans.

ENGLAND: Josh Lewsey; Mark Cueto, Jamie Noon, Mike Tindall, Ben Cohen; Charlie Hodgson, Matt Dawson; Matt Stevens, Steve Thompson, Julian White, Steve Borthwick, Danny Grewcock, Joe Worsley, Lewis Moody, Martin Corry (capt).

Replacements used: Andy Goode for Hodgson (half-time), Harry Ellis for Dawson, Tom Voyce for Tindall (both 58 mins), Lee Mears for Thompson, Andy Sheridan for Stevens, Lawrence Dallaglio for Worsley (all 61), Simon Shaw for Grewcock (69).

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)