Ice-cool Scarratt gets the job done

By SAM JACKSON

England …………….25pts

Tries: Harrison 17, Davies 45, Cleall 69, Kildunne 73

Penalties: Scarratt 80+2

France ………………..23pts

Tries: Gros 23, Banet 39, 65

Conversions: Drouin 39

  Penalties: Drouin 10, 51

EMILY Scarratt landed a penalty with the last play of the game to secure a heart-stopping win for England over France at Twickenham.

Simon Middleton's side scored 15 points in the final ten minutes to steal victory from Les Bleues, ending their 2020 unbeaten, and cementing their position as the number one team in the world.

France controlled the opening stages of the game, dictating territory and forcing penalties inside England's 22.

Despite dragging her first effort at goal wide, flyhalf Caroline Drouin slotted her second attempt to give the visitors a 3-0 lead on 11 minutes.

The Red Roses struck back five minutes later as Zoe Harrison took advantage of a bouncing pass from Leanne Riley, scooping it up and cantering in from 15 metres.

A surprise score from Emeline Gros put France in the ascendancy, before a length of the field try on the stroke of half-time was finished off by Cyrielle Banet. Drouin's extras gave France a ten-point lead at the break.

Banet went from hero to villain just two minutes into the second half, as a TMO review showed her kicking Vickii Cornborough. The yellow card and resulting penalty provided the platform from which England got back in the game; Lark Davies driven over from a rolling maul.

Drouin claimed her eighth point of the match after 50 minutes with a pinpoint penalty, before the sides shared a period of constant phase play. England threw everything at the French, but their defence stood strong.

Middleton unloaded his entire bench on the hour, but it wasn't enough to shift initial match momentum, as a second Banet try extended the visitors' lead to 13 points.

But England staged a late comeback with ten minutes left on the clock, first Poppy Cleall crossed for her 14th Test try off the back of another rolling maul. Two minutes later Ellie Kildunne powered over, and Scarratt's extras made it a one-point game.

Then the Red Roses battered away at the French line in the dying seconds and forced an 80th minute penalty. Up stepped Scarratt to slot it and confirm a two-point win.

The Red Roses are now on a seven-match winning streak against France and have won 11 of the last 12 meetings.

Head coach Middleton said: “We had to show our character and resilience. The team found a way to win.

Match-winner: Emily Scarratt's late penalty kept England unbeaten in 2020

“The game was nowhere near where we'd have liked it to have been in terms of how we wanted it to pan out. That's international rugby. It's not always how you want it to be.

“What it's about is how you adapt and find ways. This group found a way today which is amazing. We'll learn more from that than winning easy or even staying in front all the way.

“Credit to France, they played a really strong game.

14th try: Poppy Cleall

“The starting group did well for 60 minutes against a very strong opponent but started to fatigue and our replacements did a great job when they came on. We played as a squad and got the job done. It's great to end the year with a win.”

Fly-half Katy Daley-Mclean added: “We have had some battles with those girls but that was one of the best performances from a France side I can remember.

“The intensity with which France started caused us a lot of problems.

“I think our winning edge and mentality is going to be important. As much as it wasn't pretty, it's still a win, which is crucial heading into a World Cup year.”