England secure nervy win over French

Anthony Watson scored two tries and Jonny May also crossed as England opened preparations for the World Cup with an edgy 19-14 victory over France at Twickenham.

England secure nervy win over French

England 19 France 14

Anthony Watson scored two tries and Jonny May also crossed as England opened preparations for the World Cup with an edgy 19-14 victory over France at Twickenham.

Uncapped centres Sam Burgess and Henry Slade enjoyed fine evenings and advanced their claims to a place among the final 31 for the global showpiece on home soil.

The 100th meeting between the RBS 6 Nations rivals saw England’s backs thrill the 63,000 crowd while France’s pack bossed the forward exchanges, but a tight and entertaining Test ended with a sixth straight Red Rose victory at Twickenham.

Sam Burgess made his international rugby union debut as England opened their pre-World Cup programme at Twickenham against the French.

Burgess featured at inside centre just 10 months after switching codes from league and was asked to form a midfield partnership with Henry Slade, who was also winning his first cap.

Openside Calum Clark completed the trio of debutants in the starting XV, while number eight Ben Morgan played his first match since breaking his left leg in January.

Burgess' first touch was a big tackle on Dimitri Szarzewski that would have calmed his nerves, but England were soon scrambling after a grubber by Remi Lamerat was hacked into the dead ball area only for an outstretched hand from Jonny May to prevent wing Brice Dulin from touching down.

France fell just short with a succession of forward drives but were rewarded with a penalty that Morgan Parra sent between the uprights.

England had barely touched the ball inside the opening 10 minutes but breached the whitewash with their first meaningful attack, started by a rolling maul that had Morgan as the driving force.

When the ball was released, quick hands from Slade gave Anthony Watson a half-chance and the Bath wing accepted by showing a rapid turn of pace to round a terrible tackle by Dulin and dart over.

Seven minutes later Watson scored his second after Burgess, Farrell and Jonny May combined in the midfield to create space that the 21-year-old turned into a try after a clever jink.

Burgess flattened opposite number Alexandre Dumoulin with a wince-inducing tackle, but France continued their attack with Parra landing two penalties that sandwiched a barnstorming run by number eight Louis Picamoles.

Slade was lucky to escape a yellow card for a tackle on Parra while the scrum-half was in mid-air, but Burgess was sent to the sin bin in the 36th minute with Parra involved once again.

The crafty France playmaker took a quick-tap penalty and Burgess, who had not retreated 10 yards, pulled back his shirt in an act that exposed his lack of union nous.

James Haskell emerged instead of Morgan for a second half that began in chaotic fashion, but by the 46th minute England had scored their third try with wonderful hands from Slade instrumental in keeping the move alive.

Goode, positioned at first receiver, looked up and seeing the space chipped to the left wing where May gathered and strolled in.

Clark was sent to the sin-bin for grabbing Guilhem Guirado around the neck while clearing a ruck and England were let off when substitute prop Uini Atonio dropped the ball with the line at his mercy.

Fate was not with the World Cup hosts as the match entered the final quarter, however, as prop Kieran Brookes departed with a wrist injury just moments before Fulgence Ouedraogo touched down at the end of a line out drive that scattered white shirts.

There were worrying signs for England’s pack in the final quarter as the traditional source of Red Rose strength struggled at the set-piece, although the flurry of replacements hardly helped cohesion.

Twickenham was silent as France launched a late assault knowing a try would seize victory, but James Haskell secured a penalty and the final whistle was blown.

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