France 7-13 England: Red Roses hold off late fightback at the World Cup

Sarah Hunter breathed a huge sigh of relief and Simon Middleton admitted his team had suffered a reality check as England’s World Cup dream nearly turned into a nightmare in Whangarei.

This meeting with France was always going to be the toughest of the pool stages for the Red Roses and so it proved. At one stage in the second half, England were rattled.

Captain Hunter and her players tried and tried again to break down a relentless wall of blue which stood firm and left England frustrated. France’s defence was as physical as it was outstanding.

England made it two wins from two at the Women’s World Cup with a hard fought win

Emily Scarratt scored all 13 of England’s points as they were made to work a lot harder for their victory than they were in their 84-19 dominating win over Fiji last week in New Zealand

It was a momentous occasion for Sarah Hunter (left) who equalled Rocky Clark’s cap record

They made a mammoth 214 tackles. It wasn’t enough to stop England extend their winning run to 27 matches, but it did show Middleton’s side can be fallible. They were not at their best here.

‘I understand where the tag of favourites comes from, but I think too many people are making us out to be more favourites than we are,’ England head coach Middleton said.

‘If that was a knock-out game, we could have been on the plane home. That’s what it’s going to be like.’

Hunter equalled Rocky Clark’s England cap record of 137 and was all smiles in the tunnel before kick-off. By the full-time whistle, the veteran No 8 was just glad the job was done.

Make no mistake, this was a very real scare for England. The way France derailed the Red Roses physically and targeted the breakdown will give hope to other teams, especially hosts New Zealand.

‘When the hooter went at the end there was definitely a sigh of relief,’ Hunter said. ‘The game was very tight and one where we couldn’t afford to get complacent or distracted.’

England were certainly tested and had France not lost star players Laure Sansus and Romane Menager to cruel first-half injuries, the game could have been even tighter. 

Scarratt impressed for England even if France’s defence was as organised as it was physical

France players congratulate Gaelle Hermet whose try offered them hope of a fightback

All of England’s points came from Emily Scarratt who scored a try and kicked a conversion and two penalties. Middleton’s side failed to convert their possession and territory into points.

Part of that was down to their own profligacy, but the impressive nature of France’s rearguard display in the face of losing Sansus and Menager must not be downplayed.

In the second half their never-say-die approach left England in serious trouble. Gaelle Hermet scored a try for France and if their attacking game had clicked, they could have won it.

The celebrations of those wearing white at the final whistle showed this was a game England were relieved to have won.

Middleton will make changes for the final pool game with South Africa ahead of the quarter-finals.

‘We could have made life easier for ourselves, but we’re at a World Cup and we don’t have to be the finished article now,’ Hunter said. ‘What you don’t want is to get to the knock-out stages and feel like you’ve not been tested. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have a tight game like this.’

Alex Matthews pictured with the Player of the Match award after a fine performance

Assia Khalfaoui of France consoles Hermet after their hard-fought defeat to England