France in control in Paris

France 21 England 3

France moved to within sight of the RBS 6 Nations title and Grand Slam tonight as they took charge against their World Cup semi-final conquerors England to build up an emphatic 21-3 interval lead.

England made a bright start amid a crackling atmosphere, and they dominated possession for the opening five minutes.

Prop Trevor Woodman made a powerful charge, and there was an early skirmish between England captain Lawrence Dallaglio and his French number eight Imanol Harinordoquy, which resulted in the visitors gaining a penalty.

Barkley lined up a shot at goal from 48metres, but his kick just fell short.

France responded by putting England under serious pressure, and the visiting defence was stretched when flanker Olivier Magne ran menacingly into the 22. Centre Yannick Jauzion and skipper Fabien Pelous took the move on, but England were able to snuff out any danger and the lively opening 10 minutes finished with the teams still locked together 0-0.

France, after a somewhat nervous opening, found their rhythm with fly-half Frederic Michalak beginning to cause problems with his vision.

He was happy to run at the England defence, mixing his game superbly through a combination of exquisite passing and cleverly-placed kicks.

There was also an injury concern for England when second-row forward Danny Grewcock required treatment.

His Bath colleague Steve Borthwick warmed up on the touchline, and it seemed that Grewcock would have little further part to play in proceedings.

England could not get out of their own half, and French control was rewarded when Biarritz scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili kicked a short-range penalty on 20 minutes.

Centre Damien Traille then had a chance to double France’s lead, but he was well off target with a penalty attempt from five metres inside his own half.

Grewcock finally conceded defeat on 22 minutes when he limped off to be replaced by Borthwick in what was a huge blow for England.

Grewcock had barely left the action before France hit England with a sucker-punch try.

The England defence was stretched flat across the pitch as Yachvili aimed a testing kick to the corner. It dropped perfectly just over the England line, and an unmarked Harinordoquy touched down.

Yachvili could not land the difficult conversion, but England were up against it and showing little sign of being able to repeat their outstanding performance against France in the World Cup.

Yachvili kicked his second penalty nine minutes before half time after England’s scrum half Matt Dawson wandered off side and Yachvili compounded England’s misery by slotting another penalty five minutes later.

France were in cruise control, leading 14-0 and England had a major task on their hands to prevent a humiliating defeat.

Barkley got England’s first points with a 30-metre penalty just before the break, but the visitors still had it all to do.

Just when it looked as though things could not get any worse for England, France hit them with another try on the stroke of half-time.

The ball bobbled loose into open play and Yachvili reacted quickest, grabbing the ball and kicking ahead. He had the pace to reclaim possession, diving over for a touchdown that he also converted.

Yachvili finished the opening period with 16 points from a try, conversion and three penalties, and France were effectively out of sight with a 21-3 interval advantage.