Yachvili's goal-kicking key to historic French win

FT England 17 France 18

France scrum-half Dmitri Yachvili gave England a lesson in goalkicking as he booted Les Bleus to an RBS 6 Nations victory at Twickenham.

Yachvili landed four second-half penalties as Andy Robinson’s side blew an 11-point lead.

Tries from Olly Barkley and Josh Lewsey had earned England a 17-6 half-time lead but six missed penalties – three each from Charlie Hodgson and Olly Barkley - cost England a possible 18 points and the chance of victory.

Hodgson also missed a drop-goal effort from in front of the posts with three minutes remaining.

Yachvili landed another penalty to haul France back to within two points and then booted his side ahead after Barkley missed a third longe-range penalty.

It left the England kickers with a record of one penalty from seven attempts - a wasted points tally of 18.

England pressed on and Ben Cohen’s chase forced Yachvili to concede the five-metre scrum but Hodgson screwed his drop-goal attempt wide and England had lost to France at Twickenham for the first time since 1997.