Jonny May hat-trick sends England top of the Six Nations in style
Re-live the action from the Six Nations clash at Twickenham
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Your support makes all the difference.Re-live all the action as England routed France 44-8 on Sunday afternoon in a one-sided 'Le Crunch' and go top of the Six Nations table with a maximum 10 points from 10..
Jonny May set the tone with a 30-minute hat-trick of tries that got England flying out of the blocks, with Henry Slade sealing the bonus point before the break. France responded at least with a Damian Penaud try before half-time, but they were kept pointless in the second half in one of their most embarrassing displays seen at Twickenham.
At least their defence improved after the break, though they could not stop the scoring as England were first awarded a penaty try before Owen Farrell crossed to complete the scoring. Follow the live updates below.
What time does it start?
England vs France kicks off at 3pm (GMT) on Sunday February 10.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on ITV from 2.15pm (GMT).
Teams
England: Elliot Daly; Chris Ashton, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Jonny May; Owen Farrell (capt), Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Courtney Lawes, George Kruis; Mark Wilson, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dan Cole, Ben Moon, Joe Launchbury, Nathan Hughes, Dan Robson, George Ford, Jack Nowell
France: Yoann Huget; Damian Penaud, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Mathieu Bastareaud, Gael Fickou; Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra; Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado, Demba Bamba; Felix Lambey, Sebastien Vahaamahina; Yacouba Camara, Arthur Iturria, Louis Picamoles.
Replacements: Pierre Bourgarit, Dany Priso, Dorian Aldegheri, Paul Willemse, Gregory Alldritt, Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Thomas Ramos
Form guide
England: WWLWWW
France: LLLWLL
Head-to-head
France 22 (Pen try) England 16 (May), Six Nations, March 2018
England 19 (Te’o) France 16 (Slimani), Six Nations, February 2017
France 21 England 31 (Care, Cole, Watson), Six Nations, March 2016
Odds
England to win: 1/8
France to win: 11/2
Draw: 33/1
(Odds provided by Betfair)
Prediction
England by seven: France will not be blown away as easily as many have suggested, but it’s hard to see where Brunel’s side will dominate at a stadium where they have not beaten England since 2005. If England can produce a similar performance to that in Dublin last weekend, they will romp to victory. But if they falter, France will be there to pick up the pieces.
9 mins: As predicted, here's the rain! The heavens open as France kick off, and soon after Curry is singled out by Owens for hands in the ruck that gives France their first shot at goal, which Parra will go for.
10 mins: Parra successfully kicks the penalty and the lead is cut to five. 8-3
11 mins: More ill-discipline from France as when Parra puts up a high box-kick to escape the 22, both Bamba and Fickou charge into Daly and prevent him from challenging for the catch. It gives Farrell a tricky shot at goal from 15m in from the right, just short of the 10m line.
13 mins: Different location, same result. Farrell slots the penalty and the eight-point lead is restored. 11-3
14 mins: Eddie Jones predicted on Friday that these conditions may play into the French's hands, so how crucial will England's early lead prove? At the first scrum of the afternoon, the England pack hold up well and Billy Vunipola gets his first chance to run at the blue wall in front of him, much to the crowds' delight.
16 mins: England are not having to exert a lot of energy to make forward progress, but Parra reads Youngs perfectly and tackles his opposite number just as he takes the ball from the ruck, forcing the knock-on.
19 mins: France string together their best phase of play as a good run from Penaud through the middle sucks England narrow, and Lopez spots it to float a cross-field kick to Fickou. The wing chips ahead, but Tuilagi wisely manages to get the ball into touch with French attackers lurking with intent. It hands France an attacking lineout just 10 metres out, only for Guirado to overthrow, Farrell to gather and Youngs to clear.
It's been a bad start for the French captain.
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