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As it happenedended

Jonny May hat-trick sends England top of the Six Nations in style

Re-live the action from the Six Nations clash at Twickenham

Jack de Menezes
Twickenham
Sunday 10 February 2019 18:23 GMT
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Six Nations match preview: England v France

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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.

41 mins: ENGLAND KICK OFF AND THE MATCH IS BACK UNDERWAY!

One change for France as Huget is replaced by Thomas Ramos on his international debut. Tal about being thrown into the pressure cooker.

Jack de Menezes10 February 2019 15:58

42 mins: England pick up where they left off as Farrell passes deep to Daly, who sends it on to Slade and he fires a precise kicks deep behind Penaud and into touch on the French 5m line.

Jack de Menezes10 February 2019 16:00

43 mins: Penaud makes a mini-break up the right but his loose offload is collected by George and England attack. They comes right and alovely slick move sees Youngs pop to Farrell, who has May on his inside shoulder. He offloads high to Tuilagi and the centre takes aim at the try line, before unselfishly passing to Ashton out wide. If he collects he's in, but the ball is just out of his grasp and France are able to clear.

Bad news for England is that Mako Vunipola is being forced off the field, with Ben Moon on at loosehead prop.

Jack de Menezes10 February 2019 16:02

47 mins: Another chip to the left corner forces Ramos to kick into touch, though when May takes a quick lineout on the 5m line, Ashton is absolutely smashed by Picamoles. England attack right but the ball is lost forwards, and there's a long stoppage for multiple replacements - mainly because Curry has blood pouring from his forehead. He'll need stitches in that, with Kruis also heading off, and both Joe Launchbury and Nathan Hughes come on.

France also make changes as Penaud leaves with blood and Parra is replaced, with Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack on.

Jack de Menezes10 February 2019 16:09

49 mins: PENALTY TRY FOR ENGLAND!

Jack de Menezes10 February 2019 16:10

50 mins: Gael Fickou is shown a yellow card for tackling Chris Ashton out without the ball, and despite a TMO review the penalty try is awarded!

Jack de Menezes10 February 2019 16:12

50 mins: Well that is controversial. Slade made the interception on the English 22 as he picked off Lopez's pass to Ntamack, and knowing that Fickou had him for pace, he kicked ahead. Ashton was in pursuit, but as he goes to kick the ball on Fickou tackles him and Owens awards an immediate penalty try and sends Fickou to the bin. It looked a bit harsh, but after reviewing it he sticks with his decision.

Jack de Menezes10 February 2019 16:17

53 mins: We have serious handbags! Sinckler slaps Iturria on the head, and it sparks a melee that sees both George and Wilson rush in. The entire French pack followed, and Vahaamahina sends George through the advertising hoardings that incenses the English hooker. Owens reviews it all and penalises Sicnkler for starting it all.

Jack de Menezes10 February 2019 16:18

55 mins: England think they've scored...TMO review...

Jack de Menezes10 February 2019 16:20

55 mins: TRY FOR ENGLAND! It's getting punchy out there, and after Lawes rattles Lambey, Vahaamahina responds on Lawes. Bamba then hits Tuilagi high to concede a penalty and England tap and go. Farrell springs away and chips right, only for May to explode from the left to pass the fly-half and challenge Dupont for the ball. It comes off the French scrum-half, and Owen Farrell pounces to score! His conversion is good and extends the lead. 44-8

Jack de Menezes10 February 2019 16:23

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