ENG
No.Name
15Elliot Daly, FB
14Chris Ashton, W
13Henry Slade, C
T
12Manu Tuilagi, C
11Jonny May, W
T
3
10Owen Farrell, FH
T
3
2
9Ben Youngs, SH
1Mako Vunipola, P
2Jamie George, H
3Kyle Sinckler, P
4Courtney Lawes, L
5George Kruis, L
6Mark Wilson, FL
7Tom Curry, FL
8Billy Vunipola, N8
Replacements
16Luke Cowan-Dickie, R
17Ben Moon, R
18Dan Cole, R
19Joe Launchbury, R
20Nathan Hughes, R
21Dan Robson, R
22George Ford, R
23Jack Nowell, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Twickenham
3:00 PM, February 10, 2019
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

82'Stay tuned for reaction to England's thrashing of France from ESPN's Tom Hamilton. Join us again in two week's time as France host Scotland, Ireland travel to Italy and leaders England play Wales in a mouthwatering clash in Cardiff. Bye for now!
82'

ESPN Fantasy Rugby: Player of the week

Unsurprisingly, Elliot Daly's 24 points means he is ESPN Fantasy Rugby's player of the week. This afternoon's hat-trick against France extends his haul to 35 points for the tournament, the most out of any player.

It's also a good week to have Owen Farrell in your team, especially if he is your designated kicker. The England captain racked up 16 points, including kicks, against France.

Click here to check your Fantasy Rugby score!

82'

Some interesting stuff from England head coach Eddie Jones to ITV:

"I was really pleased with our second half. We shut them out and created some good opportunities. I was pleased with our second half more than our first half because we kept our discipline and our focus was good."

82'

England go top

Here are the Six Nations standings after the second round of fixtures.

Wales vs England is set to be a cracker in two week's time.

82'

It wasn't the prettiest second half (it took over an hour to play) but the damage was done by England in a brilliant opening 40 minutes.

A hat-trick from Jonny May, magical kicking from Owen Farrell and some powerful performances from Billy Vunipola and Manu Tuilagi. There are plenty of reasons for optimism for England.

That's also England's biggest win over France since 1911. The visitors were dreadful.

81'+244-8 End of second half
80'The clock is in the red, but Nigel Owens has one more scrum to set.
78'Just a couple more minutes for France to endure, but they get a chance to break through Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack. George Ford gets back to ground Dupont's kick.
76'Hatr-trick hero Jonny May is announced as today's Man of the Match. That'll just be the 23 Fantasy Rugby points for the winger so far this afternoon...
76'The lineout goes wrong for England and results in a scrum on the French 5.
76'Player substituted - Guilhem Guirado , France
76'Substitute on - Pierre Bourgarit , France
75'Actually, they're not done yet. Nowell booms a kick deep into French territory and leads the chase along with Robson. England do well and not only force the turnover but win the penalty. George Ford kicks for touch as England go for their seventh try.
73'Almost 20 minutes now since England last scored... But Twickenham is content.
72'There's more defending for French winger Gael Fickou to do as he scampers back to ground another England kick from hand. England substitute Jack Nowell was in pursuit.
70'A nice moment now for Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson, who enters the field to make his international Test debut for England.
70'Substitute on - Gregory Alldritt , France
70'Player substituted - Felix Lambey , France
70'Substitute on - Jefferson Poirot , France
70'Player substituted - Dany Priso , France
70'Player substituted - Ben Youngs , England
70'Substitute on - Dan Robson , England
67'France have the advantage and are building into England's five-metre line, but a knock-on from Felix Lambey halts their momentum. Cue more French frustration.
65'Player substituted - Billy Vunipola , England
65'Substitute on - Nathan Hughes , England
65'Substitute on - Dany Priso , France
65'Player substituted - Jefferson Poirot , France
64'Play has slowed down a touch, but for France that may not be a bad thing...
62'Despite their 36-point lead, England still look determined to keep France at bay. They do well to out-muscle the huge French pack at a scrum inside their own half and manage to clear.
62'Player substituted - Manu Tuilagi , England
62'Substitute on - George Ford , England
62'Player substituted - Jamie George , England
62'Substitute on - Luke Cowan-Dickie , England
60'France come back with their best spell of the second half, getting the ball into the hands of Bastareaud and Guirado. Courtney Lawes gets a huge hit on Bastareaud to the delight of the Twickenham crowd and the play fizzles out.
59'England have 44 points. There are still 20 minutes to play.
57'Substitute on - Damian Penaud , France
57'Player substituted - Camille Lopez , France
57'Player substituted - Sebastien Vahaamahina , France
57'Substitute on - Paul Willemse , France
57'Player substituted - Demba Bamba , France
57'Substitute on - Dorian Aldegheri , France
57'Substitute on - Dan Cole , England
57'Player substituted - Kyle Sinckler , England
56'44-8 Conversion - Owen Farrell , England
55'
TRY
France are penalised after a high tackle and England take the penalty quickly in midfield and break. Farrell kicks forward to May who tries to gather and touch down behind the line, but is stopped by Thomas Ramos. However, Farrell had followed the play up and was able to touch down for England's sixth try. Owens checked with the TMO, but all was good.
55'42-8 Try - Owen Farrell , England
53'Kyle Sinckler gets a good old telling off from Owens and France are awarded the penalty. That'll be that.
52'Play is stopped following some, shall we say, "disagreements" between the English and French players.
52'Player substituted - Chris Ashton , England
52'Substitute on - Jack Nowell , England
52'Substitute on - Tom Curry , England
52'Player substituted - Nathan Hughes , England
50'Yellow card - Gael Fickou , France
49'
TRY
France are loose in possession following the lineout and Slade intercepts to break clear. He then kicks forward towards Ashton, who is brought down by Fickou as he tried to gather the ball. Ashton didn't have the ball and Owens awards a penalty try, and sends Fickou to the bin for good measure. That's an automatic seven points for England.
49'37-8 Penalty try
48'France work themselves out of their own half and into England territory. They'll have a lineout on England's 22.
47'Player substituted - Tom Curry , England
47'Substitute on - Nathan Hughes , England
47'Player substituted - George Kruis , England
47'Substitute on - Joe Launchbury , England
47'Player substituted - Damian Penaud , France
47'Substitute on - Romain Ntamack , France
47'Substitute on - Antoine Dupont , France
47'Player substituted - Morgan Parra , France
46'France can't get out their own half as England continue to probe. Farrell again kicks behind Penaud looking for May, and the winger is forced to kick the ball out into touch. England try to take the lineout quickly but end up losing possession.
44'Substitute on - Ben Moon , England
44'Player substituted - Mako Vunipola , England
43'England almost pick up where they left off. They force the turnover in French territory and Tuilagi charges towards the corner into space. The centre's pass wide to Ashton is just out of the winger's reach and the play breaks down.
42'French fullback Yoann Huget was taken off during the break...
42'Farrell gets this second half underway. England are cruising. France are under the microscope.
41'The theme of that first half? England kicking in behind France and into space. It's lead to three tries and it has been the accuracy of those kicks, from Daly, Farrell, Slade and Ashton, that has wreaked havoc in the French backline.
41'
And that from Farrell adds the gloss to a scorching first-half performance from England. Four tries, 30 points and a comfortable half-time lead. The bad news for France is that they have another 40 minutes of defending to do.
41'Substitute on - Thomas Ramos , France
41'Player substituted - Yoann Huget , France
41'+130-8 End of first half
41'+130-8 Conversion - Owen Farrell , England
40'
TRY
Another kick through, another English try. Young's kick through the centre of the pitch finds Ashton in acres of space. The winger is hauled down before the try-line, but England work it wide to the left. Henry Slade makes the supporting run and crosses for England's bonus-point try.
40'30-8 Start of second half
40'28-8 Try - Henry Slade , England
37'Parra misses the conversion from the touch-line, but that Penaud try is just what France needed ahead of half-time.
35'
TRY
England looked like they were hungry for more but suddenly France turn them around after collecting a high kick. It's Huget who makes the break, bursting through several English tackles, before he finds Penaud on his outside. Great try.
35'23-8 Try - Damian Penaud , France
32'Impressive. I hope May is is in your Fantasy team.
31'
Farrell finally finds his range from the left wing.
31'23-3 Conversion - Owen Farrell , England
29'
TRY
Hat-trick for Jonny May! Once again England exploit the space down the left wing and behind Penaud. This time it's a wonderful through-kick by Chris Ashton that plays May in, who touches down for his third score.
29'21-3 Try - Jonny May , England
27'England are flying now. It's Mark Wilson who makes the first break, before Farrell takes it on and drives towards the line. France regroup and have forced England back for now, but there's plenty of space out there for England to exploit.
24'Farrell misses the conversion. It was another tough one from the left wing, so England's lead remains at 13.
24'
TRY
England ramped up the pressure from the lineout, finding Tuilagi from the resulting ruck and driving forward. With England on the try-line, Farrell switches the play to May, who beats Penaud and crosses for his second score.
24'16-3 Try - Jonny May , England
22'Daly tests Penaud again with a chipped kick into space but the winger cleans up and France clear to touch.
21'Farrell is looking to hit the space behind Damian Penaud time after time, but the French winger shows a hint of his own danger as he collects and brings the ball out with a good run into midfield.
18'France open it up as Parra finds winger Gael Fickou with a crossfield kick. Fickou kicks down the line and Manu Tuilagi needs to slide the ball out of play. England's lineout goes long, but they get away with it and clear.
17'France come down their left wing looking to build through Mathieu Bastareaud. Parra kicks into space and Chris Ashton gets his first touch of the ball.
15'Great work from the magnificently named Jefferson Poirot, who disrupts England at the breakdown and turns the ball over.
14'Farrell kicks long looking for space, but the ball rolls over the French try-line. Lopez restarts from the 22.
13'Farrell puts it straight through the posts. From the restart, France kick deep into England's left corner. It results in a scrum, which England win before they clear downfield.
13'11-3 Penalty goal - Owen Farrell , England
12'French are penalised as they try to clear from their 22. The ball drops from the high kick and Demba Bamba is cited for blocking the England receiver. Farrell will get another look at goal.
11'
Parra brings it back to five points. Will that settle the French? England have pinned them back into their 22 following the restart.
10'8-3 Penalty goal - Morgan Parra , France
9'French get their first period of possession, and win a penalty of their own after a knock on from Ben Youngs following a high kick. Morgan Parra will kick at goal.
7'
Simple stuff for Farrell, who slots his kick between the posts from 30 yards.
7'8-0 Penalty goal - Owen Farrell , England
5'England win the penalty after Guirado doesn't roll away from the ruck. Farrell tested Yoann Huget with a crossfield kick, knowing he had the advantage, but England will settle for the kick at goal.
4'England come away with the ball following a scrum and suddenly there's acres of space again for May on the left wing. Ominous signs so far for France, who clear into touch.
2'Owen Farrell misses the conversion, pushing his kick wide of the far post from the left wing.
2'
TRY
Another quick try?? Unbelievably start again from England. It came from a big knock-on from France captain Guilhem Guirado and as England turned the ball over suddenly the space was there. Elliot Daly made the initial break before kicking down field for the chasing Jonny May, who touched down.
2'5-0 Try - Jonny May , England
1'France's get us underway Camille Lopez with a kick which is collected by England's Henry Slade. Nigel Owens is today's referee.
1'The teams are out! Here's La Marseillaise...
1'England head coach Eddie Jones to ITV pre-match: "I think we can get better [than lsast week against Ireland]. We've France are an unpredictable team but we've studied them and feel well prepared."
1'

England have already secured one win over the French today, winning 41-26 to earn a bonus-point victory in the Women's Six Nations.

Good omen?

1'ESPN's Tom Hamilton is in attendance at Twickenham. It's a chilly, blustery afternoon here in London.
1'

ESPN Fantasy Rugby: Players to watch

Listen up all you Fantasy Rugby managers, because these are the players you are most likely hoping will score you a ton of points this afternoon.

This match sees two of the game's most popular players come against face-to-face in England captain Owen Farrell and French skipper Guilhem Guirado.

England's Mako Vunipola was last week's top scoring prop, with the majority of his 12 points coming from a ridiculous 27 tackles against Ireland. Jonny May and Elliot Daly both scored from the back-three last week and are likely to be England's dangermen again this afternoon.

France's Louis Picamoles was Week 1's top scoring back-row with 11 points, keep an eye on him to deliver at Twickenham.

1'

Team news

England have made two changes to the team that stormed to victory in Dublin last weekend with Chris Ashton and Courtney Lawes both starting.

Lawes comes in for the injured Maro Itoje while Ashton is preferred to Jack Nowell on the wing.

Ashton, who has scored 20 tries in 43 international appearances, is making his first Six Nations start since 2013 and Eddie Jones has tasked the winger with striking early on against the French this afternoon.

For France, Mathieu Bastareaud is one of six changes to Jacques Brunel's side. Bastareaud starts alongside Geoffrey Doumayrou in midfield while Gael Fickou is on the wing, with Yoann Huget moving to fullback.

Prop Demba Bamba makes his first Six Nations start in the front row. Lock Felix Lambey and flanker Yacouba Camara also come into the pack.

1'

Hello and welcome to ESPN's live commentary of England against France.

It's the final match of the second week of fixtures following away wins for Ireland and Wales yesterday. Those results mean England can go top of the Six Nations table with a win, while France will be looking hit back after collapsing last week against the Welsh in Paris.

"Le Crunch" is at 3:00 p.m. GMT, and we'll bring you all the build-up ahead of the start of the match at Twickenham.

1'0-0 Start of first half

Six Nations Championship 2019 News