Sebastien Chabal’s try nine minutes from time gave Rugby World Cup 2007 hosts France a 21-15 victory at Twickenham on Saturday in the first of two Tests with England this month.
The replacement made one of his trademark charging runs that left Nick Abendanon and Josh Lewsey unable to stop him, ensuring France came from behind to beat an England side that had run out record winners against Wales a week earlier.
England had led 12-11 at half time after four penalties from fly half Olly Barkley cancelled out two from his opposite number David Skrela, the only try of the first half coming from Fabien Pelous in his record equalling 111th Test for France.
A drop goal by replacement Andy Gomarsall stretched that lead, but France hit back with a penalty from Jean-Baptiste Elissade before the scrum half converted Chabal’s try to give his side victory. The teams meet again in Marseille this coming Saturday.
Scotland victorious in Celtic affair
The only other Test match of the weekend involving teams heading to Rugby World Cup 2007 was at Murrayfield where a hat-trick from centre Andrew Henderson helped Scotland beat an understrength Ireland 31-21.
Henderson’s third try proved the match winner after Ireland had fought back from 24-6 down with tries by Isaac Boss and replacement Andrew Trimble to trail by just three points in a match which saw Scotland captain Jason White return from injury.
Euan Murray and Allister Hogg also scored tries in Scotland’s first victory over Ireland since their 32-10 success at Murrayfield in September 2001, although the sight of Chris Cusiter limping off with an ankle injury will have concerned coach Frank Hadden.
This quartet, though, weren’t the only nations continuing their preparations for Rugby World Cup 2007 with Canada coach Ric Suggitt seeing his players take part in two friendly matches over the weekend.
Two wins for Canada
Eight members of his World Cup squad were at Fletcher’s Fields in Markham, Ontario, helping a Canadian Select team overcome a Portugal XV 34-18 on Saturday, including DTH van der Merwe with three of his side’s five tries.
The tourists did fight back bravely from 34-3 down at half time with tries by David Mateus and Juan Severino, earning praise from Suggitt: “Full credit to Portugal. They got some ball and made the most of their opportunities in the second half.”
Meanwhile at the Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver a crowd of 2,000 turned out to see the remainder of the Canadian squad beat British Columbia 38-3 with tries from Jamie Cudmore, Craig Culpan, Sean-Michael Stephen, James Pritchard, Mike Pyke and captain Morgan Williams.
Canada and Portugal will play a first ever Test match in Ottawa on Saturday, a day which also sees Italy face Japan in St Vincent and Wales host Argentina at the Millennium Stadium. However before then, South Africa and Namibia will meet for the first time in a Test in Cape Town on Wednesday.
