Conversions Prosper 3.ENGLAND A: C Catling (Gloucester); L Lloyd (Leicester), N Burrows (London Irish), P Mensah (Harlequins), T Underwood (Newcastle); M Mapletoft, S Benton (both Gloucester); G Rowntree (Leicester), G Chuter (Saracens), D Crompton (Richmond), M Cornwell, R Fidler (both Gloucester), B Clarke, A Vander (both Richmond), T Diprose (Saracens, capt). Duly encouraged, France went close on many occasions but could not break a tight red rose defence.It was England who achieved success with a Diprose try following sustained pressure by the strong home pack, a period in which the injured Adam Vander was replaced by Steve Ojomoh to give England a 12-7 lead at half-time.In an enthralling second half, England were indebted to the excellent kicking of Mapletoft with four penalty goals, while France scored two fine tries through Thierry Cleda and Lafforgue, both converted by Prosper.England A: Tries Benton, Diprose Conversion Mapletoft Penalties Mapletoft 4 France A: Tries Cleda, Dal Maso, Lafforgue. The tackling of the French backs destroyed England’s many attempts to move the ball across their line.England’s steadying influence came from the flanker Ben Clarke and the captain, Tony Diprose, at No 8, together with good lineout ball from Rob Fidler, and it was their efforts that contained a menacing French team.Starting at a cracking pace, England were seven points clear in as many minutes with a scintillating try from Scott Benton, which Mapletoft converted from the touchline, but the visitors were level within three minutes Marc del Maso crashed over and Stephane Prosper converted. The England backs did not handle the challenge particularly well and lacked the flair of their opponents where the centres Luc Lafforgue and Patrick Arletta ran with great purpose and pace. England A 24 France A 21

ENGLAND REMAIN on course for the shadow Grand Slam but were only able to claim the spoils in a close and tense match in the final minutes, thanks to a 40-metre penalty goal from Mark Mapletoft.
This absorbing encounter centred on two well-matched sets of forwards with the respective props, Graham Rowntree and Darren Crompton and Patrice Collazo and Stephane de Bescombes, proving towers of strength and determination. “We have to be open-minded and ready for whatever they throw at us, but my own feeling is that they will look to play a dominant, set- piece game,” he said..

“I think they will revert to the tactics they are happy with, the type of game they play in their own club rugby – and that is not expansive,” Howells said.The Wales captain, Rob Howley, also expressed his doubts about Coste’s comments. Wales concentrate on running from deep and they’re always looking for an opportunity to create a break. I think Wales are desperate to entertain the crowd, and that is something that is good to see.”None of those words cut any ice with Wales’ forwards coach Lynn Howells. “I have put the accent on speed, continuity and the production of good ball from the pack, and the scoring of good tries from the backline. But Italy’s coach, Georges Coste, played down any such plans and said he wanted to copy the approach Wales adopted in Paris.”I would like to produce a similar game plan to the Welsh because I believe it is the only way we will be recognised by the other nations,” Coste said. People weren’t too sure about us in Paris, and we weren’t expected to do much.

But the win out there puts a bit of a burden on our shoulders, and that is something we have to forget about. We simply have to concentrate on playing our own game,” Quinnell said yesterday. “It is important we approach the match the same way we did in Paris. We have to go in with a positive attitude and play some rugby.”
Wales claimed a narrow 23-20 win when they last met Italy, at Llanelli’s Stradey Park last year, and Quinnell admitted: “It was very tough, and I don’t expect anything to be different this time.