Tuesday 2 May 2023

England v France Double Header Test Matches : 2023

Both the men and women met at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium. About 4,500 were reported as being present for the opening women's game and the men's 8,422. England was expected to win both barring a major upset. I guess the other point was how close they would be. With France hosting the 2025 World Cup they need these games to improve and see where they stand.

Women's: Any hope of a tightish contest was soon dashed as England took control. by half time it was 30-0 and for the French side, it was now a case of damage limitation. The second half another 34 points were added by England. Hopefully, there were lessons learned by the French team. One sided games can be counterproductive. 

Men's: This was basically a carbon copy of the women's game. England men went to a 36-0 lead at the break and finished up winning 64-0, an identical score. The only difference was the men scored eleven tries and the women twelve. 

It was no surprise that England took out both matches. The French men's team was well short of some established players and with depth an issue, a real learning curve. Unless the next two years show a stark improvement, the French teams will struggle, wheelchair the exception. 

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