Anthony Watson’s two electric tries set up England for a 19-14 win over France in a Rugby World Cup warm-up featuring a mixed debut for rugby league convert Sam Burgess on Saturday.
Right winger Watson showed nifty footwork and superb finishing to cross in the 11th and 18th minutes, putting England 12-0 ahead at Twickenham.
France replied with three penalties from Morgan Parra to make it 12-9 at half-time, but Jonny May’s 46th-minute try stretched England’s lead. Fulgence Ouedraogo’s try from a powerful maul was all France could muster during a dominant final 30 minutes from their forwards.
Photo: AFP
Ten months after his high-profile switch of rugby codes, Burgess was fast-tracked into the England team and given a chance to make a last-ditch claim for a World Cup place. A first-half yellow card for impeding a quick tap blotted an otherwise solid 80-minute display at inside center that included two crowd-pleasing hits early on.
“It was Sam’s first start today and he did well,” England coach Stuart Lancaster said. “I was really pleased with the attacking intent. Lots of positives.”
Both nations fielded experimental lineups in their first warm-up ahead of the World Cup. That explained the number of errors and England’s set-piece problems, especially in the second half when substitutions wrecked the flow of the game.
England ended up limping to a fifth straight victory over France at Twickenham, with their pack pushed around in the second half. Debutant flanker Calum Clark was also yellow-carded for illegally removing an opponent at the breakdown, and Ouedraogo scored in that 10-minute period.
“It was tough physically, but we were naive and we conceded tries too easily,” France’s Louis Picamoles said.
The performance of England’s back division is likely to give Lancaster most to ponder.
It could be the only chance that Burgess has to impress selectors before the deadline for squad announcements on Aug. 31.
He showed flashes of quality and physicality that made him a star in rugby league, driving France hooker Dimitri Szarzewski back in his first tackle of the match and then smashing into Alexandre Dumoulin in the 24th minute to force the center to drop the ball.
Burgess also played his part in a sweeping backs move that led to Watson’s second try, but is likely to rue the yellow card that came when he blocked Parra at a quick tap penalty just before half-time.
Other fringe England players to make a statement were Henry Slade — Burgess’ midfield partner — as well as May and fullback Alex Goode. For France, Picamoles was a standout with his quick hands and buccaneering runs.
Watson was the only first-choice regular in England’s lineup and his finishing was world-class.
He sidestepped Brice Dulin from a standing start, handed off his opposite wing and burst over for a first try in the right corner. Then he collected May’s pass to sprint 25m into the same corner.
The teams meet again on Saturday in Paris.
S AFRICA VS ARGENTINA
Reuters, BUENOS AIRES
South Africa hit back after their upset home defeat by Argentina a week ago by beating the Pumas 26-12 in a Rugby World Cup warm-up on Saturday, their first Test win of the year.
Wings Bryan Habana and Lwazi Mvovo scored two first-half tries in three minutes for the Springboks, who led 20-9 at the break, while flyhalf Pat Lambie contributed 16 points with his boot.
The Pumas failed to breach the visiting defense as their points came from four penalties by flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez.
The Springboks, who made eight changes to their side, showed the grit and urgency lacking last week and put Argentina under almost constant pressure as they ended a run of three defeats.
Lambie had a fine playmaking game, trying a chip over the defense, a grubber-kick and a cross-field kick to set up attacks in the opening 30 minutes and he also booted a drop-goal early in the second period.
South Africa had a scare at the start when Juan Imhoff, who scored the first ever hat-trick against the Springboks in Durban a week earlier, broke through on the wing and only a last-ditch tackle from lock Eben Etzebeth prevented a try.
That determined tackle set the tone for the visitors, who went on to starve Argentina of possession and, when the hosts attacked, gave them little chance to get close to their line.
Habana went over in the corner after 27 minutes when he took a pass from scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, who five minutes earlier was denied a try by a last-gasp tackle.
Mvovo then broke inside from his wing, skipped past two tackles and was brought down, but stretched out to touch down just over the line.
Daniel Hourcade’s Argentina took a step backward in terms of their precision and discipline, giving away several penalties for not releasing the ball when down.
South Africa open their World Cup campaign with a Pool B match against Japan on Sept. 19, while Argentina face holders New Zealand in Pool C the next day.
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