2012 Autumn Internationals Final - England v France

[DIEHARD]

2012 Autumn Internationals
England v France

[DIEHARD]

Hall to the fore in England romp

Winger Ryan Hall grabbed four tries as England cruised to an impressive, if predictable, victory over France in the final of the autumn international series at the Salford City Stadium.

England ran in eight tries and skipper Kevin Sinfield kicked all eight conversions as they took their points tally to 172 in their three matches to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Great Britain's last World Cup triumph.

The hosts were leading 48-0 until winger Mathias Pala scored a last-minute consolation try for the French to provide a minor irritation for England coach Steve McNamara on his side's last full international before the 2013 World Cup next October.

That is when the real business will start for McNamara's men but they can look back on their autumn programme as a job well done.

McNamara will be especially delighted with the renewed half-back pairing of Sinfield and Rangi Chase, who won his place back at the expense of Richie Myler, while loose forward Sean O'Loughlin, who missed last week's game with a hamstring injury, also marked his return with an impressive showing.

Hall took the individual honours with his scoring heroics which took his tally to 13 tries in 15 appearances and took him past a former Leeds Rhinos winger, Mark Calderwood, into joint second place in England's all-time list.

Full-back Sam Tomkins, who went ahead of previous record-holder Alf Ellaby a week ago, scored two more to take his total to 16 in 15 appearances and extend his lead at the top.

With six part-timers in their line-up, it was always going to be a case of damage limitation for France following their 44-6 defeat in Hull eight days earlier.

The return from injury of Jamal Fakir was meant to bolster the injury-hit French but he lasted only 13 minutes and, although he was able to return, looked well short of match fitness.

The kick-off was delayed because of the televised tennis but England quickly made up the time, Hall opening the scoring after eight minutes with his first try, the 150th of his career, courtesy of Tomkins' floated pass.

Sinfield and Chase were also involved in the move, as they were with England's other two first-half tries.

They combined to get Tomkins dummying his way over on 24 minutes and enabled O'Loughlin to work Hall over for his second thanks to another cut-out pass that exposed the defensive weaknesses in the French threequarter line.

France had their moments in the first half, particularly through the promptings of hard-working half-back William Barthau, but England's defence was superb.

The hosts lost veteran prop Adrian Morley within 90 seconds of the restart, following a clash of heads with team-mate Gareth Ellis, but found an extra gear in the second half.

Ellis' long pass enabled right winger Josh Charnley to go over for his fifth try in just two appearances while Chase's cut-out pass got Hall over for his hat-trick on 46 minutes.

Tomkins then provided another demonstration of his clinical finishing to claim his second try before working Hall over for his fourth in glorious fashion.

Chase began the length-of-the-field move by collecting Thomas Bosc's grubber kick on his own line and Tomkins supported him before supplying the final pass to the Leeds winger.

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[DIEHARD]

Autumn International Series: England 48-4 France

City of Salford Stadium England (18) 48
Tries: Hall 4, Tomkins 2, Charnley, BurrowGoals: Sinfield 8France (0) 4
Tries: Pala

England ended the season with a thumping victory against France to clinch the Autumn International Series.

Man of the match Ryan Hall ran in four tries to add to Sam Tomkins' brace and scores from Josh Charnley and Rob Burrow as England coasted to victory.

Skipper Kevin Sinfield was perfect with the boot, kicking eight conversions at the City of Salford Stadium.

Analysis
Brian Noble
Ex-Great Britain coach and BBC Sport pundit "England did everything that was asked of them. They sped the game up in the second half and looked physically a lot better than the French. To score four tries in a Test match is pretty special for anybody, and it was a nice moment for Ryan Hall. It was probably a reflection of England's team work on the night. Steve McNamara has managed to answer the question of how England want to play, and he will certainly not have a problem picking players going ahead as he has as good a squad as England have had in a long time."

France offered a late consolation through winger Mathias Pala after a grubber from William Bartheau.

England racked up 30 tries in their three games in the tournament, with Hall finishing as top scorer with six tries.

But such comfortable victories will raise questions as to the competitive use of the series, although the introduction to international rugby league for players such as Chris Hill and Kallum Watkins will no doubt be seen as a positive looking ahead to next year's World Cup.

Coach Steve McNamara's options at half-back look particularly strong, as Sinfield and Rangi Chase forged an effective unit, while there is depth in the shape of Richie Myler - dropped in favour of Chase - and Melbourne Storm playmaker Gareth Widdop who was left out of the squad.

Likewise the emergence of Hall and Charnley on the flanks, with Kallum Watkins and centre partner Leroy Cudjoe inside, suggests a healthy base to start from in the three-quarters, as does the return to Super League of Gareth Ellis - who impressed at second-row throughout the tournament.

Perhaps with thoughts of a French response to last week's one-sided affair in Hull, the opening sets were tentative, the highlight being a huge hit from Gareth Ellis on Thomas Bosc.

However, England soon found their rhythm and opened the scoring on 11 minutes with a flowing move.

Series results
Saturday 20 October: France 20-6 Wales

Saturday 27 October: Wales 12-80 England

Saturday 3 November: England 44-6 France

Sunday 11 November: England 48-4 France

Sinfield's touchfinder offered England field position, and from the resulting play Chase and Tomkins combined to free Hall on the left for an easy score, and his 150th career try.

Watkins was a fingertip away from gathering Sinfield's chip to the corner two minutes later, but France responded with a spell of pressure that had the hosts scrambling. They held firm and having weathered the storm extended their lead.

Tomkins dummied inside a string of tackles for his 15th England try after neat work from Sinfield and Chase, and Sean O'Loughlin's booming pass to the left put in Hall for a third try on the half hour.

The home side could have had a fourth had Hock maintained his composure close to the line, while France had Charnley scampering back to cover after Bosc almost got to Barthau's hopeful chip through.

England continued their momentum after the break, as Sinfield and Ellis produced a move that ended with Charnley bursting over the line just four minutes into the second period.

Series statistics
•England scored 172 points in three games during the Autumn International Series
•The combined score of England's two meetings with France was 92-10
•England captain Kevin Sinfield missed just four of his 30 conversion attempts

Hall completed his hat-trick after Chase picked him out with a beautifully executed move, again the metronomic Sinfield fired the kick between the posts, and with France struggling to cope, another searing run by Tomkins took him over the whitewash.

France's night was summed up by Hall's fourth try, as Chase intercepted a loose pass inches from the England line and carried the ball 80 metres before passing to Tomkins, who slipped the ball to the Rhinos wing to score.

Rob Burrow's trademark run saw him scoot in for his second try of the series and England's 30th but France had the last act of the game when Pala touched down Bartheau's grubber for a late consolation.

England: Tomkins; Charnley, Watkins, Cudjoe, Hall; Sinfield, Chase; Mossop, McIlorum, Hill, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, O'Loughlin. Replacements: Burrow, Ablett, Hock, Morley.

France: Soubeyras, Sadaoui, Larroyer, Duport, Pala, Bosc, Barthau, Fakir, K. Bentley, Casty, Elima, Raguin, Baitieri. Replacements: Bemba, Gigot, Bousquet, Griffi.

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