France vs England: Double delight for visitors as men and women triumph in mid-season internationals | Rugby League News

Ash Handley, Jack Welsby and Tom Johnstone scored two tries each as England beat France 40-8 at the Stade Ernest-Wallon in Toulouse; Debutant Anna Davies scored twice as England Women started the doubleheader with a 42-0 win over the hosts

Two tries each from Ash Handley, Jack Welsby and Tom Johnstone powered England’s men to a 40-8 win over France in Saturday’s mid-season international in Toulouse.

England, overseen by assistant coach Andy Last in the absence of head coach Shaun Wane, suffered an early shock as Fouad Yaha’s try and Arthur Morgue’s conversion and penalty put the hosts into an eight-point lead.

But Handley’s first-half brace, one each from Welsby and Tom Johnstone, saw the visitors turn things around to lead 18-8 at the break. England full-back and Johnstone’s second and scores from Warrington Wolves pair Matty Nicholson and George Williams sealed victory after the break.

Following England Women’s 42-0 win over France in the opening game of the doubleheader, debutant Anna Davies led the visitors with two tries at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.

France Men 8-40 England Men

England extended their winning run against France to 23 games with a comfortable 32-point win in Toulouse.

Without head coach Shaun Wane, who did not travel after undergoing ankle surgery earlier in the week, England saw France take a surprising early lead, only to respond by running in eight tries to remain unbeaten against their rivals in Britain since 1981.

The winning margin would have been greater had Wigan midfielder Harry Smith not missed four of his eight conversion attempts, but England were made to work harder than the score suggests.

France, marking 90 years since their first international rugby match against England, stunned the visitors by taking a third-minute lead when Fouad Yaha followed up Arthur Mourgue’s spot-kick to score a converted try corner.

England struggled to get going and when Mourgue converted a penalty in the 20th minute to put France 8-0 up, the away side failed to create a scoring chance.

But that soon changed as England kicked into high gear to run in four tries in the space of 11 minutes to turn their deficit into an 18-8 half-time lead.

Jack Welsby finished in the corner, Ash Handley rounded off two moves down the right and opposite wing Tom Johnstone also crossed, with Smith landing just one of his first four conversion attempts.

England were forced to defend for the first 20 minutes after the restart before Matty Nicholson ran on to Smith’s smart flick to score, Welsby going over for his second try five minutes later.

Smith converted the latter and landed two more after captain George Williams dived over and Johnstone scored his second try to complete the scoring as the final hooter sounded after France were forced to abandon the goal line .

France Women 0-42 England Women

England Women ran in eight unanswered tries in another dominant performance against France at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.

Stuart Barrow’s side, who hammered France 64-0 when the two sides last met in Warrington last April, went over four times in each half.

Wigan Warriors winger Anna Davies and York Valkyrie’s Georgie Hetherington both scored tries on their debut either side of Amy Hardcastle’s finish, while Zoe Harris also crossed before half-time.

After leading 20-0 at the interval, England added more tries in the second period through Paige Travis, Davies’ second of the match, Eboni Partington and Emily Rudge.

Wigan scrum-half Isabel Rowe, 17, who was among five debutants for the visitors, also kicked five of her eight conversion attempts.

“It was really good,” said man of the match Hardcastle. “We started really well and then we kind of got away from what we had to do, but we kind of got back into the game there.

“It’s all about being patient and taking care of the ball.

“Well done to France, they’ve really improved and I really enjoyed that game.”

What’s next?

the men of England are back in action later this year when Samoa visit for a tour of two tests. Shaun Wane’s side host the side who beat them in the semi-finals of the last Rugby League World Cup at Wigan on Sunday October 27 (kick-off 2.30pm) and Leeds on Saturday November 2 (2.30pm).

The Betfred Super League resumes with the start of Round 16 live on Sky Sports on Friday 5 July. Watch every match of the 2024 Super League season live, including the Magic Weekend, the play-offs and the men’s, women’s and wheelchair grand finals. on Sky Sports or stream contract-free with NOW.