Rugby / Bunker Nuggets

England v France

England have lost both their away matches this season and are fourth in the table after their home win against Italy whilst the French have won both their home matches and are third  

Fixture History 

·         England are looking to make it three successive wins over France in the 6 Nations having won 24-13 in Paris last season

·         At home against France in the 6 Nations England have won three out of four with the one defeat coming in 2005 when they lost by a single point, 18-17 to the boot of Dmitri Yachvili who slotted six penalty goals 

·         The French have failed to score a try on their last two visitors to Twickenham, six penalty goals in each of their last two visits

·         The last try the French scored at Twickenham was back in 2003 when Damien Traille went over in the 80^th minute as the French out scored England three tries to one but the boot of Jonny Wilkinson saw England home with 20 points in a 25-17 victory

·         England’s highest score and biggest win was when they were 48-19 winners back in 2001

·         England just lead the series in the 6 Nations between the two with five wins to four

Current Season

·         Although winning just once England have the second best defensive record after Ireland with 43 points

·         England are the second highest try scorers with eight after Ireland who lead the way with nine whilst the French have scored just five despite playing two games at home

·         England have the joint meanest defence with just three tries conceded despite playing away at Wales and Ireland who are 1 and 2 in the table

·         England have yet to concede in the first half of a match

·         All eight of England’s tries have been scored by their back whilst for the French the forwards have outscored the backs three tries to two

·         Lionel Beauxis and Andy Goode are the leading point’s scorers for each country this season with 28 and 21 points respectively but neither starts on Sunday  

·         Delon Armitage and Harry Ellis are the leading try scorers for either side with two so far in the competition

·         Toby Flood kicked two of his three kicks in the Championship so far for a 66% success rate, Morgan Parra for France did not have the best of nights against Wales and is now down at 57.14 missing three of his six kicks against the Welsh

·         Parra is the second youngest player in the 6 Nations this season aged 20 years and 84 days, England’s youngest player is Danny Care

·         England have the oldest player in this season’s competition prop Julian White aged 35 years and 290 days 

England have had six players sent to the sin bin whilst the French have not had any and I thought it was the French who were known for their ill discipline!