England delivered a powerful statement ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup, dismantling France 40-6 in their final warm-up match. The win marked their 16th consecutive victory over Les Bleues and their most dominant against the rivals in 15 years.
The Red Roses’ pack was in imperious form, providing the platform for all six of their tries in Mont-de-Marsan’s scorching heat. England’s intent was clear from the outset, camping in French territory for much of the opening half. Morwenna Talling got the scoreboard rolling with a try from a driving maul just four minutes in. Amy Cokayne doubled the lead with a near-identical effort from the opposite flank 10 minutes later.
France held firm for a spell but suffered a setback when captain Manaé Feleu was shown a yellow card. While the hosts managed to earn a penalty through Morgane Bourgeois, England struck again before the break as Maud Muir powered over from yet another dominant maul.
The second half began with renewed energy from France, Bourgeois slotting another penalty after a strong drive from Teani Feleu. However, hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed when Megan Jones darted over from a quick tap following a five-metre scrum. France showed flashes of attacking promise but were hampered by handling errors and ill-discipline.
In the closing stages, England’s forward power resurfaced. Lark Atkin-Davies, introduced from the bench, crossed twice in the final five minutes, both from close range after sustained pressure. Her brace capped a performance that underlined England’s physical superiority and depth across the squad.
The final whistle confirmed a 40-6 scoreline that serves as both a confidence boost and a warning to World Cup rivals. For England, the display validated the hard work of their summer training camp and reinforced their status as tournament favourites. For France, it was a sobering reminder of the gap they must close to challenge at the highest level.
England now turn their attention to the World Cup opener against the USA in Sunderland on 22 August, while France will regroup for their clash with Italy in Exeter. The two sides may yet meet again in a high-stakes semi-final, where France will hope to have learned vital lessons from this encounter.
