Nowell helps England win

By Mark Stevens
4/2/17

Jack Nowell came off the bench to help England kick-off their RBS Six Nations Championship title defence with a 19-16 victory over France at Twickenham.

The Cornishman won his 19th cap, coming on a second half replacement for Bath’s Jonathan Joseph, as England maintained their winning streak under coach Eddie Jones.

It was a 15th victory in a row for England, who were not at their best during a disjoined first half display that saw the two sides locked at 9-9.

Camille Lopez had struck three penalties for the visitors, while Owen Farrell (2) and Elliot Daly had landed kicks of their own for the home side.

France regained their lead in the second half with a fine try from Rabah Slimani, but Jones’ side kept in touch thanks to the reliable boot of Farrell.

Trailing late on, Aussie coach Jones turned to his bench - including Nowell - and it was fellow back replacement, Ben Te’o that came to the rescue, powering over late on for a converted try.

The win saw the current team pass the record of 14 straight victories set by Sir Clive Woodward's team in the run-up to their 2003 World Cup win, and means they are only three wins away from equalling the all-time record set by New Zealand last year.

It also extended France's dismal run in this fixture to six successive defeats on the road, yet the men in blue were transformed from the stodgy outfit of recent memory, and England will be hugely relieved to have found a way through.