Veteran fly-half Frederic Michalak gave his hopes of a World Cup starting spot a major lift with a record-breaking performance as France downed England 25-20 in Saturday’s warm-up match.
Michalak kicked 17 points as he became France’s all-time leading scorer, boosting his hopes of a third World Cup appearance when coach Philippe Saint-Andre names his final squad on Sunday.
France were worthy winners although they had to endure a nervy last 10 minutes when England, trailing 25-6 at the time, scored two quickfire tries.
“It’s a great satisfaction to have won. It’s important, even if it was just a friendly match, for the confidence before the announcement of the 31 players for the World Cup,” said Michalak who now has 394 international points.
“It was exhausting physically and mentally, but I felt good.”
England had won the first of these warm-ups last weekend at Twickenham with a narrow 19-14 triumph.
– ‘shocking discipline’ –
France made 12 changes from that match while England went for 14 changes in their starting XV, making them almost at full-strength.
“We lost our discipline really. In the first half we were shocking with our discipline, myself and the other boys just gave too many penalties away and it left us with a lot to do in the second half,” said England captain Chris Robshaw.
“I thought we came out second half, played well and you saw it was all or nothing.”
Stuart Lancaster’s England side were under the cosh from the start on Saturday.
France’s South African born full-back Scott Spedding kicked a monster penalty from the halfway line for a 3-0 lead after Luther Burrell had been penalised for failing to roll away.
Michalak then took over the kicking duties with two successful penalties — the second awarded when Dan Cole was caught offside — earning him the honour of becoming France’s all-time leading points scorer.
The 32-year-old passed the previous best of Christophe Lamaison’s 380 points set between 1996 and 2001.
Michalak, playing in his 72nd Test, has played in three Six Nations Grand Slam winning sides in 2002, 2004 and 2010, and featured in the 2003 and 2007 World Cups.
He was on target again for 12-0 before George Ford got England’s first points on the board
The two fly-halves popped over another penalty apiece as France went into the break 15-6 ahead.
France deservedly grabbed the game’s first try early in the second half with Michalak playing a crucial role.
He drew one defender and delayed his pass long enough for winger Yoann Huget to dart and dance through for the score, his seventh international try.
Michalak kicked the extras for 22-6.
As the second-half wore on, the playing surface deteriorated with large chunks of the Stade de France pitch being ploughed up.
Michalak added another penalty after England were punished at the breakdown for 25-6 before he was replaced, leaving the field to a standing ovation.
His impressive half-back partner Sebastien Tillous-Borde also came off and England took advantage of the disruption to score their first try 10 minutes from time when replacement Danny Cipriani check-stepped and burst through over the line.
Ford added the conversion for 25-13.
France then took their foot off the gas as the clock ticked down and centre Jonathan Joseph made them pay with a try in the corner which Ford converted for 25-20.
The World Cup gets underway in England on September 18.
