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LONDON - The Six Nations championship was thrown wide open on Monday (NZT) when a new-look England ended France's grand slam hopes with an emphatic 26-18 victory over the holders at Twickenham.
England were unrecognisable from the side thumped 43-13 by Ireland two weeks ago while France were strangely subdued and both teams, along with Ireland, go into next week's final round on six points.
France remain favourites to retain their title with a home game against Scotland but England, who visit Wales, and triple crown winners Ireland, away to Italy, remain very much in the hunt after the tournament yet again threw up a surprise result.
It was a remarkable turnaround for England who suffered their record Six Nations defeat at Croke Park but came back with a host of new faces and a new attitude.
Only a series of English errors kept France in the game through the penalties of David Skrela and Dimitri Yachvili but the visitors never threatened a try.
England were without injured first five-eighths Jonny Wilkinson but it was his two understudies - Toby Flood and Shane Geraghty - who made the difference. The former scored the first try and kicked 11 points in his first start and the latter produced a great break 10 minutes into his international debut for Mike Tindall's clinching second score.
Influential Catt
Mike Catt, the 35-year-old recalled as captain for his first Six Nations start in six years, was also hugely influential and it was his break that set up the match-turning try for Flood.
"The whole emotional side of it is absolutely fantastic," Catt said. "Individually the boys played to their strengths.
"There's still a hell of a lot we need to learn but for a team who have been put together in five days that's awesome.
"We got on the front foot, we had the balls to go out there and play the way we train, that's the way Brian Ashton wants us to play."
The first half was a disjointed affair as England's new-look side attempted to bed down while France seemed cautious.
Three Skrela penalties and one for Yachvili against three for Flood, who also missed two, had France 12-9 ahead at halftime.
The Twickenham fans were certainly happy with their team's ambition, if not their precision, and they were on their feet roaring the first try eight minutes after the restart.
After the forwards had pounded ineffectively at the French line the ball moved to Catt who defied his years with an explosive 10-metre burst and managed to unload in the tackle for Flood, who ran round under the posts and then converted his try.
It was exactly the sort of move Ashton had in mind when he recalled Catt to add the zip and creativity that had been sorely missing earlier in the campaign.
France responded strongly with Serge Betsen at the heart of their attacks and two more Yachvili penalties regained the lead after an hour.
Flood then went off with a dead leg to open the way for Geraghty and the 20-year-old was immediately involved with two ambitious unloads and then a penalty in the 68th minute to restore England's lead.
Geraghty made an even greater impact in the 73rd minute with a searing break to set up Tindall for the decisive score.
- REUTERS
