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Blackjack for Jonny

Wilkinson scores all for England in 21-10 win over France

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Posted: Saturday March 20, 1999 12:42 PM

Wilkinson notched three goals in the opening quarter of a tryless first half to give England a 9-0 lead at halftime. David Rogers/Allsport

TWICKENHAM, England (AP) -- Jonny Wilkinson kicked a record 21 points Saturday as England beat defending titlist France 21-10 and took a firm strangle-hold on the Five Nations championship.

The 19-year-old center kicked seven goals from seven attempts to notch a record in Anglo-French encounters as the English avenged five straight defeats to their Gallic rivals.

France, undefeated grand slam winners of the last two Five Nations tournaments, slumped to its second successive defeat this season and handed England the title as the most successful team in Europe this decade.

England now has wins over Scotland, Ireland and France and needs only to beat Wales to collect a grand slam.

In the previous "Le Crunch" clash at Twickenham in 1997, France scored a classic come-from-behind win after fighting back from a 20-6 deficit to win 23-20.

But there was no repeat Saturday as England stayed on track for a grand slam of the last Five Nations championship.

Wilkinson notched three goals in the opening quarter of a tryless first half to give England a 9-0 lead at halftime.

Flyhalf Thomas Castaignede edged France to within a converted-try of the lead with a 25-meter penalty two minutes after the break but the rest of the half was dominated by Wilkinson.

Wilkinson kicked four penalties, including a towering long-range kick in the 68th minute, to give England an unbeatable 21-3 lead with eight minutes to play before France scored a consolation try on fulltime -- the only touch-down of the match.

Veteran center Franck Comba chased a Philippe Carbonneau kick and beat Matt Perry to the ball after it bounced awkwardly for the England fullback and died over the line.

After the match, England captain Lawrence Dallaglio said he was happy with the win despite not being able to cross the French try line.

"People might criticize me for going for goal all the time but when you've got a guy like Jonny Wilkinson in the team you'd be mad not to," Dallaglio said. "He was prolific today."

Wilkinson said he was happy with his 21-point haul.

"Yes, it's great to be kicking them over -- I wouldn't mind if a few of them were conversion and instead of penalties though," he said.

France had a only try-scoring opportunity in the first quarter when halves Carbonneau and Castaignede combined to put the Tri-Colors into the England quarter.

Only a last-ditch try-saving tackle by Perry on runaway Xavier Garbajosi stopped the score as the French winger collected the corner post before touching down.

After a brilliant first quarter, England scrumhalf Kyran Bracken succumbed to a knee injury and was replaced by fellow British Lion Matt Dawson.

But Brcken wasn't the only major casualty of the half, as referee Colin Hawke was also forced to the leave the field with a leg injury.

The New Zealander was replaced by Jim Flemming within minutes of the break.

England had two chances to score later in the half when Jeremy Guscott was tackled into touch in the opposite corner of the ground in the 37th minute.

Flyhalf Mike Catt ruined a perfect scoring chance when he elected to run himself from 10 meters out and wasted a two-man overlap.

Guscott went close to scoring in the 46th minute when he bounced the ball in the in-goal as he lunged over in a tackle.

But England was still in the box seat as the veteran center proved a lucky charm with a record of 17 games for England at Twickenham without loss.

Catt was denied a try in the 55th minute when the referee ruled he dragged the ball from the field of play into the in-goal in a scramble for possession after a Guscott bomb landed and rolled around the tryline.

Only desperate defense allowed the French to keep their line intact after a barrage of English attack on the hour, although the over-zealous defense came up offside which resulted in a penalty and another three points.

Wilkinson kicked his easiest goal from 15 meters and then notched a record 18-points in the 68th minute when he made the most difficult kick of the game look easy as his attempt from 46 meters sailed over.

He notched another three points in the 72nd minute to extend his tally to 21 and extend England's lead to 21-3.

Teams:

• England: Matthew Perry, David Rees, Jeremy Guscott, Jonny Wilkinson Dan Luger, Mike Catt, Kyran Bracken, Jason Leonard, Richard Cockerill, Darren Garforth, Martin Johnson, Tim Rodber, Lawrence Dallaglio (capt), Neil Back, Richard Hill.

• France: Emile Ntamack; Xavier Garbajosa, Pascal Giordani, Franck Comba, Christophe Dominici; Thomas Castaignede, Philippe Carbonneau; Sylvain Marconnet, Raphael Ibanez (capt), Franck Tournaire, Olivier Brouzet, Fabien Pelous, Thomas Lievremont, Richard Castel, Christophe Juillet.

 

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