Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Castle Park

Some of these hits are so big you can hear them reverberating around the stands.

The impact has even made one player lose their boot...

Image source, Getty Images

Catherine Spencer
Former England captain on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Fantastic defence from Boujard and then Thomas. McKenna ran such a good line, but that scrambled defence stopped her getting England’s second try.

With the try line in sight, England hook the ball to the base of the scrum but the pass to centre Tatyana Heard is over the shoulder and France steal the ball.

Big let off for the defending champions.

France are penalised for turning the scrum and England kick for touch.

The hosts win the ball off the top and Sarah McKenna gets over the line for a second time but Caroline Thomas holds her up.

Catherine Spencer
Former England captain on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

I'd have gone for points, but France opted for the scrum and they have dominated so far - but England put in a mighty effort and turned it over.

England hook the ball on their own five-metre line and Katy Daley-Mclean boots clear as Caroline Boujard knocks on under the high ball inside the half-way line.

French fly-half Camille Imart bursts through the gap before being hauled down close to the line.

France go left then right but England are penalised for playing the ball on the ground.

Five-metre scrum coming.

Image source, Getty Images

Whatever you can do, we can do better.

Romane Menager lifts prop Sarah Bern off the ground in a tackle for the cameras.

There have been some huge collisions flying in this afternoon.

The crowd are on their feet once more as Kelly Smith smashes her opposite winger into touch. Great technique.

Catherine Spencer
Former England captain on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

England are really looking to use the wind that’s in their favour in this half, to pin France down in the corners.

Image source, Getty Images

England retain the scrum and kick downfield but France run it straight back and win the penalty as the white shirts pour in at the side of the ruck.

France have responded well and the dangerous Romane Menager bounces her way through a couple of tackles before Emily Scarratt stops her in tracks.

The visitors knock the ball on and England have the scrum.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Castle Park

You could hear the communal intake of breath as Katy Daley-Mclean put that kick up. But, with the season Jess Breach is having in the Premier 15s, we shouldn’t be at all surprised that the pair pulled that one off.

Image source, Getty Images

Catherine Spencer
Former England captain on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

That was a lovely cross field kick from Daley-Mclean, and Breach did so well to take the ball under pressure and get over the line.

Katy Daley-Mclean kicks deep but the French runners carry it back into English territory.

France roll through the phases but a knock on in the centre of the field hands England possession.

Emily Scarratt smashes the ball into the French 22, and the visitors have to kick into touch.

Catherine Spencer
Former England captain on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

The openside Poppy Leitch held Romane Menager in the scrum so she couldn’t get to where show would have tackled Hunter, and that’s most unfortunate. But she's got a great work ethic and I am sure she'll put that behind her.

France kick for touch and the line-out goes to hand before the big blue pack mauls its way into the England half, but the hosts win the penalty.

Scrum to England.

Image source, Getty Images

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Castle Park

That has not gone down at all well.

The crowd was on their feet, but boos rang out as the referee shook his head.