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Ah all that hard work and then France have a handling error at the back of the line-out after an overthrow.

England have the scrum and Marlie Packer is in full voice in gearing up her teammates. But the Red Roses lose the ball with France winning the scrum penalty. France take it quickly and they will be keen to get some points ahead of half-time. The kicking game is back and England win the battle once more with Caroline Drouin kicks straight out of play.

England tried to make metres but in the end Zoe Harrison kicks away and Emilie Boulard returns the kick, giving England a line-out.

Amy Cokayne's line-out is clean and again France's defence is called into action. It is just so impressive this defensive set-up, Marlie Packer is shunted backwards. It is a blue wall and they win the penalty as England hold on at the breakdown. A shot of Simon Middleton shows the frustration in the England camp as he lifts his hands in the air.

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France are on the attack and England's defence has another test. Marlie Packer is good isn't she? She gets on Pauline Bourdon but the French do enough to come away with it. bourdon kicks away but Claudia MacDonald collects and calls the mark.

Zoe Harrison kicks away and France have a clean line-out and they are in attack once more. Emily Scarratt recovers a kick from Chloe Jacquet and now the Red Roses have it. This match is end-to-end but Harrison's kick in the end puts too much pressure on Caroline Drouin who knocks on.

Ugo Monye
Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

That was such a well-worked try, with the combination of the forwards and backs. The pack exhausted themselves with a series of short balls before the ball was spun wide for Emily Scarratt to stride in.

France need to remain calm, they may not have thrown an attacking punch yet but they have frustrated England.

Zoe Harrison kicks away but Caroline Drouin comes away with it. France looked to get an attacking spell underway but England turn it over.

A huge statistic as France have had to make 81 tackles to England's 14!

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England knock on but we come back for an advantage and Zoe Harrison once again kicks to the corner. The driving maul again in play after a good line-out but France do enough to stop it and force England to go through the phases.

But again France's defence turn over the ball at the breakdown! They kick away but England again collect and run it. England win a penalty and Harrison once more kicks to the corner. They know what they are after but when will they point to the sticks? Still pointless here.

Katy Daley-Mclean
England's 2014 World Cup-winning captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

All the space was in the wide channels there for England. They have to be wiser and braver and go wide after sucking in the defence with forwards going round the corner.

That was a let-off for France.

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England restart with a scrum which they come away with the ball and they are hammering the French line. They are getting closer here but France are dong so well at the ruck to keep them out and not give away a penalty.

And they have done even better here France as Gaelle Hermet holds up England over the line! Wow. A goal line drop out to follow shortly but there seems to be another France injury with Annaelle Deshaye receiving treatment. Good news for France is that she is staying on.

France kicks away but Emily Scarratt collects and sets England off on another attack.

Romane Ménager is sitting up, thankfully, and we hope she is okay. That looked nasty on the replay. Gaelle Hermet is on for France now and England will restart the match in an attacking position.

A hat tip to Joy Neville for stopping the match so quickly to get medical attention to Ménager.

It is Romane Ménager who was knocked clean out after a tackle, the No 8 will be out of this one. Another blow for France but they have strength in depth as usual captain Gaelle Hermet is warming up to come on.

England win the scrum penalty after France go early and Marlie Packer makes a break. They are edging closer but can they finally puncture the French line? Well not for now, England have the penalty.

There's another France injury here, I can't make out who it is but referee Joy Neville blows the whistle quickly as a player is unconscious.

Ugo Monye
Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

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Pauline Bourdon is a good replacement, but there is no doubt Laure Sansus is a big loss for France. She has been so impactful already in this match.

Her kicking game is so good. it is like she turns every par five into a par three!

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England have an advantage after a knock on from France but the kicking game comes back into play. The Red Roses have the penalty after France are offside in that kicking duel. Zoe Harrison kicks to the corner and they will be targeting the first points of this clash.

The line-out is clean and the ball is through the hands. They are building from deep here though but they will get some relief as France knock on in defence - England scrum to come.

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After a big break in play Laure Sansus is coming off, a huge blow for France and for the match, and she isn't walking off herself. She is sat up but on a cart (if that's what you call them?). Pauline Bourdon is on for France at nine.

Katy Daley-Mclean
England's 2014 World Cup-winning captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

Zoe Harrison has started much better than in England's first match against Fiji, where she was charged down a couple of time. She is looking a lot slicker in her actions.

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Well it isn't just the French who feel the pressure under high ball with Lydia Thompson losing the ball, giving away a penalty on the deck. France kick to the corner and their maul now tries to get the first points of the game.

England turn it over though with a knock on, a fairly even contest so far. A huge blow for France though as Laure Sansus is on the ground in a lot of pain. Hopefully the scrum-half can stay on, she will be a massive loss.

Ugo Monye
Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Really good efficient rugby from England with Alex Matthews punching a hole in the middle and then Zoe Harrison putting up the high ball on France full-back Chloe Jacquet.

Jacquet has dropped two balls so far. Actually she wasn't in the same post code as the second! England have identified that as a weakness already.

The line-out is cleaned and England get their driving maul into the match. They are marching to the line but France do enough to stop the charge to the line.

England running through the phases now but France's defence are holding strong and it pays off with Madoussou Fall wins the penalty at the breakdown. Great French defence there.

Joanna Grisez almost pounces on Laure Sansus' kick but it's out of play. England have a line-out and they drive forward in a maul. Zoe Harrison kicks away and France can't collect the high ball with Claudia MacDonald coming away with it. The Red Roses were edging closer but they knock on and we come back for an earlier advantage for offside.

England kick to the corner...