PARIS -- With dramatic first and last tries, France stole a 26-24 win over England on Saturday to restore some Six Nations confidence in a team shaken by last years wooden spoon embarrassment.
[b]Ryan Grant Jersey[/b] . Right winger Yoann Huget scored the first try after 30 seconds and, after England rallied from 16-3 down to lead 24-19 with four minutes left, centre Gael Fickou collected a pass from fellow substitute Dimitri Szarzewski after the hooker made a superb run down the left. Fickou cut inside his marker and ran round behind the posts. Maxime Machenaud kicked the extras. "We were the first to shoot and the last to shoot," France coach Philippe Saint-Andre said. "In the second half we really struggled physically and missed a lot of tackles. But the watchword was to never ease up. In terms of confidence and for 2014 its a very important win. We caused the English quite a few problems in the first half. But they attacked us through the middle and made it very hard for us in that zone." With its third win in its last 12 tests, France should avert the wooden spoon with Italy next up at home. "Last year we had a lot of setbacks, but thats also what unites a team," captain Pascal Pape said. "Its been a long time since Ive seen the players smiling like that in the dressing room. So lets savour it tonight and go back to work tomorrow." England, runner-up in the last two Six Nations, travels to Scotland next weekend. "Having got ourselves back in the game, to lose from that position was very disappointing," England coach Stuart Lancaster said. "It was a great performance in lots of ways. Once we get away from the initial disappointment well take a lot of positives from the game." Lancaster gave "credit to the French team for how they created the opportunity from inside their own half" but underlined his teams need to limit mistakes. "Games are never won or lost in one moment," he said. "Everything matters at this level." England had punished weak defending to go within minutes of an improbable victory. No. 8 Billy Vunipola was the heaviest player on the pitch and Englands most dangerous runner, setting up both tries for fullback Mike Brown and outside centre Luther Burrell on debut. "There were five of our pack making their first starts here in France -- the youngest pack in the championship," Lancaster said. "I think weve learnt a lot from this." Huget scored two tries for France in the first half. Both sides are in somewhat of a rebuilding process. Saint-Andre surprisingly chose scrumhalf Jules Plisson alongside flyhalf Jean-Marc Doussain -- both are 22 and had never played together -- while Alexandre Flanquart won only his third cap. Winger Jack Nowell also made his England debut. "We took the challenge of showing these young players the highest level and, believe me, they experienced it," Saint-Andre said. Huget brought Stade de France to its feet in the first minute. Plissons kick ahead deflected into the path of Huget, who scooped it up and ran into the right corner for an unconverted score. England charged straight back and, following a period of pressure, England flyhalf Owen Farrell nailed a difficult kick from wide right to make it 5-3. But Doussain slotted over from close range for 8-3. But it was on the other flank where England struggled, and after a turnover, Doussain kicked ahead. The bounce favoured Huget and his pace took him clear for his fifth international try. Doussain missed the conversion but made amends with a more straightforward penalty kick for 16-3. Moments before the interval, Brown wriggled his way past three defenders and into the left corner. France was up 16-8 at halftime. The French led at halftime last year at Twickenham before losing 23-13, but this time held on. After Farrell made it 16-11 with a penalty, he exquisitely timed a pass for Vunipola to burst through the midfield, and with French players hanging off him he offloaded for Burrell to sprint in for a converted score. Cares dropped goal made it 21-16. Replacement scrumhalf Machenaud slotted a penalty, but Alex Goode responded shortly after to leave France needing some magic. England left winger Jonny May left the field in the second half with a broken nose, but after Fickous late try it was a case of broken English hearts.
[b]Ted Hendricks Jersey[/b] . Moments after his Brooklyn Nets teammates ran out onto the court to congratulate him following their 100-98 overtime win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night, Johnson could only shake his head at scoring only 13 points on 6-of-19 shooting.
[b]Don Hutson Jersey[/b] . -- Miami Dolphins defensive co-ordinator Kevin Coyle defended the management style of coach Joe Philbin in the wake of the teams bullying scandal.Chad Johnson may be heading to the CFL after all. The Montreal Alouettes released a statement in which GM Jim Popp said the team plans to work out the former NFL wide receiver in Florida this week. "We do expect to meet with Chad Johnson and work him out in Vero Beach, FL this week,” Popp said in the statement. “Talks did take place and have escalated over the last week." Johnson tweeted that hell be taking part fully in the mini-camp the Alouettes are holding this week.
[b]Jaire Alexander Jersey[/b]. . Johnson sparked speculation on Twitter last month when he was asked who his next team would be, responding with the BC Lions. Shortly after the exchange the Alouettes added the exciting receiver to their negotiation list. In response to that news, Johnson tweeted he would be in shape should the Als come calling. In 11 seasons in the NFL, 10 with the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson finished with 766 receptions for 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns. ' ' '
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