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"He makes incredible tackles, he gets
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. Antonio Callaway Jersey . 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. Stitched Cleveland Browns Jerseys . Alfredo Simon lowered his ERA to 0.86, and the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 Friday for their 16th win in their last 17 games at the Friendly Confines. Chad Thomas Jersey. Got Jacks? Pulling off a comeback for the ages, feisty Stephen F. Austin became the latest No. 12 seed to pull off an upset, tying the game on Desmond Haymons did-that-just-happen four-point play with 3.VANCOUVER -- The biggest knock against Gershon Koffie with the Vancouver Whitecaps has been his consistency. An imposing presence in midfield, the Ghanaian would be the best player on the pitch one game and virtually invisible the next. After starting the 2014 campaign on the bench, Koffie has finally begun to live up to expectations on a daily basis, and both he and the Whitecaps have one of the teams new acquisitions at least partly to thank. Toronto FC dealt Matias Laba to Vancouver right before the start of the season and the Argentine midfielder has slotted seamlessly into the centre of rookie head coach Carl Robinsons formation. The workhorse not only cleans up danger in front of the Whitecaps defence, he also allows Vancouvers attacking players to push forward -- with Koffie being one of the main beneficiaries thus far. The 22-year-old scored from 40 yards out after pouncing on a goalkeeping error in last weekends 2-2 draw with the Seattle Sounders, and had three other clear-cut chances, including a shot that rattled the crossbar in the games opening minutes. "Gersh has got incredible attributes. Hes got the physical strength. When he makes a tackle and he means it, no ones going to beat him. Hes really that powerful," Whitecaps assistant coach Martyn Pert said Thursday. "The consistency part of the game is still something that hes got to really work hard at, and hes getting there, thats four or five games on the spin now hes been very good. "Hes got to keep it going, keep the foot on the pedal and keep driving." Robinson favoured Nigel Reo-Coker in the centre of midfield at the start of the season, but after the Englishman was injured in an off-field incident the Whitecaps turned to Koffie. "I dont think I was disappointed to be on the bench, but that motivated me," said Koffie, whose goal against Seattle was his first of the season. "I have to embrace it because my fellow mates were doing well and it was a coachs decision." Koffie -- who has already played 93 games in his Major League Soccer career -- said Robinson has asked him to go forward more in his attack-minded system, and credits Laba with allowing him that freedom to roam. "Playing with Matias Laba gives me the license to go forward and get some chances,&quoot; said Koffie. JC Tretter Jersey. "I know hes there to work the defensive part and delay (opponents) before we can get back in (formation)." Labas tenacity has also rubbed off on his midfield counterpart, who tracked back on more than one occasion against Seattle to help out Vancouvers back line. "(Labas) a guy who sets the tone," said Koffie. "If you play next to him, he goes in for tackles (and) you have to do the same. If he goes in chasing the ball, you have to do the same, because you cant let him do the job (alone)." Also just 22, Laba was a casualty of Toronto FCs winter spending spree, with the club unable to retain the designated player it acquired last season. "I didnt expect it, but I think its for the best," Laba said through an interpreter. "Im very happy in Vancouver with a great coach and teammates." Although he often takes care of the less-glamorous tasks on the field, the Whitecaps have come to appreciate his tireless work. "Mati gives us a great dimension to build off of at the back," said Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit. "He lets the guys that are creative express themselves a little bit more, just by giving you a little bit more of a lockdown defensively." Added the selfless Laba: "Ive always played that way -- win balls, win tackles -- and quickly disperse (passes) so my teammates have more time on the ball." Pert has been in awe at how quickly Laba has adapted to his new surroundings. "Matis been incredible since hes come in and the fact he came in two weeks before the start of the season and every game he just never lets you down," said Pert. "Hes absolutely a top, top player. I couldnt speak highly enough of Mati. "He makes incredible tackles, he gets his foot on the ball, he plays it simple." Because of their youth, Laba and Koffie could be patrolling Vancouvers midfield for some time, and the pair are expected to start alongside each other once again when the Whitecaps (4-2-5) visit the Portland Timbers (3-3-7) on Sunday. "(Koffies) a great player and I think we work really well together," said Laba. "I can win balls and that opens space up for him to go forward and attack more. We compliment each other quite well." 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Activity: May 25 '20
