Feyi-Waboso sent off in dramatic England XV defeat

England XV (19) 24

Tries: Willis, Coles, Carpenter, Dombrandt Cons: Ford 2

France XV (12) 26

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was sent off as Steve Borthwick’s England XV conceded two late tries in a disappointing 26-24 defeat by a France XV at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.

A try from Harlequins captain Alex Dombrandt moments after France’s Cameron Woki was sent off gave England a 24-12 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

However, Paul Mallez scored from close range to set up a frantic final five minutes and the visitors’ pressure paid off when Romain Taofifenua burrowed over to tie the scores with the clock in the red.

Fly-half Antoine Hastoy fired over the conversion to snatch victory for Fabien Galthie’s side with the last kick of an energy-sapping match played in sweltering conditions in London.

Feyi-Waboso, who missed the Six Nations and a possible place in the British and Irish Lions squad after dislocating his shoulder in December, was shown a yellow card in the 34th minute for tackling Hastoy around the neck.

After a straightforward review, the card was upgraded to a 20-minute red because of the high degree of danger and lack of mitigation.

England had fought back after conceding two early tries to lead at half-time thanks to tries from Tom Willis, Alex Coles and Joe Carpenter, but will rue the way they let France back into the game in the closing stages.

Borthwick, who was without the 13 players selected in the Lions squad – including captain Maro Itoje – names his squad to tour Argentina and the United States on Monday.

Feyi-Waboso, whose energy and enthusiasm in training had been praised by Borthwick in the build-up to the match, almost made a dream return to action with a try in the opening minutes.

Denied by three French tacklers, that was as good as it got for the 22-year-old Exeter Chief though.

Hooker Gaetau Barlot stretched over from a driving maul to give France the lead and then lock Hugo Auradou touched down after full-back Theo Attissogbe burst through the middle of England’s defence.

England put France under sustained pressure on their line and got their reward with the hard-working Tom Willis crashing over the line.

Seb Atkinson, one of three uncapped players in the XV, surged towards the tryline and from a resulting ruck Northampton’s Alex Coles powered over to bring the scores level.

George Ford, co-captain with Jamie George, missed a relatively simple penalty kick to extend England’s lead and Carpenter had a second try ruled out because of an unfortunate Henry Slade knock-on.

Meanwhile, France scrum-half Nolann le Garrec had a breakaway try disallowed because of Woki’s illegal clear out on George, which was upgraded from yellow to red in colour following a review.

England XV: Carpenter; Roebuck, Slade, Atkinson, Feyi-Waboso; Ford (co-capt), Spencer; Baxter, George (co-capt), Heyes, Coles, Isiekwe, Hill, Pepper, Willis

Replacements: Dan, Rodd, Davison, Cunningham-South, Kenningham, Dombrandt, Quirke, Beard

Red card: Feyi-Waboso (34)

France XV: Attissogbe; Moustin, Gailleton, Fickou, Duguivalu; Hastoy, Le Garrec; Erdocio, Barlot, Slimani, Auradou, Duguid, Fishcher, Tixeront, Guillard.

Replacements: G Marchand, Mallez, Bamba, Taofifenua, Van Tonder, Woki, Jauneau, Berdeu

Red card: Cameron Woki (54)

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Sco)

Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (Ire) and Sam Grove White (Sco)