France A
England A
Stade de la Rabine, Vannes
Championship Standings
There is no league table here — this is a one-off A international, nicknamed 'Le Petit Crunch,' staged as a Nations Championship warm-up. The context is the senior pecking order: France sit 4th in the world rankings, England 6th, and both A-sides are stacked with internationals on the fringe of Test selection. France A are 'home' in Vannes, and this is a genuine shop-window for both coaching staffs.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | France (senior, WR rank) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 87.46 pts | 4 |
| 6 | England (senior, WR rank) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83.91 pts | 6 |
| 1 | South Africa (No.1 reference) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 93.94 pts | 1 |
France A
W3, L0France's A/development sides have been ruthless — a 43–28 win away to Uruguay, a 26–24 edging of England A in 2025, and recent dominance over the same English opposition. The depth in French rugby is staggering: this XV draws on Champions Cup finalists and Top 14 regulars who would walk into most other Test sides. On home soil in Vannes, with Mickael Guillard captaining a powerful pack, they start as clear favourites.
England A
W2, L2England A have blown hot and cold. The 38–17 dismantling of Australia A showed the ceiling, but a 31–14 home defeat to New Zealand A exposed the gap to the southern-hemisphere elite. They edged Spain 29–25 away and pushed France A to two points in 2025 — so the margins are fine, but the consistency isn't. Borthwick has loaded this squad with uncapped talent (Caluori, Kloska, Janse van Rensburg) alongside George Ford's experience at 10 and captain.
Head-to-Head Record
1 – 0 – 1
France A wins · Draws · England A wins (recent A-international meetings)
France A (1)
These A-sides have only met in the modern era a handful of times, and the contests have been tight. England A won 26–24 in June 2025, France A have answered with a 35–19 win in the most recent meeting. The pattern is a fierce, even rivalry mirroring the senior 'Crunch' — expect another physical, low-margin affair.
Recent Results
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2025 | A International | England A 24–26 France A |
Average score in the last 6 meetings: France A 30 – England A 21 across recent meetings. Both fixtures have been competitive into the final quarter, with France's depth eventually telling.
Extended Form
France A3W, 0L (recent A/development internationals)
Wins: England A (35–19), England A (26–24, 2025), Uruguay (43–28, 2024). France's senior side finished the 2026 Six Nations as champions and sit 4th in the world.
France's production line is the deepest in world rugby — the A side is essentially a second Test team. Champions Cup winners pepper the squad, and the forward pack built around Poirot, Guillard and Gazzotti is genuinely Test-grade. They've won every recent A international.
England A2W, 2L (recent A internationals)
Wins: Spain (29–25), Australia A (38–17). Losses: New Zealand A (14–31), France A (24–26). England's senior side sit 6th in the world after a turbulent 2026 Six Nations.
England A have beaten what's in front of them at home but struggled against elite southern-hemisphere opposition. This is a developmental group — five uncapped men in the matchday 23 — led by George Ford, whose game management is the steadying influence the young side needs in Vannes.
France A XV
Fabien Galthié's coaching group names a powerful France XV with Lyon lock Mickaël Guillard as captain. Several uncapped players feature, but the spine is seriously experienced: Nolann Le Garrec and Antoine Hastoy at half-back, Yoram Moefana and Nicolas Depoortere in midfield, and Théo Attissogbe at fullback. The pack — Poirot, Lamothe, Falatea, Staniforth — carries Top 14 and Champions Cup pedigree.
England A XV
Steve Borthwick names George Ford as captain at fly-half and includes five uncapped players. Noah Caluori and prop George Kloska start, while Springbok-born Benhard Janse van Rensburg — not yet eligible for England Tests but permitted in this uncapped fixture — is among the replacements. A Curry-Hill-Dombrandt back row gives England real ballast, with Marcus Smith at fullback offering a counter-attacking threat.
Key Matchups
The decisive area is the set piece and midfield. France's front row of Poirot and Falatea is Test-grade and should give them an edge at scrum time, while Moefana and Depoortere offer power and footwork England's younger centres will struggle to contain. England's best hope is the breakdown — Tom Curry is the standout name on the pitch — and George Ford's control to keep the game tight and territorial. If England can slow French ball and make it a kicking contest, Marcus Smith's counter-attacking could spark something. But France's depth off the bench, with Top 14 forwards and Baptiste Jauneau's tempo at 9, looks the more potent finishing package.
Match Forecast
France A should win this in Vannes. The compound of home advantage, a Test-grade front row, and the power of Moefana and Depoortere in midfield gives them the edge across most areas. Their A-side production line is the deepest in world rugby, and the bench — Wardi, Jauneau, Brau-Boirie — carries enough Top 14 quality to finish strongly. France have won their recent A internationals and start as deserved favourites.
England A are far from a soft touch, though. George Ford's game management and Tom Curry's breakdown work give them a platform to keep this tight, and the 24–26 loss in 2025 shows how fine these margins are. If England win the territorial battle and Marcus Smith finds space on the counter, a developmental upset is on. But with five uncapped men and a younger pack, sustaining 80 minutes against French depth is the ask — expect France to pull clear in the final quarter.
France A to edge a physical Petit Crunch — but England's youngsters will make them earn every metre.