RUGBY UNION: ENGLAND V FRANCE: Hodgson Failure Leaves England Desperate for Wilkinson Return ; Yachvili Puts Boot in after England Squander Chances

Hewett, Chris, The Independent (London, England)

DIMITRI YACHVILI'S fighting weight may be somewhere in the region of 83 kilograms, which makes him international rugby's equivalent of a seven-stone weakling, but the scrum-half from Biarritz spent much of yesterday afternoon kicking sand in English faces. He should not have been able to kick anything at all, given the strength-sapping conditions at Twickenham and the matchstick legs bestowed upon him by his genes, yet this single- point victory for France - their first championship success in London since 1997 - was entirely down to Yachvili's virtuosity in the left boot department.

England, on the other hand, did not have a boot of any description - at least, not one …

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Publication information: Article title: RUGBY UNION: ENGLAND V FRANCE: Hodgson Failure Leaves England Desperate for Wilkinson Return ; Yachvili Puts Boot in after England Squander Chances. Contributors: Hewett, Chris - Author. Newspaper title: The Independent (London, England). Publication date: February 14, 2005. Page number: 54. © 2009 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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