A SAVAGE 30 man brawl marred France's resounding 36-9 win over England in a Students Rugby World Cup match in Johannesburg yesterday. South African referee Jonathan Kaplan took a full three minutes to slop the fracas as both sides piled in midway through the second half, turning the match into a battleground.

Kaplan had the option of sending any one of about a dozen players off but opted to call the captains over, make them talk to their teams and then get the game going again.

France, who led 26-9 at half time, scored four tries to none, with England's only points coming from three first half penalties by out half Simon Jones.

And shortly after Aucagne landed a 61st minute penalty, the fuse which had been spluttering throughout the second half reached explosion point. The field erupted in a frenzy of mauling and punching players,