England delivered a performance that defied their previous struggles in the Guinness Six Nations, showcasing a level of play that had been missing throughout the tournament. However, their valiant effort ultimately fell short as Thomas Ramos secured a last-gasp penalty, clinching the championship for France in a dramatic conclusion.
The match, held in Paris, saw England’s Tommy Freeman score a brilliant try with just three minutes remaining, propelling his team into the lead. This moment of brilliance, however, was overshadowed by Ramos’s decisive long-range penalty, which sealed a thrilling 48-46 victory for France and ignited their title celebrations.
Steve Borthwick’s squad displayed a remarkable transformation from their earlier performances, which had resulted in three consecutive defeats. They exhibited a newfound attacking prowess, running in an impressive seven tries. The outstanding Ollie Chessum was a standout performer, crossing the try line twice and leading the charge for England’s resurgent pack. For the first time in the tournament, England’s forwards asserted their dominance, putting significant pressure on the French pack. Chessum, alongside the relentless Ben Earl and props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes, inspired this dominant display.
Despite their improved performance, England was hampered by ill-discipline, receiving their eighth yellow card of the tournament. Ellis Genge was the recipient of this caution, and France capitalized on the numerical advantage, particularly through the exquisite finishing of Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who scored an astonishing four tries.
This all-action performance was precisely what Borthwick needed to solidify his position as head coach, especially just a week after England suffered a historic first-ever defeat to Italy. The Rugby Football Union was undoubtedly looking for signs of progress and a renewed sense of direction.
The captivating spectacle was unfortunately marred by a controversial decision regarding team kits. France opted to wear a light blue anniversary kit to commemorate 120 years of ‘Le Crunch,’ which created a noticeable color clash with England’s traditional white jerseys. This visual discord detracted slightly from the otherwise electric atmosphere.
The stage was set for a dramatic ‘Super Saturday’ with Ireland’s pulsating victory over Scotland earlier in the day. This result meant that France needed a win in Paris to retain their championship title, a task that proved far from straightforward against a revitalized English side.
The early stages of the match suggested a difficult outing for England. The French threat was evident when Bielle-Biarrey scored his first try just six minutes into the game, capitalizing on a kick from Ramos. However, unlike in previous rounds where they had struggled to respond to setbacks, England demonstrated resilience and fought back with determination.
England’s attack began to flourish, with tries coming from both flanks. Tom Roebuck scored a well-deserved try, initiated by Elliot Daly, showcasing the ambition and attacking intent that had been absent for much of the tournament.
The first half evolved into a back-and-forth affair, with both teams exchanging tries at a rapid pace. Bielle-Biarrey continued to be France’s primary attacking threat, demonstrating an uncanny ability to exploit any defensive hesitation. He secured his second try from a well-placed kick by Matthieu Jalibert. England, however, responded immediately, with Cadan Murley touching down after a clever grubber kick from Ben Spencer that found its way through the hands of Theo Attissogbe. This try elicited a rare display of emotion from head coach Steve Borthwick, who was seen slamming his hand on his desk in celebration.
A significant shift in momentum occurred as England’s pack began to assert their physical dominance. The maul, a potent weapon, proved effective, with Ollie Chessum diving over for his second try following a powerful drive. The forwards continued to combine effectively, with Chessum setting up Alex Coles for another try, aided by a brilliant exploitation of space down the blindside involving Spencer.
Despite the numerous positives from England’s performance, a costly moment arrived in first-half added time. Referee Nika Amashukeli awarded a penalty try and sin-binned Ellis Genge for collapsing a maul, reducing England’s 10-point lead. This advantage then completely evaporated after the interval when Bielle-Biarrey completed his hat-trick, and Attissogbe added another try on the opposite wing, following a long pass from Antoine Dupont.
England showed remarkable spirit, with Chessum intercepting a pass and galloping home for a try. Further pressure led to Marcus Smith crossing the whitewash for his 50th cap. However, France’s resilience shone through once more. Bielle-Biarrey’s breakaway try stunned England, and despite prop Demba Bamba receiving a yellow card for France, England pounced for their sixth try through Freeman. Yet, in the cruelest of twists, Ramos’s final penalty secured the championship for France, leaving England to rue what might have been.
