England vs France rugby LIVE: Result and reaction as England win Women’s Six Nations grand slam decider

England 38-33 France: A world-record crowd of more than 58,000 were at Twickenham to see England seal another Women’s Six Nations grand slam

(Action Images via Reuters)

England beat a spirited France 38-33 to win their fifth straight Women’s Six Nations title with a grand slam in front of a world-record crowd at Twickenham to give coach Simon Middleton a fitting farewell.

With 58,498 fans in attendance, England struggled with nerves at first before pulling away from fellow unbeaten side France to go into the break with a commanding 33-0 lead.

Abby Dow scored England’s first try and although Helena Rowland missed the conversion, she made no mistake when captain Marlie Packer and Alex Matthews powered over. France were also temporarily down to 14 players when Jessy Tremouliere was sent to the sin bin, which also welcomed Rose Bernadou later in the half, helping England to score from a penalty try before Zoe Aldcroft also went over.

But England took their foot off the gas in the second half and France got on the board when Emilie Boulard scored the opening try before Gabrielle Vernier went through the English defence for a second. Both teams then scored from rolling mauls to make it 38-21 to England with 65 minutes on the clock. With five minutes left, France rallied with two more tries from Emeline Gros and Cyrielle Banet, but Tremouliere missed the first conversion as England held on for another grand slam.

Relive England’s historic win over France in the Women’s Six Nations, below

England vs France LIVE: Updates from Women’s Six Nations decider

• England beat France 38-33 at Twickenham in Women’s Six Nations grand slam decider
• A world record crowd for women’s rugby of more than 58,000 people watch the Twickenham triumph
• FULL-TIME! England 38-33 France
• 80’ - TRY! Banet crosses for second of France’s late consolation tries (ENG 38-33 FRA)
• 66’ - TRY! Escudero touches down from the back of a drive (ENG 38-21 FRA)
• 60’ - TRY! Davies dots down from an unstoppable drive (ENG 38-14 FRA)
• 55’ - TRY! Vernier snipes over from the base of a ruck after great dummy (ENG 33-14 FRA)
• 49’ - TRY! France finally score as Boulard barrels over out wide (ENG 33-7 FRA)
• 40’ - TRY! Aldcroft finishes a neat team move for the fifth try (ENG 33-0 FRA)
• 37’ - PENALTY TRY! Bernadou tackles from an offside position on the line (ENG 26-0 FRA)
• 32’ - TRY! Dominant England scrum ends with Matthews touching down (ENG 19-0 FRA)Eng
• 26’ - TRY! Sublime Heard offload allows Packer to power across the line (ENG 12-0 FRA)
• 17’ - TRY! Dow shows incredible pace to blaze over from England’s first attack (ENG 5-0 FRA)

[29 April 2023 12:34 · Jamie Braidwood]

England vs France LIVE: Women’s Six Nations updates

What an atmosphere at Twickenham as the players arrive! It’s a glorious day, fitting of the ocassion.

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

[29 April 2023 12:32 · Jamie Braidwood]

England vs France LIVE: Women’s Six Nations updates

A big talking point in this year’s Women’s Six Nations has been the lack competitiveness across the championship, with England and France making it to the final week on the back of four comfortable victories - as everyone expected.

“I’m not sure it can continue in the guise it is now where it’s always going to come down to the last game - England and France - because that’s not good for anybody,” said England coach Simon Middleton.

“We’ve been in this situation for a long time and we have to make these (other) games more competitive. It’s all dependent on how the unions get behind it. The rate of acceleration and closing the gap will all depend on funding.”

Former England captain Sarah Hunter, who retired from the sport after winning her 141st cap in the opening game against Scotland, expects the gap to close but does not see any radical changing of the guard coming soon.

“We’re really fortunate (to have been professional) over the last four or five years, and it’s going to be a push for the teams to catch us, because obviously we want to keep growing and don’t want teams to,” she said.

“I think over the next couple of years, the other countries will really try and narrow that, so that it doesn’t always become a two-horse race between England and France.”

[29 April 2023 12:23 · Mike Jones]

England won’t alter winning approach for Six Nations decider with France

Simon Middleton insists his resurgent Red Roses will not take their foot off the gas ahead of next weekend’s hotly-anticipated TikTok Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider against France at Twickenham.

England thumped Ireland 48-0 in Cork on Saturday as tries from Sarah Beckett, Tatyana Heard, Ellie Kildunne, Marlie Packer and Morwenna Talling teed up a tantalising showdown with the similarly unbeaten Les Bleus in London next weekend.

England have now swatted aside Scotland, Italy, Wales and Ireland and boss Middleton says they will stick to their tried and tested procedures ahead of next weekend’s title-deciding clash.

[29 April 2023 12:17 · Jamie Braidwood]

England vs France LIVE: Women’s Six Nations updates

Marlie Packer on leading England out at Twickenham: “It is going to be a very special occasion. To lead the squad out for a Six Nations Grand Slam decider is going to be epic.

“Simon will leave a massive legacy. The group has massive respect for him, what he has done for us as a group and for the women’s game.

“When he told me he was leaving, I gave him a hug and said, ‘Right, let’s go and win this Six Nations, let’s send you off properly’.”

Simon Middleton: “The magnitude of the game this weekend is a huge distraction from potentially everything else.

“It has been a real privilege to be part of it, and we just desperately want to make sure we finish it in the right way on Saturday.

“What we want is more occasions like this one. The beauty about one of these occasions is it sends a massive message out about what is achievable, and it puts pressure on others to respond positively.”

[29 April 2023 12:10 · Mike Jones]

England vs France LIVE: Women’s Six Nations updates

Simon Middleton says “the right person will be the best person” to succeed him as England head coach, whether they are male or female.

Middleton steps down after the Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam showdown against France at Twickenham. During his time in charge, England have reached two World Cup finals, won five Six Nations titles and four Grand Slams.

Sarina Wiegman led England’s Lionesses to success at Women’s Euro 2022, and there are many in English rugby who would like to see a female appointment, post-Middleton.

“We have got some very good coaches/directors of rugby-style females in the game,” Middleton said.

“Giselle Mather (Ealing Trailfinders director of rugby) is one, Jo Yapp (Worcester women’s head coach) being one, Susie Appleby (Exeter Chiefs head coach) being another.

“A lot of it is relevant to the team you build around you and how you manage that team of staff. The right person will be the best person.”

Simon Middleton will step down as England Women’s head coach after the Six Nations (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire)

[29 April 2023 12:03 · Mike Jones]

Middleton on England’s team changes

“Everybody’s fit, remarkably,” said England’s head caoch when asked about his selections for today’s game.

“We obviously had a couple of injury concerns coming out of last week, Marlie [Packer] and Botts [Hannah Botterman] but both have responded really well.

“We’ve got those in and we’ve got Poppy [Cleall] back just at the right time really.

“Obviously, we’d have liked to have had her back as soon as we could do, there’s a little bit of rustiness being taken into account, and gametime and minutes, making sure that we get the most out of the loading that we can. It is great to have her back.”

[29 April 2023 11:55 · Mike Jones]

Rowland returns for England

Helena Rowland has replaced Lagi Tuima at outside centre in a decision for today’s crucial Women’s Six Nations fixture. It’s a move head coach Simon Middleton described as a ‘no-brainer’.

“Lagi has had a great tournament , she has done really well,” Middleton said. “But there are very few players in the game who can do what Helena has done.

“There is a bit of risk and reward about it. Helena only 25 minutes under her belt from last week, but she has been great in training. She gives us a different dimension, so that’s why went down that route.”

[29 April 2023 11:48 · Mike Jones]

England vs France LIVE: Women’s Six Nations updates

Starting line-ups

England XV: Hannah Botterman, Lark Davies, Sarah Bern; Zoe Aldcroft, Sarah Beckett; Sadia Kabeya, Marlie Packer (capt.), Alex Matthews; Lucy Packer, Holly Aitchison; Claudia MacDonald, Tatyana Heard, Helena Rowland, Abby Dow; Ellie Kildunne.

Replacements: Connie Powell, Mackenzie Carson, Maud Muir, Poppy Cleall, Morwenna Talling; Natasha Hunt, Amber Reed, Jess Breach.

France XV: Yiliana Brosseau, Agathe Sochat, Rose Bernadou; Manae Feleu, Audrey Forlani (capt.); Axelle Berthoumie, Gaelle Hermet, Charlotte Escudero; Pauline Bourdon, Jessy Tremouliere; Melissande Llorens, Gabrielle Vernier, Marine Menager, Cyrielle Banet; Emilie Boulard.

Replacements: Elisa Riffonneau, Ambre Mwayembe, Assia Khalfaoui, Romane Menager, Emeline Gros; Alexandra Chambon, Carla Arbez, Maelle Filopon.

[29 April 2023 11:40 · Jamie Braidwood]

England vs France LIVE: Women’s Six Nations updates

France team news: Pauline Bourdon has been passed fit to play for France after a dead leg caused the scrum half to be absent for the win over Wales. She partners Jessy Tremouliere, who will hope to sign off in style before retiring at the end of the tournament. Manae Felou and Rose Bernadou are promoted to the starting tight five, which also includes captain Audrey Forlani.

[29 April 2023 11:35 · Jamie Braidwood]

England vs France LIVE: Women’s Six Nations updates

England team news: The Red Roses have been given a significant boost by the news that Marlie Packer and Hannah Botterman are both fit to start after being forced off against Ireland last weekend. Packer captains the side from openside flanker while Botterman retains her place at loosehead prop in a front row also containing Bristol pair Lark Davies and Sarah Bern. Helena Rowland makes her first start since suffering serious injury in the World Cup semi-final, with the versatile back deployed from the start at outside centre for the first time at international level.

Packer starts for England (PA Wire)