France vs England LIVE: Six Nations rugby result, final score and reaction as France seal Grand Slam
France 25-13 England: Follow live as France seal a Grand Slam and a first Six Nations title since 2010 in Paris
Follow live coverage as France beat England 25-13 in the finale of the Six Nations in Paris to win the Grand Slam and lift the championship trophy for the first time in 12 years.
Fabien Galthie’s side made history as they claimed a Grand Slam and a first championship title since 2010. Victory over England achieved both those goals but the pressure was on, as any other result would have seen Ireland snatch the title after they beat Scotland earlier in the day.
Tries from Gael Fickou, Francois Cros and Antoine Dupont secured the title for Les Bleus in front of a raucous crowd at the Stade de France.
Follow all the latest reaction from the Stade de France:
Can England get back in it?
What can England do differently after the interval? I still think the aerial bombardment is a tactic that may come to fruition, but England could perhaps mix things up a bit more.
Interestingly, as England fans on Twitter seem very keen to point out, there were a couple of potential knock-ons in the build-up to both France tries that went unchecked, but the visitors have been comfortably second best.
H/T: France 18-6
France’s error count is really high, but their defence has been excellent, and it has meant that England have been unable to capitalise. Whenever the visitors have got to a loose ball, it has seemed that there have been enough French bodies in close attendance to snuff out the space and, more often than not, win a breakdown turnover.
Intriguingly, England have looked a threat when they have played to width, and Ellis Genge is having another stormer, relishing a role affording him a chance to build up a head of steam from the backfield. But Eddie Jones’ side look a long way short of their hosts, as expected, and the more the lead swells it will get tougher and tougher to rely on advancing with the boot.
H/T: France 18-6 England
Halfway there. It’s not been perfect by any means from France but they have played all of the rugby so far, and that Francois Cros score has made the half-time lead look far more appropriate. England haven’t yet fired a shot, really, and even though France have blown a number of chances, they look to have the capacity to cut their opponents open at will.
H/T: France 18-6 England
Halfway there. It’s not been perfect by any means from France but they have played all of the rugby so far, and that Francois Cros score has made the half-time lead look far more appropriate. England haven’t yet fired a shot, really, and even though France have blown a number of chances, they look to have the capacity to cut their opponents open at will.
TRY! FRANCE 18-6 England (Francois Cros try, 40 minutes)
And finally France go over! It’s a sustained effort from the home side, straining the sinews, stressing the synapses, as England cling on where they can.
Eventually the space again appears down the left. Romain Ntamack is somehow stopped by Ellis Genge, snatching the fly-half’s hand to haul him back and prevent him scoring, but Francois Cros reaches out of a collapsed mass close to the ruck. A perfect end to the half for France and a big step towards the Grand Chelem, made even bigger by Melvyn Jaminet’s conversion.
France 11-6 England, 39 minutes
Or can they? That’s a strange choice from Marcus Smith, lifting a diagonal cross-kick that Melvyn Jaminet gathers and suddenly France are alive with the possibilities.
Gabin Villiere makes great inroads down the left and France arrive in great number in support.
France 11-6 England, 38 minutes
It’s not quite been there for France so far. Another promising movement falls foul of French butter fingers and England can clear.
France 11-6 England, 36 minutes
A slightly nervous energy to affairs all of a sudden as France make another error in possession. Joe Marchant is swiftly on to it.
Centre partner Henry Slade makes a left-ward dart, but he gets himself isolated and Gael Fickou harpoons an exposed ball at the base of a ruck. England then deliberately knock-on as France play intricately in tight spaces.
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