France are Six Nations champions after beating feisty England in Paris
by Craig Taylor · KickOffFrance are Six Nations champions as a last-minute penalty gave them a 48–46 win over England in Paris on Saturday evening.
It was a gripping first half as the two sides traded blows initially.
First, Louis Bielle-Biarrey opened the scoring for France, only for Tom Roebuck to hit back for England.
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The irrepressible Bielle-Biarrey, however, gave France a 14–5 lead in the 13th minute before England took control.
They scored three unanswered tries through Cadan Murley, Ollie Chessum, and Alex Coles to open up a 27–17 lead with two minutes remaining in the first half.
France hit back before the hooter when they were awarded a penalty try, while Ellis Genge was carded for collapsing the French maul, as the teams went into the break with England leading 27–24.
France made that extra man count early in the second half when Bielle-Biarrey cruised over for his hat-trick, as France led 31–27 in the 43rd minute.
A further try followed for Theo Attissogbe as France led 38–27.
With France on the attack, England looked shattered, but a brilliant read from Chessum saw the forward intercept at halfway and race away to score an unconverted try, cutting the French lead to 38–32 in the 52nd minute.
England fight back
England hit the front in the 56th minute when Marcus Smith beat a defender before taking it over the line to put the visitors ahead 39–38.
But England had no answer for Bielle-Biarrey, who scored his fourth of the night when he showed his pace to outstrip the defence, collected a kick, and scored.
With France losing a man to the sin bin for the final 10 minutes, England held all the cards.
France defended resolutely, but eventually, England scored through Tommy Freeman. Smith converted as England led again 46–45.
But this pulsating encounter was not done.
With France attacking and England’s defence holding, a high tackle proved decisive.
Up stepped Ramos, who coolly slotted from 45 metres to seal the Six Nations for France.