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Tom Hamilton, Senior Writer
LYON, France — The Six Nations trophy was already in Irish hands by the time France fly-half Thomas Ramos slotted the last minute match-winning penalty, but try telling those in Lyon this was just a battle for second place. France and England played their parts in a brilliant Test match, one Les Bleus edged 33-31.
It was a thriller — a Test which stretched play the length and width of the pitch, where grass was stamped down to its roots under the weight of two ferocious forward packs as both teams traded punch after punch leading to the final knockout blow from Ramos’ assured boot.
England scored four tries and will lament a missed opportunity to win their first Test against Les Bleus on French soil since 2016, while for France this win was validation for Fabien Galthie and his new-look coaching staff, in a tournament where they have struggled, but eventually did enough to claw themselves to second.
France and England both came into the match looking for a final flourish despite knowing any slim hopes of an unlikely Championship victory were already finished by the Irish win earlier in the day. But still, this was high octane: George Ford was outstanding for England at fly-half, Ben Earl and Ollie Lawrence brilliant too while for France, their back-row was immense. Damien Penaud was dangerous as ever on the wing and Léo Barré assured at the back.
It came down to that last-gasp kick. The teams traded tries, did their best to pacify charges and ultimately, it came down to Angus Gardner ruling Ben Earl committed a no-arms tackle — a controversial call. Ramos lined it up from 50 metres out, and it was job done.
France came out of the blocks throwing all their 1000 kilograms of beef in the pack at England’s defence. England did their best to slow the pace of the match down, taking smart marks in their 22 and taking their time around the set piece but they were their own worst enemy. Smith — a seventh-minute replacement for George Furbank after a calf injury — gave away a foolish penalty in the 16th minute. Then two minutes later Francois Cros stole a lineout, Gaël Fickou broke away and they managed to evade four England defenders to put Nolann Le Garrec over. From there France built a 16-3 lead and it looked like England had unpicked all the good work from last week.
But England didn’t crumble in Le Crunch. Last year they failed to contain the French onslaught and slipped to a record 53-10 defeat at Twickenham, but this is a different group. That’s not what this lot is about. Borthwick talks about coping and adjusting after thunderbolt moments and England managed to weather the waves and waves of blue to keep a foothold in the match. Their tally of 25 first-half missed tackles did little to help their cause, but the Lawrence try on the stroke of half-time gave them something to work with.
Their start to the second half was the greatest passage of attacking play we’ve seen from an England team since, well, last week. But it was an intensity we’ve seldom seen from this group in attack as they hit France with the one-two punch of Lawrence’s try in the 42nd minute and Smith after 46. Suddenly, England had scored 21 unanswered points in six minutes. France looked stunned but as they managed to quash any further England uprising, they regained control. First Barré went over after 55 minutes, follwing a patient attack and then four minutes later, an overthrown England lineout was hacked clear on the halfway line, Elliot Daly slipped, Penaud pounced and stuck Fickou over.
England teams of the past would’ve wilted, but not this bunch. Manu Tuilagi got his chance from the bench in what could be his final match in an England shirt but it was one of the new guard who came close to being the match-winner. Tommy Freeman crashed over in the 75th minute and George Ford continued an immaculate performance with a wondrous touchline conversion. But then came the France hammer blow, the lightning bolt England couldn’t dodge as Ramos nudged over a penalty with a minute left to give the hosts their two-point win.
It was all played out against a wondrous atmosphere in Lyon against a backdrop of tricolour-draped stands. It’ll be a Test match where folk will have revelled in the drama, intensity and precision of handling but also debate long into the night whether their team should have won or not. Try telling this lot this match was merely a battle for second place.
“Devastated. It’s reminiscent of the last time in France [in the World Cup] against South Africa,” captain Jamie George said.
“I don’t really know how to sum that up. France showed their class, but we found a way back into the game. I am really proud of the boys, it was a great effort. This is a team on an upward curve.”
So with that, France finished second, and England third in this year’s Six Nations. For the hosts, it was a frustrating campaign. They headed into the opener against Ireland in Marseille with the Test billed as the Grand Slam decider. But they were second best, looking like they were still suffering from a Rugby World Cup hangover. They managed to edge past Scotland next time out despite a disputed non-try at the end and then were within a post’s width of losing to Italy. They swatted aside Wales in Round 4 and then secured the win which will matter the most last up.
“Our attack was fantastic especially our maul,” France defence coach Shaun Edwards said.
“I was very disappointed with our defence, I thought England’s attack was all over us, particularly in our midfield. We have a lot of work to do, we shouldn’t have to score 30 points to win a game, even if it’s exciting. On the field we were just missing tackles, not being aggressive enough.”
For England, mark this down as a championship where they took a collective step forward. They finished with three wins from five — the Italy and Wales victories followed by that disappointment at Murrayfield and then their finest performance in five years against Ireland last time out. This one will sting, but what they have to do is find a way to get a better foothold in the first half. For the fifth match running — the first time in the championship they lost the first half in every match in 1974 — they went into the break behind. They cannot challenge for the title having an uphill battle every match.
Tonight Lyon will be bouncing to the sound of French cheer. England’s wait for a win on French soil goes on, but they have won the faith of their fans back. It was a brilliant match to finish the championship on, but one England will put down as a missed opportunity.