Rugby, Six Nations: France beat England 25-13 to take the title and slam

Victory and Grand Slam: mission accomplished for France, who in Paris defeated England 25-13 in the match that completed the fifth and final day of Six Nations rugby. The bleus of coach Fabien Galthie close with 5 wins out of 5 and 25 points, thanks to the +3 bonus for those who complete the Grand Slam. Second place at 18 for Ireland, followed by England and Scotland (10), Wales (7) and Italy (4). France, which had dominated the first decade of the Six Nations, since Italy was also admitted in 2000, winning 5 out of 11 editions of the new format, had not triumphed for 12 years: and even the last time in 2010 it had won the Grand Slam. Curiously, never before had France suffered such a fast since its entry into the old Five Nations in 1947, which it won for the first time in 1954. Today’s title is number 26 for France, as well as the 10th Grand Slam.

A HAND

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It is a comfortable place by Melvin Jaminet at 8 ‘on a free kick won by the French scrum to open the score. At the quarter of an hour the first goal also arrives: from a touchout on the 22 line, the French immediately go offshore until Gabin Villiere’s break who enters deep, the British buffer a couple of breakthrough attempts, but to do so I offer space off that Romain Ntamack goes to explore, feeding Gael Fickou with a long pass, very free on the right out, and for the center it is too easy to go to crush. Jaminet misses the difficult transformation. Between 20 ‘and 30’ Marcus Smith slips two places, one in the middle also for Jaminet, who misses another one on 35 ‘. In the last action of the first half, after a miraculous save on Anthony Jelonch, launched on the left side after the tear of Villiere, the English are forced to stop again on the goal line, but just when they seem to have closed the gap, after Ntamack’s central break, from the ruck a hand that crushes exactly on the line appears incredibly: it is that of the flankler Francois Cros. Jaminet transforms and at rest it goes to 18-6.

DECISIVE

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England, however, immediately returned to the game in the 48th minute: from a touchout just outside the 22 the game was immediately opened towards the backs, the center Joe Marchant found a sensational internal running line and splits the French defense in two, which initially succeeds to hold, but the English do not give respite and immediately reopen to the right where, after a series of quick passes, the ball is delivered to the wing Freddie Steward, who reaches the flag. Smith converts for -5. As happened a week ago with Wales, France suffers the aggression of the opponent, who returns in the 22 thanks to a splendid action by Steward, which he receives in his half and kicks long for himself, then also flying to collect in I fly the oval: the action fades shortly after, however, for a nice French defense on the ground. And at 61 ‘comes the goal that can decide the Tournament: possession of quality and in advance, ball on the ground in ruck on the line of 22 collected by Gregory Aldritt, who takes two steps, absorbs a tackle and free offload inside the race towards the goalposts of Antoine Dupont, with Jaminet transforming for 25-13. The last two minutes are played in a triumph of tricolors with the fans singing the Marseillaise: England realizes that they can only be a spectator to the triumph that France in rugby has been waiting for for 12 years. And that it has amply deserved.