England beat France 23-20 at home ending France’s grand slam hopes thanks to Maro Itoje’s late try.
It was an absolutely scintillating game with both sides playing their hearts out for the full 80 minutes.
France opened the scoring within 80 seconds. It was a fantastic try scored by one of the players of the tournament so far, Antoine Dupont.
It came from a fast French counterattack. After England’s poor defensive blunder the French backs managed to get the ball through the hands.
The passing was stopped by Teddy Thomas who chipped the ball over the top of the remaining England defence.
Dupont was the first there to collect it and expertly finish the try. Matthieu Jalibert scored the conversion to make it 0-7 to France.
England’s immediate response
The response was brilliant from England and something that Eddie Jones would have been happy with given their previous results at Wales and Scotland. England went on to control the game and were rewarded in the 10th minute.
England equalised through Anthony Watson who was celebrating his 50th cap.
Owen Farrell and George Ford linked up beautifully with the forwards drifting across to the right-hand side giving England a man over.
That man over was Anthony Watson and managed an easy try placing it down in the right-hand corner. Farrell expertly slotted the conversion home.
In previous games England’ discipline was an issue. Jones will have been pleased with a huge improvement in this area. They were forcing France to give away the penalties and by the 20th minute England were 13-7 up.
France piled on the pressure
France turned the heat back on after going behind. winning and penalty in the 28th minute after smashing through England’s defence and forcing an offside.
After scoring the penalty France carried on their momentum managing a fantastic try from their own lineout in the 32nd minute.
A fabulous textbook move from France gives them the lead with Damian Penaud scoring on the right wing.
The kicking game was very strong with Jalibert slotting the conversion which put France back into the lead.
The second half started with France turning on the style. After going 13-20 up after another expertly finished Jalibert penalty they could have gone on to win the game.
England didn’t let that stop them! The game was set-up to be a cagey game but it was actually very open with both teams attempting to throw some moves together.
The kicking game wasn’t significant which didn’t help France at all. France didn’t reach England’s 22 once in the second half with the ball in hand.
An illegal steal from Paul Willemse at an England lineout gave Farrell a kick at goal. He made no mistake and made the score 16-20. The pressure that England put on France after the penalty made for a hugely tense finish.
A tense finish after Maro Itoje’s late try
In the 76th minute England scored the winner. After a penalty kicked brilliantly into the corner by George Ford led to a lineout. England used the big boys in the forwards, they smashed through the line making metres at every breakdown.
Maro Itoje’s late effort was excellent – with Thomas trying to hold him up he managed to ground the ball.
Farrell scored the conversion making it 23-20 with three minutes left to play. England have ended France’s Grand Slam dreams.
Next week France host Grand Slam hunters Wales. Although France have no chance in winning the Grand Slam they do still have a chance to win the title. A win against Wales will be the perfect step towards that.
England travel to Dublin. They have no chance in winning the title but will have hopes to show everyone that they are still one of the best sides in the world. The win against France was a good way to prove this.
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By Joe Hayhurst
