England Clinch Grand Slam in Thrilling, High-Scoring Clash Against Resilient France

England 43- 42 France

Allianz Stadium Twickenham

In a nail biting encounter that went right down to the wire, England secured their fourth consecutive Grand Slam and seventh successive Six Nations title with a hard-fought 43-42 victory over a tenacious French side.

While England showcased their trademark power and clinical finishing in patches, France mounted a remarkable comeback, exposing England vulnerabilities and ultimately falling just one agonizing point short in a match that will be remembered for its relentless intensity and dramatic shifts in momentum.

England started the match with blistering pace, demonstrating their intent to dominate from the outset.

A beautifully weighted kick-through from Zoe Harrison in just the 4^th minute allowed Abby Dow to collect and burst through the French defence for the opening try, of many in this match.

However, France responded almost immediately. From the restart, a series of forward drives and pick-and-goes culminated in a try for Carla Arbez, with the conversion putting France ahead.

The early exchange set the tone for a thrilling first half. England quickly reasserted their authority, utilizing their formidable driving maul to great effect.

In the 8^th minute, a powerful surge from the pack saw Meg Jones offload to Emma Sing, who crossed the whitewash.

Just four minutes later, another immense driving maul following a lineout propelled Lark Atkin-Davies over the line, though the conversion was again unsuccessful.

England were using their power and weight advantage to gain territory and create scoring opportunities and France did not have an answer for it.

The bonus point try for England arrived in the 18^th minute, and it was Sing again who benefited from England’s dominant maul.

Having drawn in French defenders, the ball was smartly played out to the right, allowing Sing to touch down for her second of the game.

The pressure continued for France when Assia Khalfui received a yellow card in the 22^nd minute.

England capitalized immediately, with Claudia MacDonald powering over the line a minute later after some slick handling across the field, with another crucial pass from Meg Jones.

At this stage, England appeared to be in complete control, showcasing a masterclass in strength and then exploiting the space created out wide.

However, France refused to buckle. Against the run of play, a knock-on by Zoe Harrison in the 29^th minute in her own try zone, allowed Bourdon Sansus to pounce and touch down for France.

Just before halftime, Les Bleus further reduced the deficit with a third try, scored by co-captain Marine Menager in the 38^th minute.

Despite England heading into the break with a 31-21 lead, the momentum had begun to shift in France’ favour.

The second half saw France emerge with renewed belief and hope.

While Zoe Aldcroft, who was deservedly named Player of the Match, extended England’s lead in the 49^th minute after a great break from Abby Dow, France hit back swiftly.

Just two minutes later, Arbez showcased her individual brilliance, beating three England defenders with two sharp hand-offs to score her second try following a scrum advantage.

Handling errors began to creep into England’s game, and uncharacteristic missed tackles at the breakdown allowed France to gain crucial momentum.

The commentary highlighting France never having scored more than 33 points against England in their last 53 meetings underscored the potential for a historic comeback.

Abby Dow’s try in the 58^th minute, following some patient build-up play and a well-executed looping pass from Harrison, seemed to steady the ship for England.

However, France continued to fight and looked to score from each attack.

A brilliant offload off the ground at the breakdown allowed Bourjous to score in the 70^th minute, marking the first time England had conceded a try in that late stage of a Six Nations match.

The drama reached its peak in the 79^th minute when a powerful run from Grisez saw France score their sixth try, which was then converted, bringing them within a single point of England.

Despite a monumental comeback effort, France ultimately fell just short, after a knock-on from the restart, leaving England to celebrate a hard-earned Grand Slam.

This incredible match will give England Coach John Mitchell a lot to think about out and will serve as a stark reminder that while England possess immense power and tactical nous, they are not invincible.

France exposed vulnerabilities in England’s defence and capitalized on uncharacteristic errors.

While England secured the victory and the coveted Grand Slam, this thrilling battle suggests that the gap between the two sides is narrowing, promising even more captivating clashes in the future.