A Six Nations crown will have to wait another year for France, but any talk of an uprising has certainly been dismissed. In a tournament that threatened to end in disaster, France ultimately finished as Ireland’s closest challengers again as Thomas Ramos’ long-range penalty in the final minute clinched victory on a riotous evening in Lyon.
Despite the rivalry, this was unlikely to be a dull championship match, but few expected something contested with so much action and hostility. It was helped by a jumping home crowd, who enjoyed a rare opportunity to see the men in blue of the Six Nations, at one point the uprights shaking with a mighty clap of thunder. It was they who lifted the hosts at the end to deny England victory.
The St. Patrick’s Day celebrations will be big again in Dublin with Andy Farrell’s side kings, but there’s also something to celebrate in Twickenham and in Paris, with both Steve Borthwick and Fabien Galthie relatively pleased with their efforts and confident there is more to come. England may have fallen short in the end, but backed up the derailment of Ireland’s grand slam hopes with another performance of real character and confidence – although familiar shortcomings in the first half will worry the head coach.
For France, any concerns about Galthie’s future or the union’s precarious financial situation can wait for now – the French public is back behind Les Bleus. This led to a series of three games on home soil without a win, something beautiful and beastly. The extraordinary Damian Penaud may not have found one of the three tries he needs to surpass Serge Blanco as France’s all-time men’s record holder, but was fantastic throughout, while full-back Leo Barre, who can also move further forward play, resembles another real find. . France has ridden some rough rhythms in this tournament, but can still mix its own intoxicating beat.
Although they had started the day with a mathematical chance of lifting the trophy, the pair’s championship ambitions were over an hour before kick-off. Ireland was unconvincing, but eventually settled matters against Scotland to seal successive crowns. It left these two to squabble over second place, a rung below where they had hoped to climb pre-Championship but still put in a sufficient performance considering both France and England were on the verge of being knocked off the ladder fall after mid-round disasters.
Ramos’ enthusiasm to get the game going was so great, the French fly half kicked off too early and referee Angus Gardner whistled his pursuers back after a false start. It reflected a French side eager to burst out of the blocks, with the home side starting quicker with two meaty mauls pushing England back.
The desire for urgency emboldened the crowd, with French supporters booing George Ford’s claim to a mark and George Furbank taking a knee. Furbank, however, was more of a concern for England. A calf injury meant his evening was virtually over before it had even begun. Marcus Smith resumed his World Cup role as a full back ten minutes after the start. Ford kept the kicks and soon took the first three points from a scrum penalty, although Ramos soon replied in kind after an unlucky foul.
Nolann Le Garrec’s opening attempt was a bit more extravagant. After stealing England’s lineout ball up front, France looked to be pulling away as the scrum-half swept the ball into midfield. But Gael Fickou had discovered space for him and called on those inside to make a quick move, and the inside backs agreed. Fickou rounded the corner carefully and connected with Barre, who dummied delightfully to see Le Garrec brace on the inside for a coast-to-coast thing of beauty.
While England were keen to slow the game down, France stepped on the accelerator. Penaud flew between a pair of pursuers and pedaled forward, a rabbit in front of Louis Bielle-Biarrey and a greyhound behind. Only the extra acceleration from a retreating Smith could save the situation for England.
Ramos added another six points from the tee and France’s lead began to grow. There was a sense that England were playing right into the hands of the hosts with their ‘go-slow’ strategy, giving the big forwards time to recover and the razor-sharp backs opportunities to get into transition.
Needing something before half-time, the visitors finally found life, taking advantage of the lack of defensive synergy in the new-look French midfield. Henry Slade’s dummy on the line found Ollie Lawrence, who pushed in through an open front door.
England were certainly in familiar territory and trailed at half for the fifth time this Six Nations. They emerged again with verve and vigor, with Tommy Freeman immediately eating up the open pasture on the right before Sam Underhill and Ben Earl plowed more central furrows. Lawrence again provided the finishing touch, but the somewhat stiffer obstacles were still pushed aside with a spirited score from close range.
England was energized; France became nervous. From a crisp line-out ball, the brilliant Earl weaved between two groping French defenders after neat hands on the line, while Smith rode shotgun and pushed off a short distance from home.
The game had been turned on its head, England were now eight in the right direction. France turned to their bank ballast to try to right the ship, with four tight five ahead at a time and the water choppy. It worked almost immediately: Peato Mauvaka and company knocked back England’s eight and created space for Barre on the right. Shortly afterwards the game was back in full swing, with the electric Penaud striking after the loose ball had been knocked half ahead and combining with Fickou for France’s third try.
England had gone deep last week and it felt like a testing task to find deep reserves again. Manu Tuilagi – perhaps making a farewell appearance in white – joined Lawrence in the centers in Borthwick’s own bench powerplay and helped Freeman create a platform to burst in down the right flank, with Ford’s nervy conversion pushing England ahead . But there was still time left for Ramos to put the ball into action and finally settle the winding battle for good.