MY ACCOUNT
Antoine Dupont guided France to a long-awaited Six Nations title as they saw off England to clinch the Grand Slam with a 25-13 win at the Stade de France.
Les Bleus captain Dupont led the way in Saint-Denis with a superb second-half try to help Fabien Galthie’s side end a 12-year wait for their 18th championship and sixth of the Six Nations era.
Victory over England put France ahead of Ireland in the final standings after consecutive runner-up finishes in 2020 and 2021 saw them miss out on the top prize.
A year out from a home Rugby World Cup, France look the team to beat in Europe, while questions will be asked of England ahead of those finals.
It took France just over eight minutes to break the deadlock, with Melvyn Jaminet slotting over an early penalty, before Gael Fickou scored the first try of the game, crossing in the corner after Gabin Villiere helped stretch England with a break on the far side.
Marcus Smith hit back with a close-range penalty of his own, but Jaminet restored the eight-point gap off the tee in short order.
Jack Nowell was forced off with an arm injury before the half-hour mark and, although a second Smith penalty trimmed the difference again, another breathless French move aided by Romain Ntamack saw Francois Cros add a home try on the stroke of half-time.
Freddie Steward scrambled over at the right corner flag to get England off on the right footing following the restart, but the visitors’ hopes of a comeback were dashed when Dupont slipped through a gap on the 22-metre line to coast in on the hour.
There would be no reply this time and the party in the stands could truly start.
France maintain Paris fortress
A dozen years on from their last such triumph, Les Bleus secured their record-equalling fourth Grand Slam in their own back yard, providing the latest reminder of how fearsome the Stade de France has become for any visiting side.
France have now lost just one of their past nine home Six Nations matches – that defeat to Scotland last year as they chased an unlikely winning margin – in what represents an ominous marker ahead of next year’s World Cup.
England lack edge in attack
Eddie Jones’ men were restricted to just the one try in defeat, scoring out wide after some well-worked play, but they continued to lack a counter-attacking threat.
Heading into the final match of the tournament, they had scored just one try from a counter-attacking situation – a joint-low – and France were able to keep them at arm’s length.
