Dubai Telegraph - France win Six Nations after 13-try thriller with England

EUR -
AED 4.302854
AFN 74.39904
ALL 95.619662
AMD 433.096644
ANG 2.097102
AOA 1075.566716
ARS 1631.816974
AUD 1.625293
AWG 2.108954
AZN 1.995753
BAM 1.956194
BBD 2.354894
BDT 143.458887
BGN 1.954417
BHD 0.442091
BIF 3479.30059
BMD 1.171641
BND 1.493001
BOB 8.078627
BRL 5.774663
BSD 1.169245
BTN 111.345371
BWP 15.889199
BYN 3.309995
BYR 22964.162049
BZD 2.351494
CAD 1.593824
CDF 2712.34812
CHF 0.915807
CLF 0.027076
CLP 1065.65458
CNY 8.002717
CNH 7.99335
COP 4356.66624
CRC 531.909375
CUC 1.171641
CUP 31.048484
CVE 110.287207
CZK 24.385828
DJF 208.203701
DKK 7.473517
DOP 69.664325
DZD 155.202576
EGP 62.816941
ERN 17.574614
ETB 183.843603
FJD 2.568881
FKP 0.865677
GBP 0.863441
GEL 3.145891
GGP 0.865677
GHS 13.106639
GIP 0.865677
GMD 85.530247
GNF 10261.066162
GTQ 8.922931
GYD 244.609254
HKD 9.181037
HNL 31.079391
HRK 7.534943
HTG 153.020812
HUF 361.335815
IDR 20386.024784
ILS 3.444159
IMP 0.865677
INR 111.529086
IQD 1534.849606
IRR 1541879.451952
ISK 143.22135
JEP 0.865677
JMD 183.987048
JOD 0.830677
JPY 184.692202
KES 151.001407
KGS 102.425437
KHR 4689.944364
KMF 492.677052
KPW 1054.48057
KRW 1712.986437
KWD 0.36083
KYD 0.974305
KZT 543.294034
LAK 25675.38912
LBP 104701.476252
LKR 374.148532
LRD 214.545032
LSL 19.566907
LTL 3.459551
LVL 0.708714
LYD 7.417557
MAD 10.806076
MDL 20.180236
MGA 4869.980616
MKD 61.652941
MMK 2460.102223
MNT 4192.842457
MOP 9.437581
MRU 46.685799
MUR 55.008529
MVR 18.107702
MWK 2027.408238
MXN 20.30653
MYR 4.638298
MZN 74.858342
NAD 19.566907
NGN 1600.402999
NIO 43.028664
NOK 10.830268
NPR 178.151633
NZD 1.984039
OMR 0.450615
PAB 1.169235
PEN 4.099025
PGK 5.084024
PHP 72.114016
PKR 325.824098
PLN 4.245517
PYG 7084.486994
QAR 4.272567
RON 5.238762
RSD 117.400755
RUB 88.460002
RWF 1709.544233
SAR 4.395789
SBD 9.403436
SCR 16.361155
SDG 703.569739
SEK 10.832909
SGD 1.492536
SHP 0.874748
SLE 28.851629
SLL 24568.719798
SOS 668.234555
SRD 43.909597
STD 24250.601528
STN 24.504934
SVC 10.230147
SYP 129.502321
SZL 19.562605
THB 37.996671
TJS 10.931995
TMT 4.106601
TND 3.385462
TOP 2.82103
TRY 52.990864
TTD 7.925664
TWD 36.977176
TZS 3042.965869
UAH 51.381846
UGX 4413.888778
USD 1.171641
UYU 47.069635
UZS 14070.953414
VES 578.197718
VND 30843.447241
VUV 138.868188
WST 3.182096
XAF 656.08911
XAG 0.015866
XAU 0.000255
XCD 3.166418
XCG 2.107142
XDR 0.815964
XOF 656.094711
XPF 119.331742
YER 279.553326
ZAR 19.424055
ZMK 10546.163634
ZMW 22.068632
ZWL 377.267898
  • CMSC

    0.0099

    22.88

    +0.04%

  • NGG

    0.1400

    87.64

    +0.16%

  • GSK

    -0.5200

    50.38

    -1.03%

  • RIO

    1.8700

    100.5

    +1.86%

  • BP

    -0.4400

    46.5

    -0.95%

  • RYCEF

    -0.0200

    16.33

    -0.12%

  • RELX

    -0.2000

    36.16

    -0.55%

  • RBGPF

    1.6000

    64.7

    +2.47%

  • AZN

    -2.2200

    181.24

    -1.22%

  • BTI

    1.0500

    59.4

    +1.77%

  • JRI

    0.1100

    13.04

    +0.84%

  • BCE

    0.1700

    24.1

    +0.71%

  • VOD

    -0.3100

    15.74

    -1.97%

  • CMSD

    0.0400

    23.29

    +0.17%

  • BCC

    -2.2000

    72.13

    -3.05%

France win Six Nations after 13-try thriller with England
France win Six Nations after 13-try thriller with England / Photo: FRANCK FIFE - AFP

France win Six Nations after 13-try thriller with England

Thomas Ramos kicked a penalty after the final hooter to win the Six Nations for France with a mind-blowing 48-46 victory over a rejuvenated England on Saturday.

Text size:

Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored four of the 13 tries in a barn-storming encounter in which the lead changed hands numerous times.

But Ramos's kick ensured that France retained the title and denied Ireland, who had moved into pole position by beating Scotland earlier.

Bielle-Biarrey, 22, took his tally to 29 tries in just 27 Tests for France and finished this Six Nations campaign with nine, beating his own record of eight from last season.

He also extended another record by scoring in a 10th consecutive Six Nations match.

A week on from succumbing to a chaotic 50-40 defeat by Scotland, France were back, but so too were England, playing their part in a stunningly entertaining encounter, just a week on from slumping to their first ever defeat to Italy.

England had started well with a couple of Elliot Daly grubbers pinning France down in their 22.

But, inevitably, Bielle-Biarrey struck.

Ramos delayed just enough to suck in England's defence and then chipped ahead for the flying winger to dash on to, beating Caden Murley to the ball before going over after seven minutes.

England struck back immediately, spinning the ball wide for Tom Roebuck to dive over in the corner.

But the visitors had not learned their lesson from the opening try and this time a Matthieu Jalibert grubber at an angle sent Bielle-Biarrey clear for his 27th try in as many Tests.

England were unbowed, though, and struck back soon afterwards, as Ben Spencer's grubber was spilled by Theo Attisogbe and Murley pounced to score.

Two tries each but France led by four points as Ramos proved more accurate than Fin Smith with the conversion attempts.

And a penalty from Ramos stretched France's lead to seven, only for England to to level up after Ollie Chessum barged over form close range and Smith landed the conversion.

England had not come to Paris to be spectators in France's title party and were taking on their hosts up front -- and dominating.

Chessum then turned provider, passing inside for Alex Coles to dot down for the bonus point score, with Smith converting again from out wide.

And after Smith kicked a penalty from in front of the posts, England led 27-17, and by four tries to two.

But there was still time in this wonderfully entertaining 'Crunch' for France to hit back, earning a penalty try after Ellis Genge, who was yellow-carded, collapsed a maul a yard form the tryline.

- Who else? -

Within 90 seconds of the restart, the tryline had been breeched again, as Bielle-Biarrey finished off a flowing move to land his hat-trick.

With England still down to 14 men, France struck again as captain Antoine Dupont took a quick penalty and fired out a pass to Attisogbe to add France's fifth try of the game, and the ninth overall.

France were in the mood, throwing the ball about and attacking with verve, but Chessum picked off Jalibert and ran more than half the length of the field for his second.

The festival of tries showed no sign of abating and Marcus Smith, with his first touch after coming on as a substitute, scored England's sixth, converting to give them a one-point lead.

Once again the momentum shifted, as France turned over ball deep in their own half and Dupont hoofed it long.

Bielle-Biarrey -- who else? -- won the foot race for his fourth try.

But seven minutes from time, replacement prop Demba Bamba was yellow-carded and Tommy Freeman scythed over for England's seventh try -- the 13th of the match -- with Smith converting from under the points for a one-point lead again.

But Ramos, and France, had the last laugh.

A.El-Sewedy--DT