'England were blistering'published at 23:18 GMT 14 March
23:18 GMT 14 March
FT: France 48-46 England
Matt Dawson Former England scrum-half
Image source, PA Media
That was utterly bonkers at the Stade de France. England were
blistering – their pace, their skill, their intensity, their physicality and
they had a genuine chance of winning.
They were one play away from winning what is one of the greatest games in Six Nations history. An amazing tournament, an amazing finish, I can say ‘amazing’
another 20 times if you really want me to because it was incredible.
I feel for the players because they are going to be down,
but I want them to be super, super positive because if they carry on playing
like that for the next 18 months they are going to challenge in big tournaments
and big games, and they are going to win big games.
'A superb see-sawing game'published at 23:11 GMT 14 March
23:11 GMT 14 March
FT: France 48-46 England
Mike Henson BBC Sport at Stade de France
After an elaborate pre-match ceremony, featuring riders on horseback, pyro and laser projections, the two teams served up a superb, see-sawing game which would have graced any era of their 120-year rivalry.
As France celebrated their third Six Nations triumph in the past five years, England's players looked on in the knowledge their own title aspirations were over long ago.
Defeat completes England's worst ever Six Nations campaign, with just one win from five matches. Even before the championship's expansion in 2000, England had only lost four matches in a single edition twice previously - in 1972 and 1976.
Borthwick's side finished fifth in the 2026 table, matching the historic lows of 2018 and 2021.
France beat Ireland 36-14 in the opening game of the tournament way back on Thursday 5 February. They were 22-0 up at half-time and that opening burst proved as crucial as the very last kick tonight...
More from France defence coach Shaun Edwards on ITV: "I remember coaching a team in Wales who went five games without conceding one try and that's impossible now. It is for the better of the game.
"Tonight was indicative of what the Six Natrions is. You don't know who is going to win every game, it's fantastic for fans.
"We had to dig in, they are very talented players and amazing athletes but they love the game. It gives them that edge.
"I had a feeling the goal kicking would be the difference."
Can anyone explain why we kicked the ball back to France with only 2 minutes left? Chessum not going under the post - costly.
Matthew, Bolton.
Missed conversions proved costly. England don't have an elite kicker, and that's what the great sides of the present and past always have.
Charlie, London
France have been very, very lucky tonight. Multiple warnings before a yellow card, case of the vanishing advantage and if Fin Smith had his kicking boots they'd still have lost.
MarchandMauvaka 46', substituted for Mauvaka at 46 minutes
Number
3
3, Aldegheri
AldegheriBamba 46', substituted for Bamba at 46 minutes
Number
4
4, Flament
Flament
Number
5
5, Meafou
MeafouBrennan 67', substituted for Brennan at 67 minutes
Number
6
6, Cros
Cros
Number
7
7, Matiu
MatiuGuillard 40', substituted for Guillard at 40 minutes
Number
8
8, Ollivon
Ollivon
Substitutes
home team,France
Number
16
16, Mauvaka
Mauvaka
Number
17
17, Neti
Neti
Number
18
18, Bamba
Bamba72', Yellow card at 72 minutes
Number
19
19, Auradou
Auradou
Number
20
20, Guillard
Guillard
Number
21
21, Brennan
Brennan
Number
22
22, Serin
Serin
Number
23
23, Gailleton
Gailleton
away team,England
Starting lineup
Number
15
15, Daly
DalyM Smith 54', substituted for M Smith at 54 minutes
Number
14
14, Roebuck
Roebuck
Number
13
13, Freeman
Freeman
Number
12
12, Atkinson
Atkinson
Number
11
11, Murley
Murley
Number
10
10, F Smith
F Smith
Number
9
9, Spencer
SpencerVan Poortvliet 51', substituted for Van Poortvliet at 51 minutes
Number
1
1, Genge
Genge41', Yellow card at 41 minutesRodd 75', substituted for Rodd at 75 minutes
Number
2
2, George
GeorgeCowan-Dickie 51', substituted for Cowan-Dickie at 51 minutes
Number
3
3, Heyes
HeyesDavison 75', substituted for Davison at 75 minutes
Number
4
4, Itoje
Itoje
Number
5
5, Coles
ColesPollock 54', substituted for Pollock at 54 minutes
Number
6
6, Chessum
Chessum
Number
7
7, Pepper
PepperUnderhill 62', substituted for Underhill at 62 minutes
Number
8
8, Earl
EarlPollock 37', substituted for Pollock at 37 minutesEarl 40', substituted for Earl at 40 minutesRodd 43', substituted for Rodd at 43 minutesEarl 51', substituted for Earl at 51 minutesCunningham-South 75', substituted for Cunningham-South at 75 minutes
MarchandMauvaka 46', substituted for Mauvaka at 46 minutes
Number
3
3, Aldegheri
AldegheriBamba 46', substituted for Bamba at 46 minutes
Number
4
4, Flament
Flament
Number
5
5, Meafou
MeafouBrennan 67', substituted for Brennan at 67 minutes
Number
6
6, Cros
Cros
Number
7
7, Matiu
MatiuGuillard 40', substituted for Guillard at 40 minutes
Number
8
8, Ollivon
Ollivon
Substitutes
Number
16
16, Mauvaka
Mauvaka
Number
17
17, Neti
Neti
Number
18
18, Bamba
Bamba72', Yellow card at 72 minutes
Number
19
19, Auradou
Auradou
Number
20
20, Guillard
Guillard
Number
21
21, Brennan
Brennan
Number
22
22, Serin
Serin
Number
23
23, Gailleton
Gailleton
away team,England
Starting lineup
Number
15
15, Daly
DalyM Smith 54', substituted for M Smith at 54 minutes
Number
14
14, Roebuck
Roebuck
Number
13
13, Freeman
Freeman
Number
12
12, Atkinson
Atkinson
Number
11
11, Murley
Murley
Number
10
10, F Smith
F Smith
Number
9
9, Spencer
SpencerVan Poortvliet 51', substituted for Van Poortvliet at 51 minutes
Number
1
1, Genge
Genge41', Yellow card at 41 minutesRodd 75', substituted for Rodd at 75 minutes
Number
2
2, George
GeorgeCowan-Dickie 51', substituted for Cowan-Dickie at 51 minutes
Number
3
3, Heyes
HeyesDavison 75', substituted for Davison at 75 minutes
Number
4
4, Itoje
Itoje
Number
5
5, Coles
ColesPollock 54', substituted for Pollock at 54 minutes
Number
6
6, Chessum
Chessum
Number
7
7, Pepper
PepperUnderhill 62', substituted for Underhill at 62 minutes
Number
8
8, Earl
EarlPollock 37', substituted for Pollock at 37 minutesEarl 40', substituted for Earl at 40 minutesRodd 43', substituted for Rodd at 43 minutesEarl 51', substituted for Earl at 51 minutesCunningham-South 75', substituted for Cunningham-South at 75 minutes