03/14/26 07:55:00
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03/14 19:54 CDT France wins back-to-back Six Nations titles after beating
England 48-46 on last-second penalty
France wins back-to-back Six Nations titles after beating England 48-46 on
last-second penalty
PARIS (AP) --- France won back-to-back Six Nations titles after beating England
48-46 on a last-second penalty kick by Thomas Ramos in a thriller for the ages
on Saturday.
England scored its seventh try in the 77th minute and converted for 46-45. If
the score held for a few more minutes Ireland would have been crowned the
champion.
But France pressed yet again with 14 men, lost possession, regained it, and
earned two simultaneous penalties after the fulltime siren. Captain Antoine
Dupont debated with referee Nika Amashukeli where the penalty spots were.
Ramos, who didn't miss a goalkick all night, finally lined up his seventh shot
from more than 40 meters out.
The fullback nailed it straight down the middle in the 83rd and leaped into the
arms of teammates, celebrating as back-to-back champions for the first time in
19 years.
Of the title-winning goalkick, Ramos said, "It's in my top three, and not just
third. I love moments like that. This title rewards our very strong start to
the tournament. I'm very happy. It would have been so tough, when you think
about the scenario, to lose it at home in the 76th minute."
In a bewildering and breathless match including 13 tries and six lead changes,
Ramos was the difference as France scored only six tries, four of them by
winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
England put up its highest ever score against France on French soil on the
120th anniversary of Le Crunch, but suffered a fourth loss in a single
championship for the first time in 50 years.
"We are disappointed to lose but we showed the spirit of this team," England
capain Maro Itoje said.
"You don't want to go through what we have in the last four games but I truly
believe we are going places and will be better for it. We knew we had to attack
the game more, our conversion of territory into points had to get better and it
paid dividends."
Ireland beat Scotland 43-21 to move to the top of the standings earlier
Saturday, leaving the championship closer at the Stade de France as the title
decider.
England came into the game under fire for its kick-heavy approach, but ran hard
at France and was constantly rewarded. England scored four tries in the first
half but suffered a major turning point right on halftime while leading 27-17.
Prop Ellis Genge was sin-binned for collapsing a maul --- England's eighth
yellow card in the tournament --- and France was awarded a penalty try. While
Genge was off the field, France rallied from 27-17 down to lead 38-27.
England came back with tries by standout lock Ollie Chessum from an intercept
and replacement back Marcus Smith for 39-38.
Then Bielle-Biarrey scored his fourth try of the match, his ninth in the
tournament breaking his own record of eight last year. They also extended his
own record try-scoring streak in the championship to 10 matches.
But while leading 45-39, France prop Demba Bamba was sin-binned and the defense
cracked when center Tommy Freeman finished a counterattack from a goalline
dropout. Marcus Smith converted for 46-45 after replacing Fin Smith, who
slotted only three of his six goalkicks.
Just over two minutes were left and France didn't hold back. Just as it didn't
at the start.
Bielle-Biarrey connected with grubber kicks by Ramos and Matthieu Jalibert to
get France away to 14-5. But England drew level on 17 after tries by its own
wingers, Tom Roebuck and Cadan Murley, and Chessum's first of the match.
England then led after an Alex Coles try, converted with a drop kick by Fin
Smith with players charging after the ball fell off the tee. England was
bossing the game up front at 27-17 until Genge was sin-binned and France
pounced.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
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