SIX NATIONS 2024
France................................ 33pts
Tries: Le Garrec 20, Barre 56, Fickou 60
Conversions: Ramos 21, 57, 62
Penalties: Ramos 18, 32, 36, 80
England .............................. 31pts
Tries: Lawrence 40+1, 42; Smith 46, Freeman 75 Conversions: Ford 40+1, 42, 47, 76
Penalties: Ford 12
THIS was one that got away from a brave England side in a seesaw match full of pendulum swings which eventually fell France’s way as their ace marksman Thomas Ramos nailed a longrange penalty one minute from time to clinch victory.
It used to be the English forward bludgeon against the French backline rapier back in the 1990s but this electric match in Lyon was a classic case of role reversal, with France trying to bulldoze England into submission in a pulsating second-half as these teams battled for second place in this Six Nations.
England appeared to have clinched the game with a try by Tommy Freeman four minutes from time after a slick backline move involving a George Ford flick-pass and Marcus Smith assist.
Ford’s touchline conversion gave England a 31-30 lead, but when Ben Earl, England’s dynamo for most of this Six Nations, and exceptional again here, was penalised for a no-arms tackle it gave Ramos the chance to turn the tables.
After trailing 16-10 at half-time England stole a march right at the start of the second-half with a fizzing try scored by Ollie Lawrence – his second of an evening in which he truly came of age in the England midfield with his finishing power.
It started with a Maro Itoje line-out before Henry Slade and Freeman combined to send Underhill into the French 22, and as Earl carried it to within a couple of metres of the line it was recycled before Lawrence burst past Penaud and Le Garrec to ground it.
No sooner had Ford converted than England scored again from a lineout when a short pass from Ellis Genge saw Earl burst past Ramos before putting Smith over.
This one-two meant that with 45 minutes on the clock England led 24-16 – and it was then that the French turned on the power.
Huge rumbling drives saw massive forwards Uini Atonio, Romain Taofifenua, and Thibaud Flament batter England back in their own 22 before the razor-sharp French scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec moved the ball wide to Ollivon, and the big flanker put full back Leo Barre over for his second try of the evening.
Ramos added the conversion to give France the lead back at 24-23 after 55 minutes, and England’s goose appeared to be cooked three minutes later when a lineout overthrow by Theo Dan led to a hack through by Ramos being picked up on the bounce by Penaud. When the winger put Gael Fickou over under the bar and Ramos converted there appeared to be
