Dramatic Last-Minute Victory for England Over France in Six Nations Thriller

2025-03-01

England secured a dramatic last-minute victory over France in the 2025 Six Nations, with Elliot Daly scoring a try in the 79th minute to snatch a 26-25 win at Twickenham. The match, played in front of a raucous home crowd, saw England fight back from behind three times to claim their first victory of the tournament, easing pressure on head coach Steve Borthwick.

France, the pre-tournament favourites, had taken an early lead through Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who capitalised on a grubber kick from Damian Penaud. However, England responded with a try from Ollie Lawrence just before half-time, levelling the scores at 7-7. The second half was a rollercoaster, with France extending their lead through Penaud and Bielle-Biarrey, but England refused to relent. Tries from Tommy Freeman and debutant Fin Baxter kept the hosts in contention, setting the stage for Daly’s late heroics.

Fin Smith, making his first start at fly-half, converted Daly’s try to seal the win, capping a remarkable debut. England’s resilience was evident throughout, with captain Maro Itoje praising the team’s bravery and fight. France, despite their attacking flair, were plagued by handling errors and missed opportunities, leaving head coach Fabien Galthié to rue what might have been.

The victory moves England to second in the Six Nations table, level on points with France, and sets up a crucial clash with Scotland in two weeks. For France, the focus shifts to their next match against Italy as they look to bounce back from this narrow defeat.

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