France 33 England 31: Last ditch penalty sees Les Bleus win a thriller despite brave effort from four-try Red Rose
ENGLAND saw a glorious chance of earning their first away win against France since 2016 snatched away - as Manu Tuilagi’s Red Rose farewell turned sour.
Ollie Lawrence looked set to be the king of Lyon as he scored either side of the break, with Marcus Smith adding a stunner.
Even when France scored twice in four minutes to turn the match on its head, Steve Borthwick’s men kept on coming.
Tuilagi’s arrival gave hope and with just two minutes left, Tommy Freeman scored in the corner and George Ford kicked an immaculate conversion.
But England then handed Thomas Ramos a penalty on half-way, with the fly-half having the final act of a remarkable evening to leave the visitors gutted.
It was a savage blow for an England side, whose hopes of the Six Nations title had been ended by Ireland’s narrow win over Scotland as they were arriving at the Groupama Stadium
But this was always going to be about trying to prove last week’s victory over Andy Farrell’s green machine was not a freak performance.
After a false start - the initial kick-off took place before the 10-second countdown - the scale of the challenge was made clear.
France’s giant pack was able to shunt England back 20 yards while the frenetic pace saw Alex Mitchell hurt his wrist and George Furbank ping a calf muscle inside the first seven minutes.
On came Marcus Smith at full-back, just before George Ford, on his 31st birthday, nudged England in front from the 10-metre line.
But Smith’s failure to release in the tackle allowed Thomas Ramos to level things from just inside the England half.
And almost immediately, Borthwick’s side were seven points behind, paying the price for a messed-up line-out that was filched by the French.
My dad's a Rugby World Cup winner - now I'm making my own way but starring for different team in Six Nations
What followed was devastating. The ball was moved left, Gael Fickou punching the first hole, Louis Biele-Biarrey scooting down the wing and new scrum half Nolann Le Garrec mobbed by the French replacements as he touched down by the posts.
Smith, by a fraction, prevented it getting worse when Lawrence spilled the ball in contact on the French 22.
Damian Penaud picked up, beat three white shirts and kicked over the top, with Biele-Biarrey so close to getting there first.
England were struggling to impose themselves, France’s pack in marauding form while the whole side was going through their party tricks.
With the pressure telling and the penalty count rising, Ramos added six more points in short order.
But on the last play of the half, England were back in the contest.
Two previous short range line-outs had seen French penalties and replays and it was third time lucky when Ollie Chessum gathered.
Mitchell went short to Henry Slade, who popped up for Lawrence to crash through Fickou and score. Ford could not miss the conversion.
Still behind. Then again, England had also trailed at the interval in all the previous games, coming back to win on three occasions.
And when Lawrence touched down again at the start of the second half, a fourth turnaround looked on the cards.
Freeman made the initial incursion, Sam Underhill and the brilliant Ben Earl carried it on and while Smith slipped, England kept the ball alive with the Bath centre burrowing over from short range, Ford tacking on the extras.
Freeman then failed to find the unmarked Mitchell with the line begging.
But England kept on coming, another first phase line-out drill seeing Earl smashing through the French backs before Smith gloriously side-stepped his way over the line.
The home fans were shell shocked. And probably a few England supporters were too.
Back came the French, smart handling as England back-pedalled resulting in Leo Barre scoring their second try, Ramos taking his tally to 13 as the gap was back to a solitary point.
Tuilagi time, his final outing in the white shirt, Slade making way.
But before he had touched the ball, France scored again to go back in front.
New hooker Theo Dan over-threw a line-out, the loose ball was hacked forward and Penaud got there first, feeding Fickou to canter home.
Yet England refused to lie down and die. Tuilagi was involved before Smith fed Freeman.
Ford’s kicking looked to be enough, only for Ramos to take his tally to 18 points and steal not only the match but second place in the championship.
The full back conundrum answered
It has often been a question how, or even if, it is possible to include George Ford and Marcus Smith in the same side.
As they showed with the final try of the game, the pair combined brilliantly to put Freeman in to score.
It seems this is something Borthwick could juggle with starting the pair, offering more options in a kicking sense on the pitch also.
Tale of the tape in Six Nations
France finish second in the table, one point ahead of England in third place.
It will seem disappointing for Steve Borthwick's side to have lost that game in the manner they did.
There are plenty of positives to take from this campaign and something to build on for the summer.
FT: France 33-31 England
Games do not get much closer than that.
Both coaches can reflect on where the game was won and lost and could both have an argument they should have been victorious.
France just would not give up and kept coming back, as did England, but time was just not on their side after that Ramos penalty.
FT: France 33-31 England
As the ball is kicked into touch, the game is over.
What a dramatic game of rugby that was.
It looked like they had won it with five minutes to go but poor discipline cost them as Ramos gave Les Bleus the win.
France 33-31 England
79. Now France need to try and keep their game clean.
They have very little time until the end of the game.
England are trying to put pressure on.
Penalty - Thomas Ramos (France)
France 30-31 England
77. Just when England needed to keep their game clean, they give away a penalty.
it is just inside the English half but well within range of the posts.
Ramos has opted to go for goal, pretty much from the halfway line.
France 30-31 England
75. What a game this is.
England attack with Ford and Smith combining before putting Freeman in to go over the line.
Amidst all the whistles and boos, Ford sends his conversion through the posts to give the visitors the lead.
Try - Tommy Freeman (England)
France 30-24 England
73. We are at the stage of the game now where England may have to alter their tactics.
Kicking for touch allows France to run the clock down more.
They need to keep the ball in play.
Ford finds touch with a penalty, chance for the visitors to build something in the French half.
France 30-24 England
71. France are awarded a penalty for the knock-on and they opt to go for goal.
Ramos sends his effort wide of the posts, his first miss of the day.
It may prove an important one as that would have put them more than a converted try ahead of the visitors.
France 30-24 England
69. France have a lineout on the English twenty-two.
Another try for France would really put this game potentially beyond Steve Borthwick's side.
Freeman intercepts but the referee blows up for a knock-on.
France 30-24 England
67. Ramos tries a kick in behind England but Ford takes the mark.
It gives him the chance to kick downfield and take the pressure off.
Time is running out and the visitors need a converted try to win.
France 30-24 England
65. France are really testing this English defence now.
The two tries has changed their whole approach to the game.
Now, they are looking to run the ball and open England up whenever they have ball in hand.
France 30-24 England
63. This has been a really entertaining game of rugby.
At one stage it seemed France were going to turn the screw but England turned the game on its head.
Then Les Bleus did exactly the same and now the visitors are chasing the game.
France 30-24 England
61. What a difference in Lyon now with the French fans in full voice.
Ramos kicks it forward, the bounce goes their way and Penaud takes it before offloading to Fickou.
He beats his man and runs through to score the try.
Ramos adds the conversion to give France some breathing space.
Try - Gael Fickou (France)
France 23-24 England
59. This game has really spring into life now.
It is impossible to call a winner at the moment.
Just when it seems one team are taking control, the other comes straight back into it.
France 23-24 England
57. Great play by France as they open up play and have a number overload on the wing.
The offload to Barre is perfectly-timed as the challenge comes in.
Ramos adds the conversion to mean that we have an enthralling game on our hands now.
Try - Leo Barre (France)
France 16-24 England
55. There is still plenty of time to go in this game.
England cannot get complacent, as quickly as they scored their tries, France are more than capable of doing the same.
Les Bleus are driving forward, getting closer to the English posts.
France 16-24 England
53. England have got to be strong now in defence.
There is no doubt that Les Bleus will come back at them with their big-hitters but they need to stay strong.
The visitors are awarded a penalty and kick up towards halfway.
France 16-24 England
51. England look ready to make some changes.
It seems Borthwick is changing the entire front row.
He will want his side to continue the way they have started this half.
France 16-24 England
49. What a turnaround in this game.
England look like a completely different team now as Earl burst through the middle and offloads to Smith.
He sidesteps a challenge and holds off another as he goes over the line.
Ford adds a conversion to give England an eight point lead.
Try - Marcus Smith (England)
