France 21 England 31
By Nick Powell
England won their first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2003 at the third time of asking as they held off a dangerous French comeback to win a tense, pulsating encounter in Paris.
England seemed as if they might run away with it as Cole rolled in to stretch the lead to eleven points but that was cut to five as Machenaud added his third and fourth penalties.
After the break, France twice cut the gap to two, but A try from Anthony Watson and a brace of late Owen Farrell penalties was enough to see England home for an historic victory.
For England, it was simply a must win game, After falling well short of sealing the Slam in 2011, and shamefully losing the title two years later, this was seen by many as their best opportunity since 2003, and it was felt if they didn't win it this year, with visits to Ireland and Wales next year, the wait was likely to be a long time.
France on the other hand had nothing to play for heading into the game, but would be determined to maintain their good record at home after winning their two other games in Paris, and they started brightly.
After knocking over the first penalty, England responded with one of their own, but it was France who had the better of the first ten minutes, with plenty of possession in the English half.
As has been the case throughout the Championship however, they missed those chances and were then made to pay, off a line-out on halfway, England went forward in the midfield before terrible defence around the break down allowed Care to burst through and he ran the try in from close to fifty metres.
Mako Vunipola, who was swapped in for Joe Marler, struggled in the scrum and conceded a penalty that brought France within 4 points. From the restart, England had the ball again however. They made yardage with every carry and again poor tackling allowed Cole to roll over. Farrell's conversion gave England a 17-6 lead after the first quarter.
The next ten minutes saw the ball change hands and both sides have chances but France were ultimately the better side and after England attempted to send it wide earned a penalty as Haskell was caught holding on by the French Captain Guirado.
Despite England spending plenty of time on the French line, it was Les Bleus that went in to the break with the momentum, as England gave away their fourth penalty as the French attacked again. Farrell had the chance to extend the lead back to 8, but his kick was wide.
The second half started with a Vimiri Vakatawa break up-field for France, and they cut the gap to two after England were offside in their own 22. England were ahead, but it was a further sign of encouragement for France, who were really coming back into it.
The hosts were being dominated at the line-out though and any attacking ball was stopped by Itoje and Kruis' athletic steals and England gave themselves some breathing space after earning the ball back in the French half after strong pressure from the restart, and France infringed to hand England back their lead. But France then did the same to England, who also conceded a penalty straight from the restart and it was a two point game again.
On the hour, England scored a vital try. They were having more of the ball and as has been the case throughout the tournament, had quick, go forward ball. It left another huge gap round the fringes which this time Youngs exploited, his break and grubber putting Watson in the corner.
It would only prove to be 2 points worth of damage to France however, Farrell missed the conversion and England were caught holding on straight off the restart to give France a seventh penalty. England's restarts had been atrocious.
The next 10 minutes saw England dominate, and eventually they pushed their lead back out to 7. The penalty chance didn't come in the 22, France repeatedly holding off England pressure, but a soft high-tackle penalty on halfway gave Farrell a long range chance. It was a superb kick and England were on the verge.
As France failed to clear away long from England's territory kick, the men in white set up a maul. It was stopped illegally by Xavier Choicci who was sent to the bin and Farrell kicked the visitors into a 10 point lead. Farrell nailed it to all-but seal the win.
As the game died out, France attacked. A knock-on on halfway gave England a scrum and Youngs blasted the ball of the field. The celebrations could begin, and this particular chapter in English rugby has now begun.
France Ratings: Spedding 7, Fofana 5, Fickou 6, Mermoz 5, Vakatawa 8, Trinh-Duc 6, Machenaud 7, Goujon 5, Le Roux 7, Chouly 6, Maestri 6, Flancquart 6, Slimani 7, Guirado 8, Poirot 7
England Ratings: Brown 6, Watson 8, Joseph 6, Farrell 8, Nowell 7, Ford 7, Care 8, Vunipola 8, Haskell 7, Robshaw 7, Kruis 8, Itoje 8, Cole 6, Hartley 7, Vunipola 6
England boss Eddie Jones told BBC One:
"I'm very proud of the boys. We were not at our best but we battled throughout and deserve the victory.
"It's a great achievement by the team. I always had confidence in the team.
"Dylan Hartley has been fantastic and he has done a very good job. Billy Vunipola, Mike Brown and Owen Farrell have done very well assisting him along with James Haskell and Chris Robshaw. That nucleus has been very strong.
"The great thing is the best is ahead of us. We're looking forward to Australia and we're only going to get better."
Photos: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-3500530/France-21-31-England-Six-Nations-RESULT-Eddie-Jones-clinch-Grand-Slam-13-years-clinical-victory-Paris.html
By Nick Powell
England won their first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2003 at the third time of asking as they held off a dangerous French comeback to win a tense, pulsating encounter in Paris.
France had the better of the early exchanges, but it was the men in white who struck first as Care breezed through a giant hole around the French fringes and sprinted over to give England the lead.
England seemed as if they might run away with it as Cole rolled in to stretch the lead to eleven points but that was cut to five as Machenaud added his third and fourth penalties.
After the break, France twice cut the gap to two, but A try from Anthony Watson and a brace of late Owen Farrell penalties was enough to see England home for an historic victory.
For England, it was simply a must win game, After falling well short of sealing the Slam in 2011, and shamefully losing the title two years later, this was seen by many as their best opportunity since 2003, and it was felt if they didn't win it this year, with visits to Ireland and Wales next year, the wait was likely to be a long time.
France on the other hand had nothing to play for heading into the game, but would be determined to maintain their good record at home after winning their two other games in Paris, and they started brightly.
After knocking over the first penalty, England responded with one of their own, but it was France who had the better of the first ten minutes, with plenty of possession in the English half.
As has been the case throughout the Championship however, they missed those chances and were then made to pay, off a line-out on halfway, England went forward in the midfield before terrible defence around the break down allowed Care to burst through and he ran the try in from close to fifty metres.
The next ten minutes saw the ball change hands and both sides have chances but France were ultimately the better side and after England attempted to send it wide earned a penalty as Haskell was caught holding on by the French Captain Guirado.
Despite England spending plenty of time on the French line, it was Les Bleus that went in to the break with the momentum, as England gave away their fourth penalty as the French attacked again. Farrell had the chance to extend the lead back to 8, but his kick was wide.
The second half started with a Vimiri Vakatawa break up-field for France, and they cut the gap to two after England were offside in their own 22. England were ahead, but it was a further sign of encouragement for France, who were really coming back into it.
The hosts were being dominated at the line-out though and any attacking ball was stopped by Itoje and Kruis' athletic steals and England gave themselves some breathing space after earning the ball back in the French half after strong pressure from the restart, and France infringed to hand England back their lead. But France then did the same to England, who also conceded a penalty straight from the restart and it was a two point game again.
On the hour, England scored a vital try. They were having more of the ball and as has been the case throughout the tournament, had quick, go forward ball. It left another huge gap round the fringes which this time Youngs exploited, his break and grubber putting Watson in the corner.
The next 10 minutes saw England dominate, and eventually they pushed their lead back out to 7. The penalty chance didn't come in the 22, France repeatedly holding off England pressure, but a soft high-tackle penalty on halfway gave Farrell a long range chance. It was a superb kick and England were on the verge.
As France failed to clear away long from England's territory kick, the men in white set up a maul. It was stopped illegally by Xavier Choicci who was sent to the bin and Farrell kicked the visitors into a 10 point lead. Farrell nailed it to all-but seal the win.
As the game died out, France attacked. A knock-on on halfway gave England a scrum and Youngs blasted the ball of the field. The celebrations could begin, and this particular chapter in English rugby has now begun.
France Ratings: Spedding 7, Fofana 5, Fickou 6, Mermoz 5, Vakatawa 8, Trinh-Duc 6, Machenaud 7, Goujon 5, Le Roux 7, Chouly 6, Maestri 6, Flancquart 6, Slimani 7, Guirado 8, Poirot 7
England Ratings: Brown 6, Watson 8, Joseph 6, Farrell 8, Nowell 7, Ford 7, Care 8, Vunipola 8, Haskell 7, Robshaw 7, Kruis 8, Itoje 8, Cole 6, Hartley 7, Vunipola 6
England boss Eddie Jones told BBC One:
"I'm very proud of the boys. We were not at our best but we battled throughout and deserve the victory.
"It's a great achievement by the team. I always had confidence in the team.
"Dylan Hartley has been fantastic and he has done a very good job. Billy Vunipola, Mike Brown and Owen Farrell have done very well assisting him along with James Haskell and Chris Robshaw. That nucleus has been very strong.
"The great thing is the best is ahead of us. We're looking forward to Australia and we're only going to get better."
Photos: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-3500530/France-21-31-England-Six-Nations-RESULT-Eddie-Jones-clinch-Grand-Slam-13-years-clinical-victory-Paris.html
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