France 33-31 England – Late penalty seals hosts’ win and second place in Six Nations standings

France beat England 33-31 via a late penalty to finish the 2024 Six Nations in second place, as the tournament ended in thrilling fashion.

England scored four tries – one more than the French – and were on the cusp of victory when Tommy Freeman’s try five minutes from time was converted by George Ford to put them a point ahead.

Yet Ben Earl was penalised for a no-arms tackle as France looked for a way back and Tomas Ramos nailed a kick from halfway to ensure it was Les Bleus who left Lyon victorious.

They had earlier thrilled the home fans with some scintillating rugby, particularly a brilliant team move for the opening try finished off by impressive deputy scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec.

England twice admirably came back to lead with incisive rugby of their own, ultimately in vain. They have the small consolation of finishing third in the table as a losing bonus point takes them above Scotland.

No team has shown more signs of a post-World Cup hangover this Six Nations than France, who were staring down the barrel of failing to win a single home game for the first time in tournament history. On this evidence, however, most of those ill effects have been shaken off and France looked something close to their freewheeling best.

Nothing summed that up more than the brilliant first try, a sweeping team move steeped in jeopardy, high skill levels and opportunism. Gael Fickou’s effort – started by a Ramos fly hack – was not far behind.

There were issues with the French performance, of course. England carved open France’s defence multiple times. But it made for fantastic viewing and ensured a game in which only second place was at stake remained compelling until the very end.

Another impressive showing fro the 21-year-old, who gave his team quick ball when they needed it as well as offering ingenuity when things broke down. Le Garrec played a pivotal role in France’s first two tries, but his influence extended well beyond those moments.

France: Barre 7, Penaud 8, Fickou 7, Depoortere 6, Bielle-Biarrey 6, Ramos 7, Le Garrec 8, Baille 6, Marchand 6, Atonio 5, Flament 6, Meafou 6, Cros 8, Ollivon 7, Alldritt 7.
Subs: Mauvaka 6, S. Taofifenua 6, Colombe 6, R. Taofifenua 6, Roumat 6, Boudehent 6, Lucu 6, Moefana 7.

England: Furbank n/a, Freeman 7, Slade 5, Lawrence 7, Daly 6, Ford 7, Mitchell 6, Genge 6, George 6, Cole 6, Itoje 6, Martin 5, Chessum 6, Underhill 7, Earl 8.
Subs: Dan 6, Marler 6, Stuart 6, Roots 6, Dombrandt 7, Care 6, Smith 7, Tuilagi 6.

TRY! FRANCE 10-3 ENGLAND (LE GARREC) 20′ – England lose a lineout on halfway – stolen by Cros. France get the ball wide and deep, retreating back to their own 22, but Fickou makes a decisive break. He offloads at the perfect time and one more pass, delayed to perfection by Barre, allows Le Garrec on an inside line to score.

TRY! FRANCE 16-10 ENGLAND (LAWRENCE) 40+1′ – England win a lineout, but the catch and drive makes no progress. So England give it to the backs instead and Lawrence bursts through a porous French defence to score under the posts.

TRY! FRANCE 16-17 ENGLAND (LAWRENCE) 42′ – Freeman makes the first big gain on the right wing off good, flat passing. Underhill makes another shortly after, Earl comes within a metre of the line, and then Lawrence overpowers two defenders for his second try of the game.

TRY! FRANCE 16-24 ENGLAND (SMITH) 46′ – England have flipped the script! They have quick ball off a lineout, Earl makes the first break and then passes on to Smith, who cuts inside a scrambling Penaud to touch down. Ford converts.

TRY! FRANCE 23-24 ENGLAND (BARRE) 56′ – France patiently make ground, get a penalty advantage and Le Garrec reacts best to a loose ball. He finds a hole, passes to Ollivon and he in turn sets up Barre to score.

TRY! FRANCE 30-24 ENGLAND (FICKOU) 60′ – Another wonderful France try! England overthrow a lineout, Ramos hacks the ball ahead on the fly and Penaud gathers. He offloads to Fickou, who has a simply try to score.

TRY! FRANCE 30-31 ENGLAND (FREEMAN) 75′ – Brilliant hands from Ford, who flips the ball on, and Smith – who delays until the right moment – sends Freeman over in the corner! Ford nails the kick from the right flank and England are ahead!

PENALTY! FRANCE 33-31 ENGLAND (RAMOS) 79′ – The referee moves a France penalty back to the halfway line, making this 47 metres out, but it matters not for Ramos! He nails the kick and France lead.