England came thrillingly close to derailing France’s Six Nations party in Paris, only for Thomas Ramos to land a long-range penalty with the clock in the red to clinch an extraordinary 48-46 win and the title.
Ireland, winners against Scotland earlier in the day, watched on in Dublin, seeing the title wrenched out of their grasp in the final act of an enthralling edition of the sport’s oldest international championship.
Tommy Freeman’s 77th-minute try appeared to have secured an upset win for England – and he and Northampton team-mate Henry Pollock both celebrated in front of France’s fans.
However, Les Bleus regained possession off the restart and – just as in this fixture in Lyon two years ago – Ramos had the final say.
England came into the game after listless losses against Scotland, Ireland and Italy, but were revived, performing with energy and invention that had gone missing for much of their campaign.
A gut-punch defeat, extending their losing run to four matches, was scarce reward, but their magnificent display represents the players’ own vote of confidence in coach Steve Borthwick.
However, there will be no avoiding a post-tournament inquest.
As France celebrated their third Six Nations triumph in the past five years, England’s players looked on in the knowledge their own title aspirations were over long ago.
Defeat completes England’s worst ever Six Nations campaign, with just one win from five matches. Even before the championship’s expansion in 2000, England had only lost four matches in a single edition twice previously – in 1972 and 1976.
Borthwick’s side finished fifth in the 2026 table, matching the historic lows of 2018 and 2021.
However, this performance – against one of the world’s most gifted teams – will be the first piece of evidence Borthwick cites in his discussions with his Rugby Football Union bosses.
A summer block of fixtures that could ultimately decide his future begins against world champions South Africa on 4 July, with games against Fiji and Argentina following on subsequent weeks.
More to follow.
