France win Six Nations with final kick as Thomas Ramos sinks England in thriller | Six Nations 2026

This has been a stunningly unpredictable Six Nations and nobody noticed this exceptional ultimate reel coming. Whereas France might have clinched the trophy for the second successive 12 months England got here inside seconds of spoiling their pulsating final evening social gathering in a see-sawing recreation for the ages. In the long run the hosts wanted a last-gasp penalty from Thomas Ramos to safe the trophy, dashing rising Irish hopes of a sensational title heist.

It would go down among the many most extraordinary chapters within the 120-year historical past of this fixture, finally securing back-to-back titles for France for the primary time since 2007. They had been significantly indebted to the sensible Louis Bielle-Biarrey who surpassed himself by scoring 4 tries, condemning England to 4 losses in the identical championship season for the primary time in 50 years.

It additionally signifies that, statistically, that is England’s worst marketing campaign because the 5 Nations grew to become Six however nobody was desirous about that on the ultimate whistle. England had dramatically edged forward courtesy of a 76th-minute attempt by Tommy Freeman solely to concede one final penalty at a ruck 45 metres on the angle from their posts. The end result of the entire championship rested on Ramos’s shoulders however, to his credit score, he by no means regarded like lacking.

Pushed on by two tries from the excellent Ollie Chessum, it was tough on England ultimately. They had been unrecognisable from the stuttering facet who had misplaced to Scotland, Eire and Italy and, in consequence, might properly have prolonged Steve Borthwick’s tenure as head coach. This has not been a straightforward match for gamers or coaches however they signed off right here with their heads held excessive.

What a loopy evening it was all spherical, with 13 tries in complete and two sides seemingly on a mission to make this particular anniversary version of Le Crunch an unforgettable one. Earlier than the sport there was even a spectacular son et lumiére present full with horses, fireworks and a faintly bemused-looking Frédéric Michalak; it will have gone deathly quiet had the house facet, clad of their particular version pale blue jerseys, failed to finish their a part of the deal.

Once they replicate on all of it within the days to return, either side may have a lot to ponder. To attain 46 factors and 7 tries in Paris and nonetheless lose is sort of inconceivable and England will lament their lack of ability to carry on to and management the ball within the ultimate seconds previous to the fateful ultimate penalty. France, for his or her half, will shudder at how shut they got here to permitting Eire to sneak away with the prize following their house win over Scotland.

In Bielle-Biarrey, although, they’ve an absolute world-beater. The winger by no means wants a second invitation to chase a well-judged kick forward and, with Cadan Murley hesitating fractionally, the 22-year-old nipped in to turn out to be the primary man to register a attempt in each championship recreation in successive seasons.

England, although, had been wanting a lot brighter in assault and had been rewarded with a slick attempt completed huge on the appropriate for Tom Roebuck. Their satisfaction proved short-lived as one other French cross-field chip discovered acres of house and Bielle-Biarrey, as soon as once more, ruthlessly did the remaining.

It felt ominous however England had been displaying a complete lot extra vitality and urgency, moderately than settling for a sluggish march to oblivion. They had been additionally inflicting issues with nicely-judged kicks in behind and, from Ben Spencer’s low grubber, the pacy Murley was quickest to achieve the bouncing ball.

The Harlequins winger was having moderately much less pleasure on the different finish, virtually being embarrassed when Matthieu Jalibert snuck in to problem for one more bouncing ball and really almost claiming an unlikely attempt. As a substitute the following attempt went to England after a protracted pushed maul ultimately gave Chessum the platform to dive previous the stretched cowl. Fin Smith’s conversion made it 17-17 with the sport not but half an hour outdated.

Whereas Fabien Galthié had taken his workforce to look at ballet rehearsals of Romeo and Juliet at Opéra Garnier within the buildup, England had clearly been utilizing extra conventional types of motivation. Once more they got here thundering ahead with actual intent in direction of the left nook and this time it was the tireless Chessum who turned supplier, slipping an inside ball to the supporting Alex Coles who duly registered the guests’ fourth attempt.

Nearly all the pieces, instantly, was going England’s method. Even when the ball toppled off the kicking tee, Smith calmly picked it up and efficiently drop-kicked the angled conversion as an alternative. An additional penalty made it 27-17 however France weren’t completed, benefiting from a penalty attempt on the stroke of half-time which additionally resulted in Ellis Genge being despatched to the sin-bin for knocking down a close-range maul.

It meant England had equalled the Six Nations report for many playing cards acquired in a marketing campaign and, as soon as once more, left them at a numerical drawback at a key stage of the competition. France had been swift to take advantage of it, carving the guests open via the center earlier than Antoine Dupont’s lengthy cross put Bielle-Biarrey over for his hat-trick inside two minutes of the restart.

Nonetheless, although, France couldn’t loosen up even when Théo Attissogbe, alone on the appropriate wing, touched down their fifth attempt with England nonetheless all the way down to 14 gamers. That may have been that however nailing down the coffin was proving all however not possible, as illustrated when a galloping Chessum intercept saved a close to sure attempt at one finish and resulted in 5 factors on the different.

France couldn’t presumably blow it, might they? That chance loomed even bigger when England, additional invigorated by the arrival of a number of replacements, spun the ball left and Marcus Smith knifed over to place England again in entrance. This was fringe of the seat stuff, no matter your nationality.

France, although, nonetheless had Bielle-Biarrey who outpaced the quilt but once more to attain his fourth, with Ramos changing. Freeman’s rating briefly threatened one of many all-time plot twists however right here, lastly, was proof there’s a greater than respectable England workforce making an attempt to get out.