England prove their total dominance of the world game as they win a fourth consecutive Women’s Six Nations title with a brave 24-12 Grand Slam victory in France.
| France: (7) 12 |
| Tries: R Menager, Deshayes; Con: Drouin |
| England: (21) 24 |
| Tries: Bern 2, Ward; Pen: Scarratt; Cons: Scarratt 3 |
England were initially startled in front of a sellout Bayonne crowd as France’s Romane Menager scored first.
But their maul was a formidable weapon with two Sarah Bern and one Abbie Ward tries for a 21-7 lead at half-time.
Annaelle Deshayes’ 66th-minute try gave the vocal fans hope, before England held on for their 23rd win in a row.
That run equals England’s best – set between 1992-97 – and they have now won 10 consecutive games against France, who will be their World Cup pool opponents in October.
After record wins against the Black Ferns in the autumn, this victory places England as firm favourites for the showpiece in New Zealand.
More to follow.
Line-ups
England: Rowland; Thompson, Scarratt (capt), Aitchison, Breach; Harrison, Infante; Cornborough, Davies, Bern, Aldcroft, Ward, Matthews, Packer, Cleall.
Replacements: Cokayne, Botterman, Muir, Galligan, Beckett, Kabeya, Hunt, Kildunne.
France: Jacquet; Boujard, Filopon, Vernier, M Menager; Drouin, Sansus; Deshayes, Sochat, Joyeux, Fall, Forlani, Ferer, Hermet (capt), R Menager.
Replacements: Touye, Lindelhauf, Brosseau, Annery, Gros, Chambon, Tremouliere, Boulard.