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England secured their eighth consecutive Women’s Six Nations title with a commanding 43-28 victory over a determined France side at Stade Atlantique in Bordeaux. The match, attended by a record 35,062 spectators, showcased England’s blend of composure and precision as they overcame the fervent home crowd. After a strong first half that saw England establish a considerable lead, France rallied impressively in the second half, but ultimately could not close the gap.
France started the encounter with high energy and belief, buoyed by their growing confidence over recent weeks and the massive home support. They surged into the England 22 early on, led by powerful performances from forwards like Axelle Berthoumieu and Madoussou Fall Raclot. Despite this pressure, England’s Amy Cokayne made crucial defensive plays to repel attacks. France opened the scoring with a well-executed try finished by Bourdon Sansus, who remains the last player from the 2018 team to have defeated England.
England responded with resilience and depth, showing their Rugby World Cup-winning class despite missing some key players. Sarah Bern powered over for a try to level the scores around the 20-minute mark, and Meg Jones’s alert play helped Ellie Kildunne break clear for a try before the half-hour. Jess Breach added further points with a quick burst leading to a score in the corner, and Kildunne secured her second just before halftime following a precise long pass from Helena Rowland. At the break, England’s 26-7 lead was bolstered by reliable kicking from Zoe Harrison.
Early in the second period, Harrison extended the lead with a penalty for a 29-7 advantage, seemingly putting the game beyond reach. However, France surged back with tries from Anais Grando and Pauline Bourdon Sansus, narrowing England’s lead to eight points and reigniting the Stade Atlantique crowd. Still, England’s composure showed through as a well-coordinated move allowed Breach to score a crucial try, stemming the momentum. A sin-binning for France’s replacement scrum-half Alexandra Chambon reduced the home side to 14 players, and England’s strong bench players helped maintain control. Amy Cokayne finished the match with a late try, celebrating by tossing the ball into the crowd amid a mix of cheers and jeers, sealing a memorable triumph for the Red Roses.
This victory extends England’s dominance in women’s rugby, marking their fifth consecutive Grand Slam and their 38th straight Test win. France, despite the defeat, can take pride in having set a new attendance record for a home Women’s Six Nations fixture and pushing England fiercely in front of a passionate audience. The encounter provided a thrilling and high-quality finale to a tournament that has seen record interest and support across the board
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