Six Nations: Last-gasp Ramos effort takes France past England

Last-gasp Ramos effort takes France past England in Six Nations

Fly-half Thomas Ramos kicked a dramatic late penalty as France ended their Six Nations campaign with a 33-31 victory over England in Lyon on Saturday.

Ramos' 80th minute effort helped the French claim second place in the table, after Ireland had lifted the title by beating Scotland earlier in the day.

It offered some relief after a sluggish tournament following the disappointment of crashing out at the quarter-final stage of last year's Rugby World Cup on home soil.

England finished third in the standings, with Steve Borthwick's side showing glimmers of hope before summer Tests against Japan and New Zealand.

Borthwick kept fly-half Marcus Smith on the bench after he had kicked the extra-time winning drop goal in last weekend's 23-22 victory over future champions Ireland.

France flanker Charles Ollivon started the game despite missing Friday's training sessions for personal reasons as coach Fabien Galthie named an unchanged side from last Sunday's 45-24 win at Wales.

The vocal 59 000 sell-out crowd at the Parc OL, being used as the Stade de France is being prepared for this summer's Paris Olympic Games, witnessed a dominant start from the hosts, looking for a third straight win in the fixture for the first time in 18 years.

There was no Six Nations title to play for but the old rivals showed no let-up in the final game of the tournament as England full-back George Furbank was forced off with a head injury and replaced by Smith after less than 10 minutes.

After 19 minutes the sides were equal after Ramos responded to an early George Ford penalty before Nolann Le Garrec sent the home crowd into delirium with the opening try.

The scrum-half, putting his hand up as Antoine Dupont's heir apparent, finished under the sticks after young full-back Leo Barre made a 50m break and with Ramos' conversion Galthie's side led 10-3.

By the half hour mark the game had lost its structure with countless loose kicks and dropped balls before Ramos took the score to 13-3 with a second penalty.

Ramos added another three-pointer before England's hopes of a first away win in the fixture since 2016 were given a boost seconds before half-time as centre Ollie Lawrence strolled over to score.

Lawrence's try sparked something in England and they were leading 24-16 after just five minutes of the second half as the midfielder added a second effort and Smith scored in a clinical blitz reminiscent of their victory over Ireland last time out.

Galthie brought on some fresh faces from the bench including hooker Peato Mauvaka and the reaction came with 25 minutes to play.

Les Bleus found some momentum with powerful carries from Mauvaka and veteran prop Uini Atonio before Barre scored his first Test try as Galthie's side re-took control of a franticly open tie.

Ramos kicked the additional points to make it 24-23 before playing a crucial role in centre Gael Fickou's try.

Toulouse playmaker Ramos converted the extras again and France led 30-24 going into a potentially fiery final quarter.

England refused to accept defeat and led by a point with five minutes to go as Tommy Freeman went over in the corner and Ford added a conversion.

Ramos then stepped up for the winner with 55 seconds left on the clock, showing an unbelievable coolness to slot the crucial penalty from 50 metres.

- AFP

Ireland retained their Six Nations title with a gritty 17-13 win over Scotland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Tries by Dan Sheehan and Andrew Porter got the Irish over the line as the hosts were thwarted time and again by a magnificent Scottish defence.

- AFP

Italy condemn Wales to Six Nations whitewash

Italy condemned Wales to a Six Nations whitewash for the first time in 21 years with a 24-21 win in Cardiff on Saturday.

Defeat also meant Wales finished last in a Six Nations for the first time since that woeful 2003 campaign and was a sad way for George North, who went off injured late on, to bow out from Test rugby in the powerhouse back's final match before international retirement.

But for Italy, victory meant they had recorded their best return in a Six Nations of two wins and a draw, with this result following last weekend's 31-29 defeat of Scotland in Rome and a 13-13 thriller with France.

It also ensured the Azzurri avoided a ninth-straight 'wooden spoon' in the tournament.Italy scored fine tries through Monty Ioane and Lorenzo Pani, in for the injured Ange Capuozzo, as they led 18-0 until the 65th minute.

But Wales hit back when hooker Elliot Dee forced his way over from close range.Another Garbisi penalty and one from replacement Martin Page-Relo all but sealed the game for Italy at 24-7 with 10 minutes left.

Wales then managed two further tries through replacements Will Rowlands and Mason Grady but those scores came too late to deny Italy a deserved victory.

- AFP

Ireland eye Six Nations title on 'Super Saturday'

Ireland heads into the "Super Saturday" final round of the Six Nations as firm favourites to retain their title, where a surprise slip-up could result in the trophy heading elsewhere.

The Irish are four points clear at the top of the table after second-placed England ended their dreams of back-to-back Grand Slams with a thrilling 23-22 win at Twickenham last week.

But if Ireland avoid defeat or claim two bonus points against Scotland, they will be assured of winning the championship, while even a solitary bonus point would likely prove enough.

But a pointless defeat would leave Ireland sweating on the result of England's game away to France later in the day, the final match of the tournament.

Scotland will be bidding for their first Triple Crown -- when one of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales beats each of those other teams in a single championship season -- since 1990.

But they have lost their past nine matches against Ireland in all competitions, with their most recent reverse a 36-14 pool defeat at last year's World Cup in France.

Scotland also have only the slimmest of title hopes after letting things slip in a 31-29 fourth-round loss to Italy in Rome, but wary Ireland coach Andy Farrell said: "When you're disappointed, all you want is an opportunity where there's a trophy on the line.

"And I know that as far as the Triple Crown is concerned, they've not won that for some time now and that makes them dangerous in our view."

Former England international Farrell wants Ireland to finish the tournament with a flourish.

"I love winning titles, there's no doubt about that, but this is an occasion for us to perform when it really matters," he said.

Scotland boss Gregor Townsend is under no illusions about the challenge facing his side.

"We know how tough it's going to be," he said.

"They (Ireland) are one of the top two teams in the world, and at home, they've been virtually unbeatable the last few years, so it's going to require something special from our players."

England eager to 'back-up' against France

England have travelled to France following arguably their best performance since a 2019 World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand, but they now face a France team whose formidable bench proved too strong for Wales in a 45-24 win in Cardiff.

"After such a hard-fought win against Ireland last week, we realise how important it is to back that performance up with another similar display in Lyon on Saturday," said England coach Steve Borthwick.

France thrashed England 53-10 at Twickenham last season but, following the disappointment of failing to win the 2023 World Cup on home soil, have rarely hit those heights this year.

Concerns remain about their defence, which is set to be tested by an improving England.

"In their game-plan, they (England) attack often, powerfully in the middle of the field," explained France coach Fabien Galthie.

"We have to put our hands up and be counted, as we've done in the past."

In Saturday's first match, Wales will be bidding to avoid losing all five games in a Six Nations for the first time since 2003 -- the last occasion they finished bottom of the table.

The Cardiff clash with a resurgent Italy has been given added significance after recalled Wales centre George North announced he would be making his 121st and final appearance for his country.

But North, whose current tally of 47 tries for Wales is bettered only by Shane Williams's 58, is determined it should be business as usual, saying: "I asked them (the Wales squad) for nothing to change from what we always do.

"For us, it is a must-win game, and the focus should never be on one individual."

- AFP

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