England cruise past France to seal another Grand Slam

The Women’s Six Nations revolution will have to wait for another year as England’s reign of terror goes on. For six years now the Red Roses have ruled this competition with an iron fist and jewel-studded crown, and the most dominant rugby team on the planet were garlanded again in the glory of a magisterial Bordeaux performance.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE

France 21

England 42

Who knows what John Mitchell’s side may go on to achieve over the next 18 months but this group will be remembered as a fine vintage. The discourse around their dominance will remain but it would be wrong not to applaud their ambition and aptitude for improvement. England began this tournament adjusting to their new head coach, continuing an ambitious overhaul of the systems and structures that have served them so well. But they have reaped much merited rewards from their development – this is now a team capable of beating even their closest challenger any which way they please.

It had been a wretched day in Bordeaux, the tram tracks overrun by the gathering water as the late spring rain poured. Not that it stopped the fans piling in, 28,000 Bordelais filling the stone seats of the charmingly rough and rustic Stade Chaban-Delmas and making the noise of many more.