England survive fright against France to claim Six Nations grand slam again

There will be a great many more in the audience at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, should England make the World Cup final on home soil later this year, but if this thunderous encounter is to prove a dress rehearsal, there is some occasion in store.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE

This was a fierce, frenetic and frankly fabulous collision of contrasts, France giving the Red Roses the precise sort of fright they perhaps required if they are to fulfil their destiny come September.

The margins, come the close, were fine – in fact as fine as they could be. By a single point, England clung on for a 15th consecutive win over their rivals, in the process showing flaws not readily apparent before. The deep exhales of relief on the pitch as France contrived to fumble the restart after Joanna Grisez’s sensational solo try and drawn them within a kick of victory told the tale of an England side not used to being tested so significantly; perhaps this is a performance that will ultimately serve them well come the World Cup, but first there must be deep reflection on a game they so nearly threw away.

It is at the semi-final stage rather than in the showpiece decider itself that John Mitchell’s side are likelier to meet France but crikey do they now look a threat. It had not been a vintage tournament for this French side, yet they often find a way to raise their game come Le Crunch. They would have been deserving winners – but England, by hook or by crook, found a way.

But survive they did – as they, all bar once in the last six years, always seem to. A seventh successive title was again achieved without defeat; a run of grand slams broken only by the Covidenforced curtailing of the competition. They were given all that France had here, England singed by a flamethrower fightback having surged into a huge first-half advantage.