England unleash taste of things to come

THIS was one that got away from a brave England side in a seesaw match full of pendulum swings which eventually fell France's way as their ace marksman Thomas Ramos nailed a longrange penalty one minute from time to clinch victory.

- NICK CAIN

It used to be the English forward bludgeon against the French backline rapier back in the 1990s but this electric match in Lyon was a classic case of role reversal, with France trying to bulldoze England into submission in a pulsating second-half as these teams battled for second place in this Six Nations.

England appeared to have clinched the game with a try by Tommy Freeman four minutes from time after a slick backline move involving a George Ford flick-pass and Marcus Smith assist.

Ford's touchline conversion gave England a 31-30 lead, but when Ben Earl, England's dynamo for most of this Six Nations, and exceptional again here, was penalised for a no-arms tackle it gave Ramos the chance to turn the tables.

After trailing 16-10 at half-time England stole a march right at the start of the second-half with a fizzing try scored by Ollie Lawrence his second of an evening in which he truly came of age in the England midfield with his finishing power.

It started with a Maro Itoje line-out before Henry Slade and Freeman combined to send Underhill into the French 22, and as Earl carried it to within a couple of metres of the line it was recycled before Lawrence burst past Penaud and Le Garrec to ground it.

No sooner had Ford converted than England scored again from a lineout when a short pass from Ellis Genge saw Earl burst past Ramos before putting Smith over.

This one-two meant that with 45 minutes on the clock England led 2416 and it was then that the French turned on the power.