It was also the night their pack flexed their muscles for the first time in the tournament by submitting France up front, inspired by Chessum, the relentless Ben Earl and props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes. But they were hurt by their eighth yellow card of the tournament shown to Genge and the exquisite finishing of Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who touched down four times. In a rare display of emotion, Borthwick slammed his hand down on his desk in celebration of the try. For the first time in the tournament, England’s pack began to snarl with the maul emerging as a potent weapon with the second of two powerful drives ending when Chessum dived over. England were stung by a breakaway try for Bielle-Biarrey but when France prop Demba Bamba was sin-binned they pounced for the sixth time through Freeman, only for Ramos to kick the title-winning penalty.

Source: The Herald March 15, 2026 10:26 UTC