France win the Grand Slam – 2022 Six Nations

France win the Grand Slam

Grand Slam. Grand Chelem. Whichever language you converse, France have executed it.

Les Bleus rounded off the 2022 Six Nations with a 25-13 victory over England in Paris. 5 wins from 5 they usually have gained their first championship title since 2010.

The match on the Stade de France didn’t go all of the hosts’ approach. The third-quarter dip that’s changing into an undesirable hallmark of this French staff was evident but once more as they allowed England to achieve territory, possession and, most crucially, factors.

But they rode that wave, their defence repelled additional assaults and Antoine Dupont, in fact, delivered the essential blow by crossing for France’s third strive. The tempo and energy of their sport is troublesome for any staff to deal with – the slowest a part of their efficiency was the time it took for them to get on the stage to elevate the trophy after the ultimate whistle!

A phrase, too, for Gael Fickou, who scored a strive, was concerned in others and produced a few essential turnovers in defence.

Eddie Jones had picked a staff to kick – loads – however France usually and Melvyn Jaminet particularly had the solutions. Sure, Freddie Steward, a standout performer for the guests, beat the France full-back to a few excessive balls within the first half however England have been unable to do something notable with the possession, as an alternative getting penalised.

Plus, whereas France kicked much less in that first 40, they made extra metres, with their lengthy sport simpler. England really bought extra rewards within the second half after they stored the ball in hand and appeared to stretch the hosts.

Fickou crossed for the primary strive of the sport after quarter of an hour. It got here from a lineout simply exterior the England 22 from which the ball was unfold large and Gabin Villiere took play to inside seven metres of the guests’ line.

Villiere was concerned once more when the ball was recycled, producing a superb back-handed offload to Cameron Woki. Then Romain Ntamack fired the ball large, Fickou picked it up on the bounce and rounded the defender to attain.

There have been a couple of different breaks in that first half however the strikes broke down with knock-ons. Nonetheless, France produced one other magical second in assault simply earlier than the break.

Villiere broke via after an ideal go from Fickou and in flip despatched Anthony Jelonch sprinting into the 22. The assault slowed down earlier than a couple of fast offloads upped the tempo once more, Ntamack made it to inside a metre of the road (good deal with from Ellis Genge to cease him reaching the whitewash) and Francois Cros then stretched via a pile of our bodies for the attempt to an 18-6 half-time lead.

England diminished that deficit early within the second half. It began from a scything Joe Marchant break into France’s 22, with solely Damian Penaud’s grip on his shirt stopping him from going all the way in which to the road.

The ball was then labored large and Steward bought over within the nook with Marcus Smith changing from the touchline to make it 18-13.

The guests have been threatening in and across the 22 a couple of minutes later just for France to win an important turnover penalty – Fickou the person as soon as extra.

As towards New Zealand within the autumn and Eire final month, France’s opponents have been discovering a approach again into the sport. It’s nearly a trait.

That’s when the noise actually began to choose up as the group sensed the significance of swinging momentum again in direction of the hosts.

And the way the gamers in blue responded. Gregory Alldritt delivered a pleasant pop go to Dupont on the 22 and the scrum-half skipped away from Jamie George and Ben Youngs for the third French strive. The stands turned a sea of waving flags.

England got here once more within the remaining ten minutes, creating a couple of nervy moments for the 15 gamers on the pitch and the 79,000-plus followers within the stands, however they didn’t have the accuracy to be medical when the alternatives arose.

As the ultimate seconds ticked on, the sound of La Marseillaise rang across the stadium because the hosts moved ever nearer to the long-awaited clear sweep. And people flags have been waving once more as the ultimate whistle blew. The Slam was theirs.

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