England secured a pulsating 26-25 victory over France and kickstarted their Six Nations campaign after Elliot Daly’s last-gasp try at Allianz Stadium.
Daly raced to meet an incisive delayed ball from Fin Smith before gliding away between defenders and powering over in the final seconds of the showdown.
Smith then hammered over the extras on his first Test start to seal the comeback.
The game played out on a rain-sodden pitch and was punctuated by a number of uncharacteristic handling errors from the visitors, but Louis Bielle-Biarrey looked to have broken England’s hearts after scoring with five minutes to play.
However, there was still time for drama at the death and the hosts gathered the restart after Smith’s conversion before hacking it into the stands to confirm their win.
Mail Sport‘s CHRIS FOY rates both sides at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
England secured a pulsating 26-25 victory over France in the Six Nations at Allianz Stadium
Elliot Daly powered over with seconds left on the clock after meeting Fin Smith’s ball
Louis Bielle-Biarrey looked to have broken England’s hearts after his dramatic late try
ENGLAND
Marcus Smith 6 – Some familiar flourishes from an unfamiliar position as he kept hunting space, but couldn’t cut loose and missed late kicks.
Tommy Freeman 7 – Once again, there were flashes of running threat, then his aerial skills came to the fore with re-start steal and high-ball take for his fine try.
Ollie Lawrence 7.5 – Big hits and a turnover showed that he was in combative mood and the Bath centre finished strongly for England’s first try.
Henry Slade 6.5 – Missed touch from an early penalty and not as influential as he was in Dublin, but came into the game more and more in latter stages.
Ollie Sleightholme 6 – Confrontation with Penaud was his first involvement and chased well to deny a French try but not much space for him to exploit.
Fin Smith – 7 First kick in open play charged down and often forced to work off scraps, but delivered assists with composure at key moments.
Marcus Smith couldn’t cut loose and missed late kicks before handing duties over to Smith
Ollie Lawrence was in a combative mood and the centre finished strongly for his try
Alex Mitchell 7 – Burst out of the shadow of his exalted opposite number with a typically sparky effort to keep up the tempo as England fought back.
Ellis Genge 7 – There was a real edge of intent about him in the collision areas as the vice-captain took the fight to the big Gallic pack.
Luke Cowan-Dickie 7- Trademark chop tackles in defence and tidy lineout-throwing work. A really abrasive presence up front for England.
Will Stuart 6.5 Anchored scrum effectively and added clout to the carrying effort at close quarters. Played his part to disrupt the visitors’ platform.
Maro Itoje (capt) 7 – Not initially as prominent as he had been seven days earlier, but the skipper started to spoil and disrupt effectively after the break.
George Martin 6 – Knocked back heavily when he carried early on and was largely restricted to the grunt work; making tackles and clearing out.
Skipper Maro Itoje started to spoil and disrupt France effectively during the second half
Tom Curry, right, kept hurling himself into contact and was superb throughout the match
Tom Curry 8 – Great shot on Roumat to spoil early French attack. First turnover midway through first half and kept hurling himself into contact. Superb.
Tom Willis 7 – Couple of close-quarters blasts demonstrated his gainline impact and he brought aggression to the England pack, on and off the ball.
Ben Earl 7.5 – Major 80-minute shift. Lurked in back field when France kicked long and enjoyed running ball back at pace. Scrambled to stop a French try.
Replacements – George (for Cowan-Dickie, 61 – 7), Baxter (for Genge, 51 – 7), Heyes (for Stuart, 58 – 6), Chessum (for Martin, 61 – 6.5), B Curry (for Willis, 53 – 6.5), Daly (for Slade, 75 – 7)
FRANCE
Thomas Ramos 5 – Missed first shot from in front, all too easily brushed off by Lawrence as he scored and erratic with his decision-making at the back.
Damian Penaud 5.5 – Fumbled when ball first reached him in space, but clever supporting run and kick for first try then scored later. Mixed bag overall.
Pierre-Louis Barassi 5 – His break should have set up an opening strike for France but inside pass was dropped. Stood his ground in feisty midfield contest.
Yoram Moefana 5 – Bordeaux centre kept in check well by the England defence in the first half, but had a few more effective involvements after the break.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey 6 – Scored visitors’ first try after nervy start. Chased down by Sleightholme when a second try was up for grabs but claimed it later.
Matthieu Jalibert 6 – Wasn’t able to exert control and make Gallic attack flow as the errors kept coming. Touches of class and occasional lapses.
Thomas Ramos was all too easily brushed off by Lawrence as he scored (pictured)
Antoine Dupont is human after all and he was far from his imperious best despite glimpses
Antoine Dupont (capt) 6 – He’s human after all. Not immune to French tension and far from imperious best but arcing run set up one try and long passes helped create two others.
Jean-Baptiste Gros 6 – Covered back to snuff out England try chance late in first half but wasn’t an all-areas presence as he had been against Wales.
Peato Mauvaka 5.5 – Accurate service at lineout but not in open play, with the Toulouse hooker guilty of one howler which cost a try. Jackal threat.
Uini Atonio 5 – Largely ineffectual as a carrier despite several attempts to rumble through the heart of England’s defence. Edged in the scrum.
Alexandre Roumat 4 – Dropped the ball under pressure from Curry when France first threatened. Reliable outlet in the lineout, but handling poor in open play.
Emmanuel Meafou 5 – The biggest man on the field but not the biggest contribution. Couldn’t throw his weight about to telling effect as he so often does.
Alexandre Roumat was a reliable outlet in the lineout, but his handling was poor in open play
Emmanuel Meafou couldn’t throw his weight about to telling effect as he so often does
Francois Cros 5 – Did all the earthy, grafting stuff as a blindside should, but he was among the French forwards who didn’t upstage their rivals as expected.
Gregory Alldritt 6 – Effective as always in adding straight-line momentum to French attacks, without quite banging down the door when it mattered.
Paul Boudehent 5 – Eclipsed by English rivals at the breakdown, limited defensive duties and no impact as a link man in stuttering attack.
Replacements – Marchand (for Mauvaka, 56 – 5), Baille (for Gros, 56 – 6), Colombe (for Atonio, 56 – 5.5), Auradou (for Roumat, 49 – 5), Guillard (for Meafou, 66 – 5), Jegou (for Boudehent, 49 – 5), Le Garrec (for Jalibert, 66 – 5.5).
