France 25-13 England: Les Bleus win first Six Nations title in 12 years as they wrap up Grand Slam

Begin the inquest. Place the executioners on alert. England slipped to a third defeat of the Six Nations and, as the place erupted with France’s first Grand Slam in 12 years, the noose around Eddie Jones’s neck tightened.

Over the next few weeks, the RFU must decide whether Jones is still their man. With 18 months until the World Cup, it is now or never.

On Saturday night he placed his head on the block with his eyebrow-raising, kicking-focused selection and the gamble did not come off.

France have won the Six Nations for the first time since 2010 after a 25-13 win over England

But another heavy defeat puts even more pressure on the future of England’s Eddie Jones

After six years in the job, the English rugby public have become tired of Jones’s narratives about learning curves.

They do not see the Six Nations as some kind of polytechnic rugby university, where a handful of students will reach graduation in 18 months’ time.

Having fallen just short in Japan in 2019, the wishful hypothesis that the team will come to fruition at the World Cup does not offer the same level of immunity that it did four years ago. 

The fightback in Paris showed signs of life in Jones’s team but they must do better. The RFU seem wedded to Jones’s vision but they could call upon a secondary pair of eyes — a high-profile adviser like Steve Hansen or Warren Gatland — to help point the team in the right direction.

Gael Fickou scored France’s first try of the evening after Romain Ntamack’s bouncing pass

France, in contrast, are moving upwards. On the local news racks, blanket coverage of Le Crunch pushed back the presidential election battle to page six of Le Parisien. ‘All behind Les Bleus!’ read the splash on the front page, echoing the new national buy-in to French rugby.

Fans gathered outside the stadiums wearing cockerel hats and tricolour face paint, pretending to be Antoine Dupont.

After years of Gallic indifference, this French team have won back hearts and minds. How different to the mood across the Channel. They have developed a clear identity — on and off the pitch — and transformed the Stade de France into a Saturday night disco.

Inside it fizzed with excitement. Even the resident brass band increased their tempo. As the bass reverberated around the stands during the warm-up, Gabin Villiere and Damian Penaud were peppered with high balls down the right wing. They knew what was coming.

England had the ball five times in the opening five minutes and, you guessed it, they booted it every time. They pinned France back in their own half but their follow-up work at the breakdown was woeful.

They barely contested French ruck and allowed No 8 Gregory Alldritt to win turnovers. How England missed the hustle and hounding of Tom Curry. Every pressure-relieving clearance kick by Dupont was greeted with a roar louder than the last.

When Jones undergoes the post-mortem this week, he will see a team suffering from identity crisis. England started this campaign with wondrous visions to unleash a new, enterprising attack.

Marcus Smith scored two first half penalties and finished as the tournament’s top points scorer

They promised a brave new world but they ended the tournament with a regressive strategy to kick France’s Grand Slam bid into submission. It felt like the clock had been turned backwards. Rather than strut his best stuff, Marcus Smith kicked the ball away like it was a ticking time bomb.

The most successful teams in English rugby all have a clear long-term identity.

Chaotic freedom, perhaps, or abrasive phase play. England appear to be lost in the middle.

If France were not shredded by nerves, perhaps overwhelmed by the occasion, the scoreline could have been worse for England. There were handling errors aplenty.

Gael Fickou fumbled a ball as a hole opened up in England’s defence, yet the 42-stone combination of Uini Antonio and Paul Willemse turned over the scrum. Malvyn Jaminet called for the kicking tee. 3-0 France.

Freddie Steward claimed Marcus Smith’s high balls with authority, but the follow-up play was lacking. Ben Youngs failed to inject the tempo of Harry Randall and Villiere was on hand to pinch the ball back. Infringement by infringement, England’s penalty count mounted up.

Freddie Steward ran over in the second half as England grew into the contest in Paris

Playing with a penalty advantage after Maro Itoje jumped across the lineout to challenge Cameron Woki, France had a free hit. 

Their big forwards punched holes around the fringes of the ruck, before Villiere made hard yards down the left wing. His dummy pass sucked in Itoje, leaving an overlap outside. Romain Ntamack threw a bouncing pass to Fickou, who this time made no mistake as the stadium erupted with his opening try.

Smith registered England’s first points from the kicking tee, before George Furbank gifted France possession when he clumsily put a foot into touch. Jaminet edged the hosts further ahead with a dead-eye penalty, while England persisted with their aerial onslaught.

At times, England’s attack looked dangerous.

Joe Marchant made yards through midfield when he linked up with Henry Slade but England’s default position was to look to the skies. In the final play of the first half, Smith chipped the ball back into French possession.

World Rugby player of the year Antoine Dupont showed his class as he scored France’s third try

Building from their own half, France launched carry after carry. The lack of competition at the ruck allowed France to move through nine phases in no time. 

Eventually, after Ntmack was desperately clung on to by Ellis Genge, Francois Cros stretched over to give France a 12-point lead at half time.

In the second half, England showed signs of life. They turned down an early three-pointer for an attacking lineout but Sam Underhill lost the ball in contact.

A few minutes later, Marchant broke through midfield again, before Elliot Daly sent Steward over for a score down the right. Next try wins?

Steward claimed a massive up-and-under and England flirted with a comeback.

Francois Cros got the ball at the back of the ruck and jumped over to score France’s second try

But then Fickou clinched a game-changing turnover and France came back. The defensive system engineered by Shaun Edwards held firm. The Wiganer coach is held like an honorary Parisian in these quarters.

France attacked from a scrum in English territory and, after a few jabs to the body, Dupont cut the haymaker support line off Aldritt’s shoulder to score. Mission accomplished.

The Stade de France felt like a Parisian super-club as they held on for victory. Then the victorious French players made their way to a disco boat for an after-party on the River Seine. England, in contrast, were left with the sinking feeling that has become all too familiar.