Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
France have won back-to-back Six Nations titles after beating England 48-46 on a last-second penalty kick by Thomas Ramos in a thriller for the ages.
England scored their seventh try in the 77th minute on Saturday night and converted for a 46-45 lead. If the score held for a few more minutes Ireland would have been crowned champions.
But Les Bleus pressed yet again with 14 men, lost possession, regained it, and earned two simultaneous penalties after the fulltime siren in Paris. Captain Antoine Dupont debated with referee Nika Amashukeli where the penalty spots were. Ramos, who didn’t miss a kick all night, finally lined up his seventh shot from more than 40 metres out.
He nailed it, seemingly without any nerves, in the 83rd minute and leaped into the arms of teammates, back-to-back champions for the first time in 19 years.
“It’s in my top three, and not just third,” Ramos said, of the title-winning kick.
“I love moments like that. This title rewards our very strong start to the tournament. I’m very happy. It would have been so tough, when you think about the scenario, to lose it at home in the 76th minute.”
In a bewildering and breathless match including 13 tries and six lead changes, Ramos was the difference as France scored only six tries, four to winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
England put up their highest ever score against France on French soil, but suffered a fourth loss in a single championship for the first time in 50 years.
Ireland had earlier beaten Scotland 43-21 to move to the top of the standings, leaving the championship closer at the Stade de France as the title decider.
England scored four tries in the first half but suffered a major turning point right on halftime while leading 27-17.
Prop Ellis Genge was sin-binned for collapsing a maul — England’s eighth yellow card in the tournament — and France were awarded a penalty try. While Genge was off the field, France rallied from 27-17 down to lead 38-27.
England came back with tries by standout lock Ollie Chessum from an intercept and replacement back Marcus Smith for 39-38.
Then Bielle-Biarrey scored his fourth try of the match, his ninth in the tournament breaking his own record of eight last year. They also extended his own record try-scoring streak in the championship to 10 matches.
But while leading 45-39, France prop Demba Bamba was sin-binned and the defence cracked when center Tommy Freeman finished a counterattack from a goalline dropout. Smith converted for 46-45 after replacing Fin Smith, who slotted only three of his six goalkicks.
Just over two minutes were left and France didn’t hold back.
