By Paul Eddison at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
A last-gasp try from Elliot Daly, converted by Fin Smith gave England a thrilling 26-25 win over France to ignite their Guinness Six Nations challenge at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
Trailing by seven points, England had one final chance to snatch victory from Les Bleus, and after a powerful maul, they did just that with Daly put through by fly-half Smith to crash under the posts.
The Northampton Saints fly-half, in his first start for England, added the simple conversion and England were able to see out the final restart to end their run of defeats to tier one nations at seven.
It was a remarkable encounter, England hanging tough in the first half as France missed a host of chances in the wet conditions.
But when Louis Bielle-Biarrey went in for his second of the game with five minutes to go, it seemed that France might have salvaged victory.
That was until the Daly-Smith combination pulled it out of the fire for the home side, who are now up and running in 2025.
In slippery conditions, France enjoyed much more of the territory and possession in the first half, but Bielle-Biarrey, Antoine Dupont and Damian Penaud all missed golden opportunities to score.
Thomas Ramos even missed a straightforward penalty but France did finally take the lead on the half-hour – Dupont scooped up a loose ball in midfield before racing to the left and passing to Penaud on the switch. He put in a delicate grubber with Bielle-Biarrey first to it as he so often is. Ramos nailed the touchline conversion and France had some reward for their dominance.
That seemed to spark England, who had barely fired a shot to that point. They got over from their first sustained period of possession, Ollie Lawrence with a brutal hand-off on Ramos after being fed by Tommy Freeman.
The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with Bielle-Biarrey almost in for France’s second try after stripping Marcus Smith. Ollie Sleightholme got across to force an extra pass, with Peato Mauvaka unable to collect.
Two Ramos penalties made it 13-7 to France before the game came alive.
Fin Smith produced a perfect cross-kick for club colleague Freeman who soared above Bielle-Biarrey to pluck the ball out of the air and reach over the line. Marcus Smith pulled his conversion attempt wide with France’s lead down to one.
The points were coming thick and fast, Penaud put over by Bielle-Biarrey this time after some neat interplay from Les Bleus, Ramos clipping the outside of the post as he tried to add the extras.
England should have been in again a minute later, only for Marcus Smith to knock on after Jamie George had burst through. The momentum was with them despite another missed penalty, with Fin Baxter getting over from close range after a five-metre lineout.
Fin Smith took over kicking duties and his successful conversion put England in front for the first time with 10 minutes to go.
The lead lasted four minutes, Bielle-Biarrey again on the end of a wonderful French counter-attack, sparked by Penaud on the right and finished by his wing colleague in the left corner. Ramos converted once more to make it 25-19 before Daly won it at the death.
