England accomplished a well-known grand slam with a 38-33 victory over France however have been saved by the bell in entrance of a world-record 58,498 crowd at Twickenham.
Initially rising to the event of setting a brand new highest attendance for the ladies’s sport, surpassing the 42,579 seen for final autumn’s World Cup closing in Auckland, the Red Roses ran amok to construct a 33-0 interval lead.
A fifth successive Women’s Six Nations regarded sure however France have been reborn for a second half they dominated 33-5 solely to expire of time as England collapsed in dramatic style.
It remained a triumphant send-off for outgoing England head coach Simon Middleton with the strongest rivalry within the Championship producing one other compelling instalment.
France have been the final facet to beat England within the Six Nations 5 years in the past they usually began the sport like they completed it, though with out the rewards.
It took resolute defending together with an necessary penalty received on the bottom by Hannah Botterman to disclaim them early on, however the strain was halted when England pounced towards the run of play.
Footwork and energy swept Helena Rowland by means of the midfield earlier than fast ball gave Abby Dow sight of the road with the precise wing’s tempo doing the remaining.
Rowland’s centre accomplice Tatyana Heard was the following to swat away blue shirts and when she was ultimately halted, Marlie Packer used her energy to crash over.
France’s defence was creaking and fly-half Jessy Tremouliere was proven a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, ushering in a dangerous spell that noticed Alex Matthews cross and a penalty strive awarded towards Rose Bernadou.
Bernadou adopted Tremouliere into the sin-bin and England continued to canter seemingly out of sight as Zoe Aldcroft touched down.
However, having regrouped at half-time, France full-back Emilie Boulard went over within the forty eighth minute by means of slick attacking play and when Gabrielle Vernier produced a sensible dummy and sidestep earlier than rushing over, the Red Roses’ nerves started to fray.
They settled when Lark Davies dived over as soon as England’s pack had reasserted itself however the guests continued to combat with tries by Charlotte Escudero, Emeline Gros and Cyrielle Banet falling narrowly wanting the goal wanted.