There are three minutes left for the player.
Maro Itoje, on a carried ball, is propelled into the French in-goal.
Cameron Woki is below him, his hand apparently slipped under the ball.
Irish referee Andrew Brace is not convinced.
For him, there is no attempt.
But he questions the video referee, Irishman Joy Neville.
Who takes his time.
Before announcing “you may award the try”.
The verdict is in.
23-20 for England.
The Blues, who led in the score since the 32nd minute, will have one last match point.
The ace !
A hand fault by Antoine Dupont will destroy the ultimate hope for France.
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Cruel defeat for the Blues in England
The battle had however been Homeric, the two teams surrendering blow for blow.
A try from Dupont in the second minute, Watson's response twelve minutes later.
Before, on a clear action in the first hand part of a French touch, Damian Penaud flattens in the corner (32nd) to turn in the lead at the break (13-17).
A penalty from Matthieu Jalibert even gave the XV of France a 7-point lead in the 50th minute.
The Blues broke up on the last burst of pride from Eddie Jones' men, then on the precipice
But the English bench, more efficient and rough than that of the Blues, some opportunities left in the way (Jalibert who messes up in the opposing goal with a ball pushed to the foot by Dupont (28th); raids by Teddy Thomas or Damian Penaud who should have known a better fate), deprived the XV of France of a feat expected since 2005. Dramatic outcome as captain Ollivon and his troop achieved a huge match.
Aggression, daring, mastery to push the English to their limits.
Before giving in on the thread.
To break on the last burst of pride from the men of Eddie Jones, then on the precipice they who already had two defeats in this Tournament.
English people, moreover, who must have been really surprised.
Some, taking their wishes for realities and their columns for a courtroom, had announced to them a French team showing up at Twickenham solidarity in tatters, trust undermined, envy lost in a health crisis attributed to a hierarchy presumed guilty.
Blues determined to let go of their coach, Fabien Galthié, who should have been, according to these same Fouquier-Tinville 2.0, beheaded rue de Grenelle to be out of Marcoussis, Bernard Laporte and Serge Simon in the same cart for example.
That it must have been their astonishment when they discovered French players who were intractable in defense, inflexible in the rucks, all driven by the desire to make up for the teammate's little blunder, ready to sacrifice themselves to fulfill the collective mission.
To open the way to the Grand Slam.
It's missed for a few inches, a few seconds.
And the frustration is immense.
He will have to be evacuated quickly because, from next Saturday (9 p.m.), Wales arrives at the Stade de France to accomplish the Grand Slam.
To the Blues to deprive them and then to beat Scotland in the postponed match.
And thus hope to win the Tournament.
A nice consolation expected on the French side since 2010.
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