This defeat will hurt a lot.
Beaten by England in the last minutes after a test granted to the video (23-20), the XV of France failed to break the curse of Twickenham, where he has not won in the Tournament since 2005. A halt for the men of Fabien Galthié.
The game
It was there, at your fingertips.
This victory which would have offered France of rugby the enjoyable pleasure, but forgotten (since 2005 during the Tournament), of a victory in England.
The one who would have put these Blues, again popular, on a path mapped out for a first Grand Slam since 2010. And would have removed days and days of debates on this fiasco of the health bubble.
Unfortunately, this success escaped in the last moments, the fault of Maro Itoje and an English team which finished much stronger than the Blues.
A test three minutes from the end (23-20, 77th) which changed the fate of a Crunch that the Blues have long led.
READ ALSO>
Relive minute by minute the defeat of the XV of France in England
In the lead quickly thanks to an early try from Antoine Dupont (2nd), the Blues were then jostled by the English, back in the match thanks to Watson (10th).
But when at the end of a superb movement, Damian Penaud (32nd) overturned the XV of France again, we said to ourselves that it was the good year.
Never able to definitively distance their best enemies, Fabien Galthié's men remained within shooting range of the English.
And ended up regretting it in the last moments of this living and harsh Crunch.
The player: Matthieu Jalibert
Matthieu Jalibert was sharp and flawless at the foot against England. / AFP / Adrian Dennis
He was one of the staff's defining choices, and more than answered.
Maintained as the holder despite the return of the usual number one Romain Ntamack, Matthieu Jalibert made an almost perfect copy at Twickenham.
Sharp, impeccable at the foot, very inspired on the second try of the Blues where his magnificent pass finds the arms of Damian Penaud, the opening half of Bordeaux-Bègles made an excellent copy in England.
But that was unfortunately not enough.
READ ALSO>
The notes of the defeat of the XV of France
The sequence: the essay by Maro Itoje
This image will haunt the Blues.
77th minute, the English, led (20-16), get a penalty and will play the touch in the 22 meters tricolor.
The XV de la Rose pack progresses, the ball arrives in the hands of Maro Itoje who throws himself on the line, surrounded by Cameron Woki then Teddy Thomas.
Cruel !
Maro Itoje gives the English advantage in the last five minutes!
Thanks to the transformation of Owen Farrell, the XV of the Rose leads (23-20)!
▶ Follow the end of the match live: https://t.co/kVwQAH8rYe#ENGvFRA #SixNations pic.twitter.com/vuS4mohrK2
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) March 13, 2021
Try, not try?
The response of the video is long overdue.
But after the viewing, the test is finally granted, the English pass again, despite the lack of convincing images of the second line flattening the ground.
Farrell transforms and relegates France to three points.
As in December, France lost at Twickenham in the last minutes.
But there is no pride in having seen the reservists shine.
The match sheet
Half-time:
13-17
Referee: Mr. Brace.
Dots.
England: tries by Watson (10th), Itoje (77th);
Farrell penalties (15th, 20th, 54th);
Farrell transformations (10th, 77th).
France: tests by Dupont (2nd), Penaud (32nd);
Jalibert penalties (30th, 50th);
Jalibert transformations (2nd, 32nd)
Morning essentials newsletter
A tour of the news to start the day
Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters
England:
Malins (Daly, 63rd) - Watson, Slade (Lawrence, 72nd), Farrell (cap.), May - (o) Ford, (m) Youngs (Robson, 76th) - Curry, B. Vunipola, Wilson (Earl , 63rd) - Ewels, Itoje - Sinckler (Stuart, 72nd), Cowan-Dickie (George, 72nd), M. Vunipola (Genge, 63rd).
Coach: Eddie Jones.
France:
Dulin - Penaud, Vakatawa, Fickou, Thomas - (o) Jalibert, (m) Dupont - Ollivon (cap.), Alldritt, Cretin (Woki, 72nd) - Willemse, R. Taofifenua (Cazeaux, 59th) - Haouas ( Aldegheri, 59th), Marchand (Chat, 72nd), Baille (Gros, 68th).
Coach: Fabien Galthié.
