England scored a last-gasp try to beat France at Allianz Arena, picking up their first win of the 2025 Six Nations and earning a bonus-point victory to boot. With the pressure mounting on head coach Steve Borthwick, his side fought valiantly to overcome the challenge posed by the French team, who had not lost since July.
Earning their first victory this tournament, England now sits second on the Six Nations table, level on points with leaders France. Elliot Daly's decisive try came just minutes before the final whistle, sending the home crowd at Allianz Arena—formerly known as Twickenham—into raptures. The thrilling finish had fans on the edge of their seats, with Daly scoring underneath the posts, which Fin Smith converted on his debut start to seal the match.
The intense game saw England lose six of their last seven matches leading up to this victorious day. Meanwhile, France, fresh from victories prior to this clash, was determined to continue their winning streak, having previously beaten England convincingly. The visitors established their lead three times during the second half, thanks to Thomas Ramos' boot and try scores from Damian Penaud.
England rallied back with tries from Tommy Freeman and Fin Baxter, marking their impressive debuts. Freeman, hot on the heels of his teammate's performance, snatched a cross-field kick from Fin Smith to score in the corner. Baxter followed suit, powering over from the ruck for his initiation score.
Just when it seemed as though France had clinched the victory with Louis Bielle-Biarrey's late score, England’s resolve shone through as they executed one last drive to score, leaving the scoreboard at 26-25.
“I can’t describe what it feels like to win this match,” said England captain Maro Itoje. “We fought for each other, and I believe we can achieve greatness if we keep building on this foundation. We need to maintain our accuracy and consistency over time.”
Itoje's commendation came after England showed resilience on the pitch, exemplifying teamwork and determination throughout the game. Coach Borthwick praised his players for their effort, admitting the game wasn't smooth but stating, “We managed to work hard tonight.”
England came from behind—having gone level before halftime—to snatch victory. The match’s opening stages were marked by scrappy play, which saw France take the early lead. After Bielle-Biarrey scored following some excellent ball handling from Penaud, England found it hard to settle, often giving away penalties and fumbling passes at the wrong moments.
Nevertheless, five minutes before halftime, Ollie Lawrence capitalized on the confusion, scoring directly to bring England level as the teams went to break.
The second half resumed with high energy as both sides took turns extending their leads. Ramos’s reliable boot consistently put points on the board for France, but Daly's late try saw the game shift dramatically, demonstrating the fluctuative nature of the match.
“It was back and forth,” recalled Fin Smith, who reflected on his debut and the challenges he faced earlier. “We had lost plenty of games like this before, but luckily it went our way today. It wasn’t pretty at times, but the group worked hard.”
The electrifying atmosphere at Allianz Arena echoed with cheers as fans rallied behind their team, urging them on against the formidable French squad. Smith expressed gratitude for the support and excitement as they headed for the two-week break after this match.
While England celebrated their hard-earned victory, attention now turns to France, who must regroup quickly for their next challenge against Italy. France’s coach Fabien Galthié expressed disappointment but noted the learnings they would take from the contest.
This battle between old rivals lived up to expectations, reminding fans of the passionate rivalry and the unpredictability of rugby union. With the Six Nations now well underway, both teams will have everything to play for as they pursue their ambitions.