England 26 France 25: Super-sub Elliot Daly’s last-gasp try STUNS Six Nations favourites at raucous Twickenham
IT was a tale of two Smiths as England pulled off a thrilling last-gasp win over Six Nations favourites France.
Fin Smith, who replaced Marcus Smith at fly-half, landed three late efforts which saw Steve Borthwick’s men halt a horror run of seven straight defeats against tier-one nations.
Marcus, shunted to full-back, missed two sitters and had to be removed as kicker at half-time.
But Fin, who had set up a second-half try for Tommy Freeman with an artful chip, was dead-eyed with the ball at his boot on an astonishing full international debut.
Veteran sub Elliot Daly had stormed over for the crucial late try – holding off French captain and golden boy Antoine Dupont to do so.
So often their miserable run, England had been in front, only to collapse in the final stages.
But this was a stunning reversal of that trend as the Red Rose made amends for last weekend’s late surrender against Ireland in Dublin.
The last time France visited HQ they rattled up a record 53-10 victory – and few were predicting anything other than another Gallic rout. How wrong they were.
Les Bleus had stuffed Wales 43-0 in last week’s tournament opener and their scrum-half Dupont was being hailed as Lionel Messi with egg-shaped balls.
And so the opening exchanges were seriously strange – while France had England pinned back, they were showing frequent signs of mortality.
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First, full-back Thomas Ramos dragged a straightforward penalty wide.
Then after Ollie Sleightholme and Damian Penaud had grabbed each other by the throats across the touchline, the French were hit by an outbreak of butterfingers.
It had taken England 18 minutes to stage an attack but when it broke down and they conceded a penalty, the French charged forward – Ramos feeding Dupont who spilt it yards from the line.
Twickenham was astonished – these things don’t usually happen to a man who has been propelled into contention for the accolade of rugby’s GOAT.
Then it was Penaud’s turn to suffer a horrible handling error just as the try-line had opened up for him.
Marcus Smith, who’d been having some eye-catching, high-stepping moments from full-back, had a kick charged down but Alex Mitchell recovered expertly.
But after 29 scoreless minutes, England were finally breached.
Dupont, naturally, played his part, darting to the left and producing a reverse-pass to release Penaud, who kicked for the corner, allowing Louis Bielle-Biarrey to open the scoring, Ramos converting.
Yet this spurred England into life as an attacking force, Henry Slade and Tommy Freeman combining to create an opening for Mitchell, yet Jean-Baptiste Gros snuffed out the danger.
Then from a scrum on the French line, Fin Smith fumbled, recovered and found Ollie Lawrence who crossed the line, Marcus adding the afters.
After all of the French hype and all of their territory and pressure, England went in level at the interval.
Yet first halves had not been England’s problem – they had led in Dublin last weekend and had frequently been in front during their wretched run, only to blow it in the final quarter.
France’s handling issues continued early in the second half, when Marcus Smith was stripped by Bielle-Biarrey, who jinked free and invited Peato Mauvaka to cross the line only for the forward to fumble.
Ramos slotted over a penalty to hand the visitors a slender advantage. England given the chance to respond in kind, went for the corner and botched it.
Then Dupont decided a little majesty was required and he conjured a visionary diagonal kick which Ben Earl managed to cut out.
After Ramos nailed another penalty, Fin Smith got to work.
The fly-half’s sublime dink was caught by Freeman, outmuscling Bielle-Biarrey to touch down.
Yet while one Smith was thriving, the other was struggling – Marcus dragging his conversion attempt horribly wide and denying England the chance to get their noses in front.
Soon, though, the French turned the screw. Dupont slinging it wide, Penaud going over in the corner.
England responded with a flowing move but Marcus Smith was the fall guy again, spilling close to the French line.
Borthwick emptied his bench and the French appeared to be tiring.
England, six points down with 15 to play, won a penalty in front of the posts and went for the ticks – yet Marcus Smith missed again.
The next time England won a penalty, they went for the corner and sub Fin Baxter was soon ploughing across the line.
Marcus Smith was replaced by his namesake on kicking and Fin slotted this one home.
Yet Dupont started a sweeping move, Bielle-Biarrey went over in the corner and Ramos landed another kick.
Still, there was more in the tank from Borthwick’s men and when Fin Smith slipped him a pass Daly held off Dupont – of all people – for the try.
Fin Smith performed the crucial kicking duties and somehow, England had won it.