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France retains Six Nations title after 13-try thriller with England

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Thomas Ramos kicked a penalty after the final hooter to win the Six Nations for France with a mind-blowing 48-46 victory over a rejuvenated England on Saturday.

Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored four of the 13 tries in a barn-storming encounter in which the lead changed hands numerous times.

But Ramos’s kick ensured that France retained the title and denied Ireland, who had moved into pole position by beating Scotland earlier.

Bielle-Biarrey, 22, took his tally to 29 tries in just 27 Tests for France and finished this Six Nations campaign with nine, beating his own record of eight from last season.

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He also extended another record by scoring in a 10th consecutive Six Nations match.

A week on from succumbing to a chaotic 50-40 defeat by Scotland, France were back, but so too were England, playing their part in a stunningly entertaining encounter, just a week on from slumping to their first ever defeat to Italy.

England had started well with a couple of Elliot Daly grubbers pinning France down in their 22.

But, inevitably, Bielle-Biarrey struck.

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Ramos delayed just enough to suck in England’s defence and then chipped ahead for the flying winger to dash on to, beating Caden Murley to the ball before going over after seven minutes.

England hit back immediately, spinning the ball wide for Tom Roebuck to dive over in the corner.

But the visitors had not learned their lesson from the opening try and this time a Matthieu Jalibert grubber at an angle sent Bielle-Biarrey clear for his 27th try in as many Tests.

England were unbowed, though, and struck back soon afterwards, as Ben Spencer’s grubber was spilled by Theo Attisogbe and Murley pounced to score.

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Two tries each but France led by four points as Ramos proved more accurate than Fin Smith with the conversion attempts.

And a penalty from Ramos stretched France’s lead to seven, only for England to level up after Ollie Chessum barged over from close range and Smith landed the conversion.

England had not come to Paris to be spectators in France’s title party and were taking on their hosts up front – and dominating.

Chessum then turned provider, passing inside for Alex Coles to dot down for the bonus point score, with Smith converting again from out wide.

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England lock Ollie Chessum scored two tries and made another
England lock Ollie Chessum scored two tries and made another. © Thomas Samson, AFP

And after Smith kicked a penalty from in front of the posts, England led 27-17, and by four tries to two.

But there was still time before the break in this wonderfully entertaining ‘Crunch’ for France to hit back, earning a penalty try after Ellis Genge, who was yellow-carded, collapsed a maul a yard from the tryline.

Who else?

Within 90 seconds of the restart, the tryline had been breached again, as Bielle-Biarrey finished off a flowing move to land his hat-trick.

With England still down to 14 men, France scored again as captain Antoine Dupont took a quick penalty and fired out a pass to Attisogbe to add les Bleus’ fifth try of the game, and the ninth overall.

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France were in the mood, throwing the ball about and attacking with verve, but Chessum picked off Jalibert and ran more than half the length of the field for his second.

The festival of tries showed no sign of abating and Marcus Smith, with his first touch after coming on as a substitute, scored England’s sixth, converting to give them a one-point lead.

Once again the momentum shifted, as France turned over ball deep in their own half and Dupont hoofed it long.

Bielle-Biarrey – who else? – won the foot race for his fourth try – the first time since World War II that a French player had scored four tries in a match.

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But seven minutes from time, replacement prop Demba Bamba was yellow-carded and Tommy Freeman scythed over for England’s seventh try – the 13th of the match – with Smith converting from under the points for a one-point lead again.

But Ramos, and France, had the last laugh, condemning England to a fourth defeat in the tournament for the first time in the Six Nations era.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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England backs shine as Bath beat Saracens to reach Champions Cup quarter-finals

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Bath turned to a quartet of their England backs to turn the tide as they edged into the Champions Cup quarter-finals with a 31-22 victory over Saracens.

Trailing 10-0 at the interval at the Recreation Ground, the hosts burst into life with tries from Henry Arundell, Joe Cokanasiga, Ben Spencer and Ollie Lawrence as they set up a last-eight appointment at home against Northampton.

Spencer’s 59th-minute finish of an audacious attack that began on their own try-line looked to be pivotal but determined Saracens refused to throw in the towel and were only truly beaten when Arundell ran in his second in the 80th minute.

Bath’s scrum needed rescuing after a humbling first half with the introduction of prop Thomas du Toit making the difference and the South Africa tighthead was named man of the match.

Unlike their visit to the Recreation Ground a fortnight ago when they were overwhelmed 62-15, it was clear Saracens meant business from the start as they halted an early Bath onslaught including holding up a forward drive over the line.

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Having proved their mettle in defence, they surged ahead in the 14th minute when Charlie Bracken deceived Cokanasiga with a dummy from the base of a maul and raced over.

It was poor defending from Cokanasiga, but at the other end Saracens continued to show far greater determination as the outstanding Tom Willis bulldozed a way through heavy traffic to rescue a dangerous position.

Bath’s scrum was beginning to buckle and they were also suffering at the breakdown, but the visitors were their own worst enemies at times with Fergus Burke failing to find touch with a penalty.

Rhys Carre rampaged into space and Noah Caluori almost crossed in the left corner before Guy Pepper was shown a yellow card for cynically heading the ball away on the floor.

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So many elements of Saracens’ game were firing but the points they deserved proved elusive with a Farrell penalty their only other score in a half they had controlled.

To punish their wastefulness, Arundell sprinted across after being released by Charlie Ewels early in the second half and then Cokanasiga scooped up a loose ball to weave over after Lawrence had carried into space.

The tries sandwiched a dramatic reversal in the scrum with Beno Obano sin-binned for a cumulation of penalties before Du Toit forced a penalty, providing Cokanasiga with the platform to score.

Bath led for the first time and then produced the highlight of the afternoon by stopping Saracens from scoring by dislodging the ball from Andy Onyeama-Christie as he ran at the line before striking with a move that began from their own whitewash.

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Cokanasiga escaped the 22, found Alfie Barbeary who waited for Spencer and the England scrum-half had gas to finish from long range.

Maro Itoje and then Ivan van Zyl burst through the breakdown and Saracens were far from done as a period of pressure ended with Max Malins touching down in the left corner.

But Harry Wilson was the next to see yellow for a dangerous tackle on Miles Reid and soon after Lawrence crashed over from close range.

Caluori replied for Saracens, but Bath had the final say at the death through Arundell.

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Top AEW star in trouble; asks history making champion for help against Death Riders

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A top AEW star, currently in the crosshairs of the Death Riders, recently asked a historic champion outside the promotion to help him against Moxley’s group.

The star we’re highlighting here is none other than Will Ospreay. The British talent recently made a major comeback to AEW, returning at Revolution 2026 last month after being sidelined with a neck injury since Forbidden Door 2025 in August. Upon his return, the Aerial Assassin immediately targeted the Death Riders, the group responsible for his long absence. The Sky King is set to face group leader Jon Moxley in a highly anticipated showdown at Dynasty 2026 on April 12. Meanwhile, Ospreay also recently made his in-ring return for NJPW, appearing at the promotion’s Sakura Genesis event, where he teamed up with United Empire’s Great-O-Khan and HENARE in a six-man tag team match, which his team won. Beyond that, Ospreay had an interesting discussion with IWGP Heavyweight Champion Callum Newman.

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The main event of NJPW Sakura Genesis featured Newman defending his title against Yota Tsuji. Newman, who made wrestling history by becoming the youngest IWGP Heavyweight Champion, managed to defeat Tsuji in their match. Later backstage, Ospreay was seen asking the United Empire and Newman for help at work, seemingly implying that he needs assistance in dealing with the Death Riders.

Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley at AEW Dynasty will now be a title match

Many fans know that Will Ospreay’s chance to face Jon Moxley at Dynasty later this month was initially set as a regular singles match. However, recent events between the two at Collision this Thursday have caused the Purveyor of Violence to now defend his coveted Continental Title in that matchup.

For context, Moxley was attacked by the Aerial Assassin on Collision after his Continental Title eliminator match against Anthony Bowens. Ospreay was about to take out the One True King with a chair before the Death Riders arrived to make the save. The British star then challenged Moxley to put his Continental title on the line at Dynasty. The match change was soon made official by AEW.