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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has urged Manchester United to appoint Unai Emery as the next manager at the club. He believes that the Aston Villa coach is the ideal candidate to replace Michael Carrick in the summer.

Writing in his The Telegraph column, Carragher hailed Emery as an underrated manager, adding that he might not even make the list at Manchester United. He added that the Spaniard not making the list at Old Trafford is good news for Aston Villa and said:

“Unai Emery should be heading to Old Trafford this weekend as the frontrunner to become the next Manchester United manager. I suspect he does not rank high among the candidates. That is good news for Aston Villa, but it must be frustrating for one of the best, and still most underrated, coaches in Europe.”

Ranking Emery as the second-best manager in the league, Carragher said the former Arsenal coach can win trophies and comes with a clear vision for the club and his squad.

“For Emery not to be under serious consideration says plenty about modern football. By any metric, he would be the perfect coach to revive United. For me, only Pep Guardiola ranks higher of those currently managing in England. Here is a manager who wins trophies, has a clear football vision, a track record of revitalising clubs in need of a mini-revolution to break into the Champions League, and who demands respect while leading with authority.”

Carragher went on to add that Emery now has enough Premier League experience under his belt and wrote:

“Add the fact he is now proven in the Premier League, and such coaches are in short supply. Emery is not part of the conversation but he should be. The puzzling question is why? Sadly for Emery, and happily for Villa, the Spaniard is painted as an overachiever at clubs trying to challenge the elite, and an underachiever at those who consider themselves already part of it.”

Unai Emery has a contract with Aston Villa until 2029, having signed an extension in 2024.

Michael Carrick has a short-term deal at Manchester United

Michael Carrick was appointed at Manchester United in January, soon after the sacking of Ruben Amorim. The Englishman has done well at the club, winning six and losing one in the Premier League.

However, club legend Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville are against the idea of Carrick getting the job permanently this summer. They want a more experienced manager to take over at Old Trafford.

Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, and Julian Nagelsmann have been linked with the Manchester United job.