Red Roses seal 2025 Six Nations Grand Slam with win over France
The Red Roses sealed the 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations title with a thrilling 43-42 victory over France at Allianz Stadium. Tries from Abby Dow (2), Emma Sing (2), Lark Atkin-Davies, Claudia MacDonald and Zoe Aldcroft were complemented by eight points from Zoe Harrison's boot. France scored through Carla Arbez, Pauline Bourdon Sansus, Marine Ménager, Kelly Arbey, Morgane Bourgeois and Joanna Grisez, with Bourgeois adding 12 points from the tee.
The Red Roses started their hunt for a seventh successive title at pace as Sing carried dangerously into the France half. The visitors rallied in defence but Harrison’s pinpoint grubber sat up beautifully for Dow to score her fifth try of the competition, but the conversion was missed.
France hit back just two minutes later when Arbez capitalised on some powerful carries from the forwards, with Bourgeois converting to take the lead.
England were undeterred by going behind and took advantage of a kick that went out on the full to set up a rolling maul in the France 22, before releasing the backs for Sing to score on just her third England start and Harrison converted for a 12-7 lead.
A late tackle on Natasha Hunt allowed Harrison to find the corner with a penalty and from the lineout Atkin-Davies powered over for England’s third try of the game, although Harrison’s conversion drifted wide.
France threatened to hit back as they returned to the England 22, but Hannah Botterman won a brilliant penalty at the breakdown to relieve the pressure.
With just 17 minutes on the clock, the Red Roses secured the bonus-point try as crisp handling allowed Sing to dot down again under the posts for a converted try and a 24-7 lead.
The Red Roses almost scored immediately afterwards as Tatyana Heard picked the ball off her laces before finding Megan Jones on a powerful line. Jones kicked ahead but the ball dribbled dead before Hunt could reach it.
A dangerous tackle by Assia Khalfaoui saw her sent to the sin bin on 22 minutes and England kicked to the corner to set up field position. Off the top of the lineout they spread the ball wide with Jones throwing an excellent miss pass for MacDonald to go over and Harrison converted for a 31-7 lead.
However, a knock-on by Harrison as she went to clear was scooped up by Bourdon Sansus for France’s second try and Bourgeois converted to make it 31-14 on the half hour mark.
As half-time closed in a 50:22 from Bourgeois gave the visitors a platform in England’s 22 and they made the most of it by working the ball wide for Ménager to score. Bourgeois, the top points scorer in the tournament, then added the extras to close the gap to 10 points.
England looked to make the most of some good territory early in the second half, but France came away with a sweeping counter attack. However, Alex Matthews won an important turnover and allowed John Mitchell’s side to clear their lines.
With 48 minutes played, Harrison found Dow with a looping pass, who burst down the wing before eventually being brought down. The Red Roses reloaded and Harrison dummied her way into the France 22 and found captain Aldcroft on her shoulder who galloped over, with Harrison adding the extras for a 38-21 lead.
Les Bleues responded quickly as Arbey showed good strength to fend twice and cross in the corner, with Bourgeois converting to make it a 10-point deficit once more.
Shortly after, Mitchell rang the changes in the front row, replacing all three players and the fresh, powerful legs soon showed. England worked their way into the 22 and a series of carries from the forwards allowed Harrison to release Dow for her second of the game. Harrison’s conversion from out wide struck the post but the Red Roses led by 15.
With 10 minutes remaining, France found themselves in the England 22 and a clever offload allowed Bourgeois to dive over in the corner. She then converted her own try to bring her side within eight points of the Red Roses.
Les Bleues almost scored immediately after, but a brilliant tackle by Sing prevented Ménager from reaching the line. However, with just over one minute remaining, Grisez burst down the wing to score in the corner and Bourgeois converted to make it a one-point game and set up a grandstand finish.
England restarted with the title on the line, but France spilled the ball and with that England secured a sensational Grand Slam title.
Latest Red Roses news
