FRA
No.Name
15Scott Spedding, FB
14Wesley Fofana, W
13Gael Fickou, C
12Maxime Mermoz, C
11Virimi Vakatawa, W
10Francois Trinh-Duc, FH
9Maxime Machenaud, SH
7
1Jefferson Poirot, P
2Guilhem Guirado, H
3Rabah Slimani, P
4Alexandre Flanquart, L
5Yoann Maestri, L
6Damien Chouly, FL
7Bernard le Roux, FL
8Loann Goujon, N8
Replacements
16Camille Chat, R
17Uini Atonio, R
18Xavier Chiocci, R
19Paul Jedrasiak, R
20Wenceslas Lauret, R
21Sebastien Bezy, R
22Jules Plisson, R
23Maxime Medard, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Stade de France
8:00 PM, March 19, 2016
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'21-31 End of second half
80'



Some final thoughts from our man in Paris, Tom Hamilton: "England have finally banished their Grand Slam demons. Tries from Danny Care, Dan Cole and Anthony Watson -- along with an assured kicking performance from Owen Farrell -- ensured England collected their first clean sweep since 2003. George Kruis and Billy Vunipola were superb but this was a team effort, born from frustration and complete self-belief. England were made to work by a French team who rallied hard but England's organisation ensure they did not let the opportunity slip by."





ENGLAND ARE GRAND SLAM WINNERS!!!!

A turn, a boot from the bottom of the scrum into touch....

France looking for a way through. There isn't one. It's a scrum for England. One restart away from perfection...
80'Player substituted - Bernard le Roux , France
80'Substitute on - Jefferson Poirot , France
79'Swing Low rings round the Stade de France. It's been 13 years in the making. Not since 2003 have England been perfect in the Six Nations.
78'21-31 Penalty goal - Owen Farrell , England
77'Yellow card - Xavier Chiocci , France
77'Drop goal-missed
76'Substitute Jack Clifford is immediately involved, winning a lineout. It's a penalty to England for France going round the side. And that, should it turn into three points, would be that. Ford with a drop goal attempt -- essentially a free shot at goal -- and it's wide. A yellow card for Xavier Chiocci, and this race is just about run... England are going to win the Grand Slam!
76'Substitute on - Sebastien Bezy , France
76'Player substituted - Maxime Machenaud , France
76'Substitute on - Jack Clifford , England
76'Player substituted - Chris Robshaw , England
75'Mike Brown steals brilliantly then punts forward and flops under a challenge. Ref Owens is unimpressed, but France - through Maxime Medard - are going to have to build from deep. Meanwhile, Jack Nowell collides unwittingly with an advertising hoarding as he tries to gather a high ball into touch.
74'France get the ball back and Vakatawa tries to advance, carrying the ball like he would his morning baguette. Still France can build here. Remember, a draw would spoil England's Grand Slam hopes in the most frustrating fashion...
73'Two French players collide under a high ball and England get the chance to clear deep into French territory, George Ford hitting a peach into the 22. George Kruis (who else?) snatches the lineout away from the French. How many times is that now?!
72'Sweet kick, huge roar from the English contingent in Paris -- it's a lead of a converted try, with eight minutes to go...
72'21-28 Penalty goal - Owen Farrell , England
71'They manage to claim possession but are turned over at the breakdown, then Farrell's pass bounces loose and there's an advantage being played for England. High tackle against the French, and once Joseph chips forward and loses possession, the ball goes back to England. Farrell is going to have a pot at goal, despite it being near halfway and despite him not having his best night from the tee.
70'Penalty to France just as England were beginning to milk the clock deep in the opposition territory. A boot into touch will resume France's lineout spectacle...
70'Player substituted - Loann Goujon , France
70'Substitute on - Wenceslas Lauret , France
70'Player substituted - Maxime Mermoz , France
70'Substitute on - Maxime Medard , France
69'"We've had a great game of rugby, we're not going to have the scrum spoil it. If you're not going to sort it out, you'll leave the field." -- Nigel Owens gives the France front row a severe telling off. The clock is ticking, ticking, ticking...
68'

Harltey has had a super first tournament as England captain -- this is not what anyone wants to see. He's being put very very carefully on to the spinal board, with a brace around his head and neck. Owen Farrell -- who is now England captain -- goes over to see if Hartley is ok and encouragingly appears to be having a laugh with Hartley, perhaps mocking him for his attempted tackle!



Dylan Hartley is knocked unconscious. He is absolutely flat stiff on the pitch in the middle of the French half. And he's taken an almighty knee to the head having gone down low in the tackle. That is a horrible sight for the England team, who huddle together as their captain is attended to. A hush descends over the Stade de France.
68'Substitute on - Luke Cowan-Dickie , England
68'Player substituted - Dylan Hartley , England
67'France penalised for not driving straight. They're turned over at the scrum without the ball ever even reaching it. They're losing their way.
67'Player substituted - Guilhem Guirado , France
67'Substitute on - Camille Chat , France
66'Guilhem Guirado is replaced, and gets a terrific reception. He's been arguably France's best player in this Six Nations.
65'The French lineout has just gone to pieces in this second half. They're a little fortunate to get a scrum for a knock-on after this latest fiasco. They even shortened the line, but to no good effect. Desperate stuff.
64'Goodness, France are lucky to have snagged that lineout as well! They really are under pressure on the set piece. Itoje penalised at the next breakdown for giving the scrum-half an almighty shove.
63'From a successive lineout, England ship the ball beautifully along the backline and only a despairing tackle thwarts Nowell from breaking through. Clever kick from George Ford, who punts low into the French 22. Just get them as far away from your own try line as you can at this stage...
62'And yet again, a lineout following a penalty is turned over by England. Outstanding work by the English pack on these jump balls. That one is all about Maro Itoje's athleticism. Unbelievable jump.
61'Penalty to France from the scrum as England are turned through 90 degrees.
60'England burrowing forward with Haskell, the ball breaks loose as Ford is smacked by a French tackler on the 22, and it's a France scrum. Maro Itoje takes a knee for a breather, which sums up the effort being put in across the field.
59'21-25 Penalty goal - Maxime Machenaud , France
58'It's back to less than a try in it. Super kick again from Machenaud, who has been faultless from the tee.
58'Substitute on - Paul Jedrasiak , France
58'Player substituted - Alexandre Flanquart , France
58'Substitute on - Xavier Chiocci , France
58'Player substituted - Rabah Slimani , France
58'Substitute on - Uini Atonio , France
58'Player substituted - Jefferson Poirot , France
57'Once again at a restart, the kicking team earn a penalty. It seems the receiving team have squandered possession one way or another on every restart in this game. Machenaud will look to keep the scoreboard ticking.
56'

That could be a game-breaker right there. Hat's off to Billy Vunipola and Ben Youngs for their alertness, and Anthony Watson's hands were up to the task when the ball popped up for him. Super, super try.
56'18-25 Try - Anthony Watson , England
55'Billy Vunipola scoops up from the scrum and makes terrific ground. Now it's with Youngs and he times his grubber perfectly, it pops up for Anthony Watson and IT'S A TRY!! TRY FOR ENGLAND!!
54'There was a decent overlap on for England there but Mike Brown possibly makes the wrong decision by opting to kick. It's blocked, as well, and England will have to settle for a scrum on their own 10-metre line.
53'But Kruis -- again -- wins the lineout ball! Great performance from the England jumper. And when France do make some progress, England turn them over before clearing. And then France are turned over again! England doing phenomenal work at the breakdown.
52'Jonathan Joseph looked as though he was making good progress on the ground, but Nigel Owens isn't having that -- that's a penalty for France and they'll have a lineout on the England 22.
52'Drop goal-missed
51'Once again from the restart, England do a great job of turning France ball over and now can put pressure on the French defence. They're at the edge of the 22, and a snap drop-goal attempt from Ford.... is well wide. Ambitious effort from Ford.
51'18-20 Penalty goal - Maxime Machenaud , France
50'Machenaud closes the gap again. 18-20, more nail-biting...
49'Super kick over the top from Machenaud and Mermoz picks it up, France a bit lucky to get away with obstruction as they gather the kick but it's England who get penalised for not rolling away. "Discipline, discipline" shouts one England player, picked up by the ref mic. Not a great moment for Dylan Hartley, who was the man who gave away the penalty. Though it was slightly harsh.
47'England making some good ground, Billy Vunipola as usual the man who has taken it upon himself to barrel onwards. Youngs, to Ford, now Marler (on as a substitute at the break), now it's found its way to Itoje who takes it into the 22. And England are pinged for obstruction. That was a decent bit of play from England, the first time they've really had any possession in this second half.
45'15-20 Penalty goal - Owen Farrell , England
44'Well, that didn't make it with much to spare! It's through though, and the lead is five once again.
44'Player substituted - Danny Care , England
44'Substitute on - Ben Youngs , England
44'15-17 Penalty goal - Maxime Machenaud , France
43'Danny Care, who had a pretty good first half, is off. And England win a very quick penalty from the restart, gifting Farrell an opportunity to re-establish a five-point lead.
43'Some half-time thoughts from our man in Paris, Tom Hamilton: "England hold a five-point advantage at half-time thanks to tries from Danny Care -- a wonderful piece of quick-thinking to sprint in from 40 metres -- and Dan Cole. But England's star performer in the first half has been George Kruis who has been impressive in attack, defence and the set piece. France started well -- as Eddie Jones said they would -- but for all of Virimi Vakatawa's gainline-breaking brilliance, their attacks seem to be as much down to surprise as design. This game is nicely poised for what should be an eventful, exciting second 40."
42'Over it goes. 17-15. English nerves being put to the test.
41'Vakatawa with a stunning break! Breaks two tackles then flips to Plisson, and France are deep inside England territory, with a penalty advantage. There's a kick to try and see what's on in the corner, but Nowell is back well. Penalty to France, and the deficit should be narrowed again.
41'Deep deep deep into added time now, and the Parisian whistles are at fever pitch once again. Farrell lines up from the right of the posts. Sizes it up, steps up, drags it wide! Big moment, that looked certain to be another three points there but England will have to settle for a five-point lead at the break.
41'Player substituted - Mako Vunipola , England
41'Substitute on - Joe Marler , England
41'+312-17 End of first half
40'We're under way. Danny Care boots high after England snaffle the kickoff, and France try to build from halfway.
40'Attacking scrum for England now with the clock having ticked past the 40. This is quite a big moment, and the key indicator there is that the scrum keeps on collapsing... Penalty to England after France are penalised for pulling the scrum down. Three points on offer here for Farrell...

40'12-17 Start of second half
40'12-17 Penalty goal - Maxime Machenaud , France
39'Machenaud boots it through. There's been enough encouragement for France in this first half to keep them very interested in the second period. Their previous games here this year -- against Italy and Ireland -- were very similar. And they won both of those...
38'Decision to be made as to whether to kick for goal or not, given the time on the clock. Yep, they'll kick for goal and a chance to reduce the deficit to five points at the break.
37'Kruis does brilliantly to snatch the lineout, Watson does equally well to gain some ground having initially been facing the wrong way, but when the kick for touch comes in, France recycle it quickly and the pressure tells with England conceding another penalty for not releasing.
35'Penalty to France now, and Spedding boots deep into England territory. Can France score a try just before half-time to put the pressure back on England?
34'From the scrum, the ball comes back to Jack Nowell who somehow crawls forward for an additional four or five metres, keeping the pressure on the French defence. Care pulling the strings at each breakdown, slowly trying to pick the French defence apart. But the ball is dropped by Vunipola and France will have the put-in once again.
33'Clumsy play by Loann Goujon, whose butterfingers play up as he tries to scoop the ball at the back of the scrum. Knock on, and now it's a great opportunity for England...
32'England have worked their way forward to an attacking lineout on the France 22. Itoje snares it, and it goes right to Watson, who barrels forward into contact. Then Billy Vunipola tries to make ground but without much luck. England going left, then right, and trying to find a way through, with Mike Brown stumbling forward. But they're turned over at the breakdown and it will be a French scrum.
30'Brown charges forward after a couple of high kicks from the restart, only to fumble the ball away, but France can't do anything other than be dragged into touch. Lineout just inside the England half.
29'
29'9-17 Penalty goal - Maxime Machenaud , France
28'Fear not, France fans -- it's a penalty to France at the very next breakdown after England fail to release. A chance to close the gap again for Machenaud.
27'Safely dealt with, up the jumper time before Care hoofs it high to clear the danger. France have to rebuild from just inside the England half, and then get turned over at the breakdown.
26'First quiet spell of the match as both sides swap possession around midway. And then Vakatawa springs into life down the left flank, bursting towards England's five metre line before being dragged into touch. Important defensive lineout coming for England.
23'France penalised on halfway and Farrell might fancy a pop from here given it's right in the middle of the field. Nope, he goes for the corner instead, and gets two-thirds of the way there. Attacking lineout for England.
22'France could easily be discouraged by that opening quarter. They threatened three times and came away with nothing better than a couple of penalties. Meanwhile England had two half-chances and score two tries. Clinical stuff from England.
21'6-17 Conversion - Owen Farrell , England
20'
20'6-15 Try - Dan Cole , England
19'It seemed certain that he would be stopped once, twice, but he rolls over the line after not being held down. The Paris crowd not impressed by a block from Mako Vunipola which referee Nigel Owens has decided he wants to take a look at. Owens not impressed having had a look at that though, and Owens swiftly confirms it's a try. French whistling at its absolute peak after that fandango.
18'Ford, to Billy Vunipola, he's 10 metres short. Itoje picks up from the breakdown. Mako Vunipola pushes on. France penalised for offside, advantage England. Care forward, then Cole, rolling, rolling, TRY!!!
17'Good take from Haskell at a lineout, and England are off again, Watson chipping forward and Joseph doing well to take the bouncing ball at the second attempt. England in good shape in the French 22 now.
16'6-10 Penalty goal - Maxime Machenaud , France
15'Spedding breaks from deep again and that's another super run from the South African-born fullback. He chips ahead and Mike Brown seems to have barged him -- the England man gets away with it, Jack Nowell tidies up and England clear their lines. Spedding having a stormer, all the same.
14'Penalty to France, Vunipola adjudged to have collapsed the scrum. A chance for Machenaud to reduce the deficit. Which he takes.
14'Substitute on - Jules Plisson , France
14'Player substituted - Francois Trinh-Duc , France
13'

13'3-10 Conversion - Owen Farrell , England
12'That's an incredible burst from Care, who exploits a gap -- and an injury to Francois Trinh-Duc -- to charge over unopposed. Trinh-Duc's ankle turned in on itself in the build-up to that try, and he will go off for some treatment. It will be a surprise if he was to return.
12'3-8 Try - Danny Care , England
11'Ten minutes gone and France have dominated territory and possession. They're building pressure on the outskirts of the English 22 at the moment. Just as it looks as though France might have an overlap developing, they are penalised for diving in and Farrell clears into French territory. That's a huge let-off for England. And out of nowhere! TRY FOR ENGLAND!!!
9'Fofana takes a fine high ball and sets France away on the attack again. Spedding again is the man who bursts through, and Vakatawa has to cut back in from the wing. His flick towards Fickou, though, is off target and straight into touch. Danger signs again for England.
8'Kruis snares the lineout and from the maul Robshaw breaks off and through the gainline. The ball goes left from there and Mike Brown is in the clear, only to lob a hopeful, expectant pass... to absolutely nobody. France mop up, but positive signs for England.
7'France making good progress with a rolling maul, for the second time in as many lineouts. Now they work it right and Vakatawa and Spedding combine neatly on the wing. But Vakatawa is adjudged to have been in touch before offloading, so it's a lineout to England. This is as good as anything France have displayed so far this tournament, even if the match is only seven minutes old.
5'Some jeers and whistles as Farrell kicks goalwards. He's looking nervously at that one as it swerves right of its intended line. It clatters the inside of the post.... and goes over. Three points, and a sign that England's luck is in?
5'3-3 Penalty goal - Owen Farrell , England
4'Another penalty from a restart, this time it goes England's way as France tackle high. Owen Farrell will get a swift opportunity to level the scores.
3'Machenaud lines it up on the 22, just to the right of the posts. A hush descends. Up, true, 3-0.
3'3-0 Penalty goal - Maxime Machenaud , France
2'Driving maul from the lineout and a Parisian roar swells up. Spedding trying to take advantage of a gap but he's brought down, and then England are penalised by going in off the feet. Maro Itoje adjudged to have sinned. Kickable three points for France.
1'The teams are coming back out, France first, then England. And we're about to start the final half of Six Nations 2016!
1'3....2....1.... And we are go! England's George Ford punts off and the Six Nations finale is under way. And straight from the kick off, England tackle the man in the air, and it's a penalty after 14 seconds. Adrenaline clearly pumping. Spedding boots to the England 22 where France will have an attacking lineout.
1'A moment's applause to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme - touching moment at the Stade de France.

















Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of France v England from the Stade de France. The visitors are pursuing their first Grand Slam since 2003 -- can the French thwart Eddie Jones' men at the final hurdle?
1'0-0 Start of first half

Six Nations Championship 2016 News