England battled to a third consecutive Women’s Six Nations title with an enthralling victory over France on the Championship’s first-ever Finals Day.
With 228 points scored between them in this year’s Championship heading into the showpiece, you may have expected a try extravaganza at the Twickenham Stoop but instead, an intense battle was decided by brilliantly dogged defence as England edged it 10-6.
Poppy Cleall got the game’s only try when she powered over just before half-time, while Emily Scarratt added five points with the boot for the Red Roses, who spent most of the second half repelling wave after wave of French attacks.
Caroline Drouin kicked two penalties for Les Bleues but they couldn’t breach England’s try-line as the hosts held on to complete a hat-trick of titles in the most dramatic of circumstances.
