France v England Six Nations Rugby

England have become the first host nation in the history of the World

Cup to exit in the group stages. We want to have that bulldog spirit in

our game. # Oh, you better run, oh, you better

run # You better run

# You better run... You can be a 11 day and an angel the

next. Well, reinvention, restoration, whatever word, tonight

is a defining match for the reputation of English rugby,

ridiculed six months ago after the premature World Cup exit, but now

18... The last time that France provided the grand opposition was in

1991 and, if you are after an omen, England were victorious. Whatever

happens tonight, England will be the Six Nations champions and Wales will

finish in second place after the two matches that have taken place today.

If you may recall from last weekend, which was that points fest, the

first two matches of the final weekend last year, they produce 131

points. The first two matches today have produced 141. What price 100

points in this final match? Answer, a very long one. Six times in the

last 20 years, England have had a grand slam opportunity. On five

occasions, they fell at the final fence. The one time they didn't,

Mike Tindall was an integral part of the site in 2003. He is here to

reflect on what -- on what might happen. There was pressure in that

match in Dublin in 2003 but you played as if there wasn't and you

won in a grand manner. It started off with how the game started with

the line-up for the anthems. It just went from there. We suffered defeats

along the way, in terms of 2000 and 2001 in Ireland, 2002 in Ireland,

losing Grand Slams. We had had the pressure, we knew what it was like

and it was a different atmosphere in 2003. The confidence we had going

into that game and we have managed to put our game on the paddock. How

confident do you think England are Western rock I think there is a good

bars in the squad. They have been after something tangible. They have

got the trophy. They need to do it in style. The way they have attacked

has impressed me the way they have made their tries. Intuitive rugby.

In terms of the French, nick Easter wrote an interesting piece today

saying that he thought England would win not just because they were

better but because it was the worst French team he had seen. England is

the best team, but what better motivation than playing England it

is now or never for them. Let's reflect on the French team. We last

saw them six days ago at Murrayfield. They went down to

Scotland. The hardest thing in the Six Nations, working out France.

With single-handed grace, they can cut the best into tartan ribbons.

But they remain a mystery to themselves and Scotland were never

going to make this easy for them. Scotland, fed up with not

delivering, hard on themselves, no excuses, deliver. France, stay calm,

relaxed, take it easy, not that easy. Too easy for drunken sailor.

It wasn't the end. Win here and France were still in the title

chase. The skill of the day would hand the title to England. England

watching in their easy chairs. The old cliche has long been consigned

to the history box. Defeat would mean they finished in the bottom

half of the table in the 15th consecutive year, almost

unfathomable. France will be desperate to avoid a third defeat.

Are you confident you can do that and spoil England's evening? We need

a good start. A good start for us would be three home victories. We

know it is a big challenge because England is the favourite of the

game. But we have to believe in our skills. And we have to believe in

our history. This young squad needs to be the best, to create the only

story. Eddie Jones said this week that England are a better team than

France and that England will win the grand slam. At that filtered through

to the French players? A rugby game is a special mystery, 15 men against

15 men, and sometimes the best team doesn't win. We will see. Thank you.

Unusually, for the last few years, we can talk about consistency for

the French, because the backline is unchanged, but their right to

significant changes in the backline. The back line is important. The loss

of a player at the start of the season was a blow for them. We don't

have the likes of other players. So Loann Goujon brings some power. We

need much more power and charisma. Damien Chouly is the leader of the

line-out, but these guys need to deliver. This vote of confidence in

the back division, unchanged from Murrayfield last weekend, what about

where some players are playing was not it is the same today. Wesley

Fofana was injured at the start of the competition. He might be our

best player at the backline. You can see that. He is on the wing. Every

time he gets the ball, he is a threat. He can really break the

lines. Even then, from very deep, he is the kind of guy who can choose to

go into the defence. He has the legs to make some breaks. He has the

power. He is a massive chance for France. Putting him on the wing, it

is not his ideal position. He needs to have his hand on the

ball. He's one of these guys who's unique. He's so balanced. With that

massive amount of power. He's able to just leave people on the stop and

go. You want him finding the mismatches. Sometimes you can get,

if you're not a winger, you can be isolated out there. He's got to find

that. Somebody who could be the most influential person on the pitch

tonight is the referee, who by common consent is the best in the

world. Interesting piece in the paper this morning, Jonathan Capland

says he feels Nigel Owens has to make a philosophical decision before

the game about what kind of a game we're going to get tonight. I don't

think Nigel will be sucked into that. He's freelance. He's open. He

goes with the flow. He looks at the game, how it's being played. He

doesn't want to blow his whistle. That's the last thing he'll want to

do. He wants to create entertainment and for the players to play decent

rugby. He generally allows that to happen. There is a big file on

referees. You have all the stats, what they're looking for. There's a

reason for that. They are that influential. Nigel Owens wants to

see an open game. He normally doesn't ref. He's not as stringent

at the break down. Whether he'll did that and people push the boundary on

that, because they know they're not going to give away penalties. That

might be concern for us. Maybe we didn't turn in the proper way. We

played the old rugby. Maybe we didn't change. Because the rules

have changed, maybe the referee change too, we didn't adapt. You're

part of the commentary team tonight Mike. Do you make the journey there

in hope or expectation? If I'm brutally honest, expectation. I

think the control that England show throughout the tournament and just

the way they've, sort of, I don't think it's a B plus, but it's been

comfortable. I expect them today, dangerous to say in Paris, because

I've lost here... A few times. It can be a big railroad to smash into.

I still think they should walk away with the Grand Slam. We are in

Paris. Who is the best rugby player in Paris? He's not French. He's from

New Zealand. He's Dan Carter, the greatest player in the world, after

leading New Zealand to another World Cup in the Autumn is making his way

here, loving living here and playing here. He met Jerry a couple of days

ago. Hi, Dan. Good to meet the great man.

It has been a while since you won the second World Cup. Have you had

time to reflect? It has been the end of an era. We had just achieved

something special. It means a lot more, that moment in the changing

room for two or three after us succeeding our goal was some of the

most special times of being a rugby player. I guess you had a few

choices when you decided to hang up your black boots. What made you

choose France and Paris? Paris is completely opposite to New Zealand.

New Zealand is rugby mad. On the streets of Paris, nobody knows who I

am. That is quite refreshing. Is that what you have been getting up

to? You don't have to talk about rugby every minute of the day, which

can be the case living in New Zealand. There is plenty of banter.

Being the new kid on the team, it was nice to have somebody like Mike

Phillips on the team, an easy target, not the sharpest guy.

Regular banter with him without him noticing. How do you assess the

talent pool in France? The initial site programme went through a

development phase, but the talent is there. I think it needs to be

nurtured. I don't think they are a team that is going to die away. They

are an emotional side. They try and flick the switch, pushing the

emotional button. Sometimes, if that doesn't work, they don't have an

answer. As a French team, how would you try and beat England? To attack

England, you have to destroy their set piece, the scrum and line-out.

If they have no ball to play with at set piece time, the game won't flow

and it will turn into a tough wrestle. I think England will get

the grand slam. I think they have bounced back the best out of the

northern hemisphere sides. We have seen that throughout the Six

Nations, where it looks like England are playing with confidence. England

will have to play poorly to lose this game. Interesting thoughts from

a giant southern hemisphere rugby. We have swapped one Mike for another

one. The Australian mastermind for their path last year. You are here

today, but what is your take on the Six Nations? The Six Nations after a

World Cup is interesting, because like Dan Carter was saying, the way

that teams bounce back. England have had... Any type of managerial change

leads to a new enthusiasm. From a French perspective, you have

experience here as a coach and a player. When you were playing here,

the national team was the sum of its parts but now it seems to be

considerably less. Could you explain? I don't know if I can. But

what I do know is that the French have always had a very clear idea

about the way they play the game, and I think that they are searching

to go back to that and it's going to take some time with one of the

greats of coaching in this country to get them back there. If they

search for this idea of playing running rugby and taking a chance,

they will be fine. I don't know if the phone call ever went your way,

but what do you make of your fellow countrymen managing England? We are

very proud of him. He has been brought up in the Australian system

and he has learnt his coaching ground there. Now he is coaching one

of the biggest teams in the world and is doing well. As much as they

are our enemy, we are proud of Eddie, because he is being

successful overseas. We started by talking about the Six Nations. There

is a perception that it is more attritional than rugby in the

southern hemisphere. At an urban myth or is there fundamentally a

different generic approach? I think culturally there is a different

approach. Climatically, the conditions are more difficult. Even

if it is dry but cold, it is hard to open it up sometimes. I think there

is also... In the southern hemisphere, we might get kicked off

a little bit by our supporters. There are different cultural issues

and that is how it should be. I don't like everybody to play the

same. It was interesting at Twickenham last week. England in

complete control until the last few minutes and then hanging on grimly.

What is it like to be new to be Six Nations? Our first taste of an

ancient rivalry? Easy. If ever a player made light of the streams of

aids showdown, it was Maro Itoje. England were wrapping up the points.

Who would have said it could be this easy? This hard for Wales. But the

Six Nations doesn't do easy. Even when England's numbers went up, they

also went down to 14, and Wales came to life. Suddenly, it was anything

but easy. And it was growing more difficult with each charge. With

every passing minute. And, who knows... Being a touch judge is

never easy. What is it like to be new to the Six Nations? That is

easy. It's good. A big night for English rugby.

Everybody at ease in the England camp or a few nerves? There is a bit

of nerves but that is natural. As long as we concentrate on the

fundamentals we will be OK. You have gone for Danny Care over Ben Youngs

at scrum-half. What does that say about how you will approach the

game? We want to take the game to France. The beginning of the game is

always important in a Test match. Danny gives us that place at the

start. France will be highly motivated. Our England mentally

tough enough to handle the occasion, being away from home with the grand

slam at stake? If we want to be grand slam champion is, we have to

be. We are capable. You never know until you get out there but the

preparation suggest everything is right. Good luck.

For those of you who like this kind of thing, England's first ever Grand

Slam was in 1913 and they have been 11 cents, three in the early 90s.

Since then, just the one. -- there have been 19 -- there have been 11

since then. We have been a good team but we

couldn't nail the grand slam. In 2003, going to Ireland, I didn't

remember it. There is no way to go if you lose. If we lost another one,

the vibe around the team would have been such that you can't win here.

You choke it. Martin Johnson, the brooding menace. We warmed up, lined

up at that end and we wanted to crack on with the game. This guy

came out and said, move down there. I said, no, I'm not moving anywhere.

The crowd were going crazy and there was a huge stand-off. Protocol has

been ripped up. The myth is that we made her walk on the grass. We

didn't. The grand slam showdown is about to

begin. A have an atmosphere but we had a good vibe in the team. We had

to battle for Britain. We put them away.

England deserved that try. England surged to the line. The Trai has

been given. -- the try has been given. What a performance from

England! The grand slam. A massive relief to have won the grand slam.

It didn't feel like an end. It felt like a stepping stone because the

World Cup was coming. To relive that match and many other

great Six Nations moments, there is a documentary available on the BBC I

player. From one great to another one who would can't call that yet,

but who knows for the future, Maro Itoje had an extraordinary match

last weekend. He has had a wonderful season. He broke in last season and

he has taken to international rugby like at every level, through the

England age groups, with Saracens, and now with England. His stats are

great. He has only played two full games and he is matching everybody

in every dimension. Skill set is wonderful. I like his mind. The

difference sometimes is how clever people are, how they assess

situations. Everything he seems to do, you make the right decision. He

is on the edge and sometimes he gets it right. The majority of the time,

you get it right. Six foot five, 18 stone, getting down there, making

the tackle. Look, he swoops down like a bird of prey. He smells it,

he sniffs it, he sees it, and he attacked it. He is a bit of a

nuisance. He can also play that way. You get in front clever and quick,

and agile. That is a great bonus in the second round. He is thinking

what is going to happen before it happens. One of the big things is

not to put too much pressure on him too early. Let him play his footy,

he was enjoying it. He is certainly doing that so far. Five years ago, I

was told this guy would be one of the great guise of England. He was

right. This guy is really special. The magic is he is 21. We make

comparisons to Martin Johnson, Paul O'Connell. It is incredible, but we

can't put him up there with those guys. Let's see the Maro Itoje way

and let him enjoy it. So what about the front row today? A key selection

decision has been to pick Vunipola instead of Joe Marler. Do you think

Joe Marler should have been banned? There was no doubt in my mind. I

should have done it quickly. It affects wider communities. It is the

mark -- it is the wider community. It means that Vunipola starts

tonight. How does that change the front row? Eddie wants to play a

quick game. He has got Danny Care in there at the front. Vunipola is

quicker than Joe Marler. I think the scrum will be a key encounter. If

France can get something in that, it will give them some self police to

play some footy. We mustn't forget that last week against Scotland the

first scrum was after 20 minutes. The power of the French team isn't

as relevant any more. If the game is about pace, as Eddie Jones says, how

significant is the selection of Danny Care? Degassed to snap and

crackle. Harlequins have got it to their best this season. -- he has

got to snap and crackle. He has been criticised for his kicking, but he

sorted that out. His passing has got better. He is making great

decisions. Eddie is giving everybody a chance. They are all starting to

believe they can start for the team. Danny Care and Ben Youngs are both

great players. It gives them believe. A lot of pundits are saying

that a key area is that the French team are not as fit as their English

counterparts. By having Danny Care from the word go, it will run the

French off their feet and they will run out of gas. They will try and do

it. We will try and avoid it. Two years ago, you were confident and

there was a try. It went France's way. When you play against England,

you find some spirit in your body. There are two kind of fitness. The

physical and the mental. They will put pressure on you. If the crowd

get into it, it is another kind of fitness. I don't think England are

overconfident. They have won the championship already. I think they

are ready. There are a lot of players in the England side who

haven't experienced heartbreak of having a Grand Slam and then having

snatched from their fingers. They will be determined to make sure it

doesn't happen tonight. England looking for the grand slam.

Wales with a chance to take the title.

# You can run on for a long time Doctor Who it could have been a

grand slam generation. It is drifting away. Wales 30, England 3.

You don't want to experience those sorts of feelings.

Failure, sit back, the key ingredient of success further down

the line. We are not talking about past failure. We are talking about

what we are going to do. I think we have answered a lot of our critics

as a team. We are starting to believe in ourselves. If we don't

keep improving, we are going to repeat history, not create new the

story. Eddie Jones, his team on track for the grand slam. We haven't

won the grand slam in 13 years. We want to be the best in the world.

The true test of each of our goals is is beating France. A wonderful

opportunity. We have won four games in a row. We want to win five. The

goal was to be the most dominant team. We are one game away from

achieving it. Are England going to win the grand slam? We are going to

win the grand slam. Supreme confidence from Eddie Jones.

Last weekend, when we were up at Murrayfield and we spoke to Eddie

off the back of France having been beaten, so England being champions,

in saying, Jerry, we are going to go to the bar and have a drink and then

we are going to move on because the job is by no means done. That is

perhaps a reflection of how England sees the road ahead. I think that

shows how experienced Eddie is as a coach. He has old values of rugby,

because there were a few beers sunk when he was a player. He has told

the players to have a mini celebration but, hey, what about a

big one next week? Take the time to acknowledge you have done something

and your country will be proud of you for winning that trophy. He will

be watching how much they drink, half a glass, stop right there! But

it takes the pressure of the players. Only men will win here, not

boys. I came over on the Eurostar with trains packed to the gunwales

with England fans. There must be up to 20,000 it today. A lot of them

have been to a lot of grand slam banalities and been disappointed on

many occasions, but they seem resolute. -- grand slam finals. From

a French pride point of view, you would love to spoil the party

delight wouldn't you? Oh, yes, but England will play at their level. We

need to increase our level and show we can be competitive. Just a win

today would be a grand slam for us. It would mean a lot. We can see the

England players. There match shirts tonight will have a poppy on it to

commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle of the song. I had a

letter this week from Catherine Davis about her great-grandfather,

Lancelot slow clock, who captained England but lost his life like so

many 100 years ago at that battle. She says, please mention him and all

the other rugby internationals lost their lives. 100 years on, it is

just a rugby match, but a very big one. Key moment in the mental

battle. How people feel about the confrontation ahead.

Youngs, Huge atmosphere, the count down you can hear. Here come the

players for the final match of the RBS Six Nations championship of

2016. England are the champions, but are they going to be Grand Slam

winners too? What's your instinct about the outcome here? I feel we

can do it. I say that since the start of the tournament, that

beating England will mean a lot today. The crowd are cheering for

the French team. Don't divert from your plan, don't do crazy, wild,

playing out their own 22. They'll win. It's tempting fate on Parisian

soil but England will win. Eddie Jones said this week, I believe, I

firmly believe that England are the best team in this competition and if

you want to be the best, you've got to think you're the best and you've

got to go out and prove you're the best. Tonight is the acid test for

this England's team's self-belief. The anthems shortly and after that

commentary from Mike Tindall Brian Moore and Eddie Butler.

# God save our gracious Queen Long live our noble Queen

# Allons enfants de la Patrie Le jour de gloire est arrive

# Contre nous de la tyrannie, L'etendard sanglant est leve

# Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Mugir ces feroces soldats

# Aux armes, citoyens Formez vos bataillons

COMMENTATOR: Good evening, welcome to the Stade de France. How quickly

England have rebuilt. Two defeats in the space of eight days, six months

ago, and they were out of their own World Cup. Four wins over the past

six weekends and they stand on the brink of a first Grand Slam since

2003. We shall hold a pause in memory of Serge Kampf, patron,

sponsor, friend of French rugby for many long years.

France have bulked up in the back row. Goujon takes over from Chouly.

In comes Bernard Le Roux. Familiar behind the scrum. Can the half-backs

form a partnership to bring the best out of an attacking back three? A

change in the England front row. Mako Vunipola comes in the England

start with the Vunipola brothers, Billy, of course, outstanding

throughout the championship. Dylan Hartley, England's captain, goes

head to head with Guilhem Guirado. Danny Care starts at number nine to

bring high rhythm, high tempo to the England game. We have had a score

feast on the final day of the Six Nations so far. These replacements

will come on, no doubt, and no doubt, if this game keeps up what

we've seen to date, they'll be as exhausted as anybody. Nigel Owens of

Wales is tonight's referee. The world's most experienced

international referee. Maro Itoje, what an impact he has made on

international rugby. France have won their home games,

but this is different. England going for the Grand Slam. Mako Vunipola

waits. It's a still night. It's a cold night. Not a breath of wind.

Here we go, the last round of the Six Nations, the last game of the

Six Nations. Penalty advantage being played.

Good evening Brian Moore. Good evening. I was going to make the

comment that for England the pressure is on, but the important

thing is clarity of thought and that is not clear thinking, is it? It's a

clear penalty. Unnecessary. I was just going to say, the key for them

is to keep their discipline. It's not an easy way to start, giving

them easy territory straight into the English half. Great restart from

George Ford, perfectly placed but a bit of inaccuracy. Surrounded by

England Grand Slam winners, Mike Tindall and Brian Moore.

Guilhem Guirado, outstanding as France's hooker and captain.

Penalty advantage. Penalty to France.

They've compounded that, whether or not Itoje thinks he was on his feet.

Nigel Owens disagrees. That's a poor start for England. When the

referee's telling you to get off, it doesn't matter. You get off. You do

what he tells you. You've seen there actually more purpose in the French

attack than I've seen in probably all the games hitherto. The

concerted move to move all their backs right, create danger down that

and move left is something, it's a fluency they've not shown at all.

Obviously, the extra time has allowed them to gel. They've had a

decent opening two minutes. France started with Tran-Duc as their place

kicker. Early days, but France take the

lead. Penalty by their scrum-half. This is one of the things I thought

before the game, if England got off to a good start, the French heads

might go down. Conversely, if the French go up, the crowd will sustain

them. Advantage to England. Head high.

That's on Watson. It seems the idiot's gene is contagious. Another

unnecessary penalty. That's the danger, especially if you go for a

choke tackle. If they're upright you have to get underneath the ball. I

won't call anyone an idiot, Brian, that's not the way to be. Not a wise

decision. What else do you call that? Pro players know you don't do

that. Technically he's under the ball. I think we're getting soft

sometimes in this game. We're all square at the Stade de

France. Owen Farrell replies with the penalty.

Just a general point, I don't think Farrell took too long there. But

there's a tendency for all kickers, their routines are getting longer

and longer. I think world rugby ought to look at that. (

and longer. I think world rugby ought to look at that. Francois

Trinh-Duc. I think they passed that too early

there from Farrell. He could have gone to the line. One thing you've

got to do is to stay in the field of play. He does such a good job

skipping out there. You're responsible for that. Good

possession down there. The powerhouse Fijian out of play. A

glimpse of what France can do. They did fantastically well there

considering how static they were. Just showed what Vakatawa can do

when given a bit of space. He has the power to skip out. France are

playing as well, if not better, than I've seen them in the championship

so far. They also managed to make some ground off a maul, it was

static when the ball wasn't going forward, which is always more

difficult. He's a good player - very, very good player.

Interesting to see then, Mike Brown's positioning. He was still

deep in the back field. Normally, if you've moved the ball out to the

wing, there's a pendulum. So the full-back comes up to meet that. But

he was deep. They're relying on the back line drifting to get out to the

winger. That's a very good kick down field

by Maxine Machenaud. Tremendous recovery from France. That's one of

the situations where if England are going to have contentions to take

this Grand Slam and to move on, that's the opportunity they need to

convert. It's strange to me then. He doesn't look outside to his winger.

He's caught the inside trail runner in his eye early on. He has a

straight two on one on the outside there. Dylan Hartley.

One handed into touch. At the moment, England are on the rack.

They're surviving only due to the fact that the French have not been

capable of putting away. That should have been a score. Yeah, definitely.

It's unlucky. He's just forced it a bit. England are all set up very, I

was going to say about the defence, all set up perfectly. It's just at

the moment they're slipping off one on one tackles. Spedding did a great

job of finding a prop there. It's something they have to get control

back in with England. Just got to be careful on the box

kicks. They're giving the receiver too much time. When you give

Vakatawa that much time, he'll cause problems.

Dylan Hartley warned off by Nigel Owens.

Slimani penalised. Going straight on the ball not allowing competition

from number three. That should give England a pause, a breather, a

chance to clear their lines. The line-out has been very good

throughout the championship. Able to have a period of play, you feel that

first ten minutes they've been outplayed.

You just talk about easy penalties, when you talk about referees. That's

an easy one. That body shape going straight to floor, they never want

to see that. There was no need. There's no real threat on the ball.

It's a silly penalty. Red cap of James Haskell.

This is why he's been picked to start for England! Outstanding. Just

saw the gap, heads up rugby. That's what Danny Care does. That's the

threat he poses. If there are any holes around break-down time, he

will exploit them. Either by himself or putting someone through them.

We'll see now, oh, that's poor defending. Care seeing it. How both

teams seem to defend, they're not setting a guard. They seem to be

more of a sliding chain, which does leave spaces around. They'll sit a

metre behind the rucks and shift behind. It leaves spaces if

someone's slow getting inside. More problems. Injury to Francois

Trinh-Duc. This is painful for France as well. Owen Farrell adds

the two points. Having had an uncomfortable opening

period, England are in the lead. I think his ankle goes over there. Oh,

yes, oh, that's awful. Don't want to see that again.

Francois Trinh-Duc. He will take no more part. It's fantastic he's

walking off the field, looking at that. Jules Plisson comes on to

replace him. Now you have a completely different shape for

France. France have had a period where they were totally on top. They

didn't score the two tries they should have scored. Then sucker

punched down the other end. Difficult to pick themselves up.

Psychologically from an England point of view, if they can dig into

them now and get another score, it could be a long evening for France.

You can see the crowd are getting behind them. It's gone down a little

bit. Really, England need to try and keep their foot on that and take

advantage of it. A mistake off the restart doesn't help.

Back to the original knock-on from the restart. Is it Mike Brown taking

that? Unusual. They switched sides. They went for, I think, both sides

have gone for different, not normal, kicks. They've gone to compete and

get the ball back. You look how good it is at sevens now getting the ball

back, it's a threat. It's a wise decision. It's something we used to

do a long time ago, we saw a restart as a way of getting the ball back

rather than just kicking it away. There will be all sorts of talk

about this particular area. Hopefully half an hour till the next

one. Penalty to France. Mako Vunipola goes down in a bit of a

heap, hope he's all right.. Vunipola starts out straight. His bind goes.

Easy decision. Are you going to start going on about leaning over?

No. With one foot in front of you, or not? That's on the tighthead

side. Bind isn't long either. Vunipola he's gone down. You can see

the tight end has gone in first. If Nigel Owens is round that side and

sees Vunipola on his chest, he's going to penalise him first.

Maxine Machenaud puts it clean through the middle. France nibble

away at England's lead. There's a technical point there. If

perhaps, as they do, line up square and have both feet parallel, once it

goes below parallel, their bodies, they cannot stay up. If the left

foot or right foot on the other side is further forward, you can bend and

you will be able to go lower without collapsing. I remember you saying

that at home. I did try it at home. It worked, didn't it? Meanwhile...

Brilliant breakout by France. Dare they or just clear their lines

and take the breather? Dear oh, dear. That would have been

an interesting one. George Ford with the clearance. What must be

concerning Eddie Jones at the moment is that is the third time France

have ripped England in open play. Just wondering, Scott Spedding made

the break, Wesley Fofana almost seemed to stop. Vakatawa starts it.

They move it to the edge. We can't quite see what happens. He is there.

I think he came from the switch rather than the... Plisson.

It's interesting to see at the start, France are so deep. I think

they realise England are going to keep this press on. They did it last

year at Twickenham. They got round the outside of them a couple of

times. Because with a push defence, you have to have that confidence to

keep going. At some point, you have to wait for your inside to detect

it. Because of how deep they are, they are able to stop that. I think

it was Farrell who had to back away and wait for his winger to come with

him. How quickly England have swept

forward. Thumping tackle on the England

seven. Penalty advantage against Gael

Fickou. He's there! Dan Cole! Can he believe

it? It's his second try for England. That's a personal triumph for Cole.

Still a fair bit to do. Not put down. Not held again. He's entitled

to do that. I think Guirado is asking for a blocking on Mako, which

probably, in some ways he's right to ask the question. He's got a very

good... Ah... I'm looking at that again and saying he's got a very

good case. It's now going upstairs.

REFEREE: As far as I'm concerned, its side onside. OK, time-out,

check, check. I have an angle that I want to show

you. REFEREE: This is the angle, Nigel.

Not in front. He has made that decision to tackle bad guy. That is

what he is not going If I were French, I'd be very

unhappy about that, but I'm not. England's lead goes. 17-6. If there

is any doubt about things like that, dropped the goal or take the cake.

It is a good finish by Dan Cole, never mind what happened to Mako

Vunipola. It is a rolling, rumbling finish by the burly Leicester prop.

Out of play again. A bit too tight to that touchline. A bit of

organisation needs to go on, some tweaks at half-time. They are

leaving... Putting them under a lot of pressure, straight back down the

blindside. Mermoz slightly got away with the

hesitation, ducking under the tackle, but it looks dangerous.

Flanquart to his secondary partner, Yoann Maestri.

Good pressure, good kick. Jack Nowell weights. Nearly brilliantly

taken. The ball planted at halfway. France

penalised. He's deflected that prop. They emerged from birth, I think.

There is a prop. Owen Farrell outright will be go to the corner?

Not bad, within the 22. Great pressure by Danny Care. It has

put them on a bit of pressure. Trying to force that error. England

have a good platform now. They have been imperious so far.

England now going forward and across. It is the danger man again,

Danny Care. George Kruis, to Chris Robshaw.

France now with the net gain. A huge net game.

There will be a lot of stick about that, quite rightly, too.

Beautiful footwork by the centre, now playing for France on the wing.

Poirot just about held possession. Mermoz drifting. Vakatawa! Five

metres short. And in touch again. If you are going to play that sort of

defence, you have to get someone or stay back. He questioned himself

just before he went off. It was just a bit late and he hangs Jack Nowell

out to dry a bit. Farrell looks hard to get back and manages to drag him

into touch at the same time. Jack Nowell clearly worried he isn't

getting people around the corner to help him out.

It bounces down from Maro Itoje into the channel. Hartley scooped it up.

It has gone backwards. Great pick-up from Itoje. Turnover for England.

What can they do? Owen Farrell says, let's keep it in the middle.

Not releasing. That came from changing their mind. The ball went

back inside and the supporting players were not in positions. Hence

being isolated. Although England are leading at the

moment, I don't think they are necessarily the best team. At the

moment, they don't have that control we have seen over the last matches

they have played. I think France have done very good homework on

England. They have been able to get around. We have seen a few

weaknesses, and they seem to be exploiting them. We keep harping on

about the botched kicks, but at the moment, and the five metre line, if

Vakatawa a free run back. They have to go into touch and regroup or get

somebody up there and compete. Straight and true, Machenaud.

France, 9. England, 19. -- 17. Turnover for Machenaud. Good defence

by Danny Care. He had to scramble there. Machenaud spotted blindside

possibilities. It will be one for Eddie Jones to

address at half-time. Many things you mentioned, but also the decision

around the breakdown, taking the ball into the breakdown.

Turnout. REFEREE: Keep the gap open, please.

Stay online. You keep the spaces right, please.

Penalty advantage. Not far enough, but there is an advantage.

Itoje could do something. You can't. They go back to that penalty. Again,

very unsubtle. Very easy for Nigel Owens to see.

Nigel Owens just telling... Well, there is the challenge in the air.

Owen Farrell going a little beyond the mark, running through the mark

and then kicking. Good set piece move. Anthony Watson

comes in field as well. Vunipola held up by Maestri. Get it

away to Chris Robshaw. Inside the 22. They know he was

coming. Mike Brown, tackled by his opposite

number, Scott Spedding. Still there. No longer.

A little knock-on. A France ball. That is what they mean when they are

talking about accuracy. Just the small things. When you get easy

context, when you drive over, or a foot knocks the ball down. France

did well to defend that. Great play. Unlucky for Brown, stumbling

beforehand. Not quite sure that was totally legal. But you have to look

after the bowl when you are in that situation. He was a bit hampered.

Vakatawa has been on the circuit. It's a different defensive system

altogether. Down he goes. Nigel Owens allows

played to go on. It will be interesting to see. The

number eight goes beyond it. He goes beyond his back foot. No matter

where he is, that it out. It is a different ball game

altogether. Yes, they need to be skew previously clean air. --

scrupulously clean air. Yeah, right! The French is right back in there

first. It came back out again. Brilliantly done by Billy Vunipola.

Jack Nowell, still going. Up to seven metres out.

Care weights, looks to be blindside, goes over to James Robbins your --

Chris Robshaw. Good French tackling so far.

Hartley, still solid defensive work. Good tackles, and it pays off,

because England lose control of the ball. I was about to say, it is

important for England to come up with something from this set of

phases. They are not going to, it would seem. They just couldn't quite

get it through past Billy Vunipola. A nice overlap on the edge. What

England have been brilliant at in all of their games if they have been

clinical. But not tonight. It isn't quite going their way. For the

French, first of defence has been better than good. They have fallen

off fewer tackles and they are making it hard. Eddie Jones will

have things to say but, when you are not playing well and you are eight

points up at half-time... That is obviously beneficial, but you want

to get it as close as you can. Eddie Jones, he is not going to settle for

it being like this. Good French scrum. Machenaud to

Plisson. Not that time. France foot tackling

again good. Penalised. England's winger Maxime Mermoz gets the pat on

the head for the tackle. He has taken them from Blair. --

from there. Three minutes. Here is the follow-up tackle. Bernard Le

Roux at first, and then over those Mermoz. -- over goes. Quite clear,

not releasing. Not really much of a gap there. Dare France go long to

detail? No, and it is picked off by George Kruis. Still danger. Watson

has to go back. He did incredibly well there. Anthony Watson X six

metres. Good play by Scott Spedding.

Presented quickly for Machenaud. Plisson switches. Chouly! They

continue their grapple as play goes on. Penalty advantage to France.

Plisson waits. Spedding. Chouly. Flanquart again. There is still a

penalty advantage to France. Fickou goes the Long Way round, tries to

states and are but gets nowhere. -- tries to straighten up. France have

the penalty. It is a double blow, really. It will

give France a relatively easy shots at goal, if they are going to go

there. I think they are. And I think, given that England were

looking in a period of four or five minutes of pressure, they will be

quite happy, relatively, to see three points go over, get down the

other rent and see this half out in the lead. Loann Goujon had the

experience of running into Billy Vunipola. That is break-out by

France, and continued pressure. It has led to penalty chances.

Maxime Machenaud, going through his rituals.

Machenaud, and France creep ever closer. 12-17. On balance, I think

you've got to say that France deserved those points. 30 seconds to

go. Time for the restart, by George Ford. Vakatawa weights. Turns,

spins. There is time for the scrum. Little

things going wrong for France, Machenaud not happy with himself.

You have situations like this... In 2003, you are well known for what

happens if you get here. They should be anticipating something like this,

whereby the minimum they end up with is a situation where they drop a

goal. With the clock running over, they will have the set piece time in

the middle. They will keep the ball in hand but, in the back of their

minds, they should have walking away three points from the drop goal and

establishing a solid lead with the 8-point lead going into the half. I

think we will probably see something around the middle of the two

centres, getting before words involved and see where we are going.

-- getting the forwards involved. The cynical me thinks that England

will scrum one... You can't rely on the revelry being on your side. The

first one to turn it there was Slimani. Of course, the referees

don't have the overhead camera, but they are close to the action. A good

conversation going on with John Lacey on the far side. There he is,

on the touchline. Deep into overtime at the end of the

first half. England will go in with the lead. How big will it be? There

you go, Mike, you got your wish. I never quite understood why, when

the referee and stupid penalty, everybody congratulates you, when

you haven't done anything? Just trying to GUI. Backs need to feel

like we are involved. -- just trying to cheer you up.

I don't think it would all be the same if we went up and capped Nigel

Owens. Owen Farrell, to send England into

the changing room eight points in front.

Stays out. England's lead is five points at half-time. Owen Farrell

trots off at half-time. STUDIO: It is fantastic, I hope the

noise of the studio is coming over at home. An engrossing match. So

many fascinating battles. Was that the key moment, Danny Care seeing

the gap and going forward, giving England the ascendancy? In a half of

key moments, how crucial might that miss by Owen Farrell be on the

stroke of half-time? There is only one score in it. England are 17-12

to the good. The number of tackles missed by England, 15 out of 58.

That is 20% more of their tackles that they have been missing. An

intriguing game. Michael checker is alongside me. Is that a fair

reflection of the first 40 minutes? I think so. The French have played

OK. They have made some breaks and maybe not have the confidence to

stay with the ball. They have thrown few balls away. From an England

perspective? They haven't been as up for it is in the first four games.

The French are not off-loading as much as they have, which is causing

all the turnovers and errors. That is why France are more in this game.

They really are causing England problems. We find some gaps in the

English defence, and I think that was the best half from the French

team in the last four years, but England are a good team. We are

still behind, but the English team is really good. Maybe we need a bit

more discipline than we are in a good way. England have been very

creative. In the first few games today, they have been a bit more

like, we are going to run over the top of his guys. France came out and

they were aggressive. I would be interested to see the mindset. I

think England felt they could steal it in the first 20 minutes and score

some tries, but it hasn't been the case. France got off to a flyer but

it was Mike Brown and that burst down the touchline when perhaps he

didn't see Anthony Watson which was the first scoring opportunity. He

got through, shaping the tackle, looking inside immediately. If he

straightens up, the defender, Watson is in. That would have given him the

confidence to crack on even further. But a loose pass? Mike Brown has

been good in the aerial battle but he needed to be stronger mentally

there. As soon as you make a gap, you need to look on the outside, and

he didn't do that. He is a great player, Mike Brown. He has the ball

in one had so you know it isn't on unless he is going to flick it out

to the side. He is probably thinking he can go for the try. We always

talk about the try, but a try can be created in many different ways.

Sometimes by the other team doing something 90 yards away. If we go

through the sequence of events leading to Danny Care's try, you

feel like the French were the architects of their own demise.

Every moment counts in the game. Right here, Vakatawa, he has made a

great break. That has led to the field position that brings on the

try for England. Well done, Danny Care. It should have gone in to the

ruck. Trying to get into that space. Danny Care spotted it. That is what

he was brought into the side for. The story and he scored. Slow French

reactions. It will slow because, with so much pressure, we were a bit

tired. Even if the French defence was good during the first half, in

that moment, we were weak. Eddie's seen something in there and

he can claim the first try there. They've turned the volume up here, I

think. The second England try has provoked absolute fewer ory on

social media -- furore. People saying miningel owns, who's had a

great first half, made a major error.

I think he's got it right, people will say, yeah you're English. But

Mako Vunipola there, he should have been zeroing in on Cole. They've got

the NFL on in London now, but the problem is, I'm only joking there,

but Guirado can't wrap his arm to make the tackle. That's what he

would want to do. If there's doubt he has to give it to the attacking

team. He can't make the tackle because he can't wrap the arm

around. He's committed to Mako. I agree with you. He wants to tackle,

you know, he cannot because both players stick to each other. The

referee, he had to look at it. I complete disagree. That was a very

interesting move. It's one of the first times I've known it, the only

reason they went to the TMO is that the crowd were make soing much noise

that Nigel Owens felt intimidated he to see. England, fey in the World

Cup, they went to it then. Guirado, seriously, he looked at Mako

Vunipola believing he's going to get the ball then he dips down. He can't

see what's going on. He believes Mako is getting the ball. England

were 17-6 up and very much in control. Penalties have brought

France back into the game. From a French perspective certainly things

you want to talk about, not least players running out of play. You've

got to stay within the field of play. I think it's a basic. You

can't run out of touch. You can't run into touch. It doesn't matter

what the opposition present you, you've got to do everything you can

to stay in. That's about believing that I'm going to score off the next

phase or the one after that. We've made a great break here, stay with.

It it's something to learn. Every time Vakatawa had the ball, he was a

threat. He had a very bad pass from Debuchy previously. He makes some

yards and brings danger into the defence. Explain for us if you

could, why are the French backs so often taking the ball standing

still? Because rescared by the English defence. It's a rush

defence. We should use the foot a bit more to bring the defence a bit

back. We are so deep. We tried to go round. But we should run a bit with

the ball and go into the defence. A lot of teams defend with the inside

man following the outside man. England's reversing that. The

outside man is doing what the inside man does by hooking right up. It's

getting in the eye line of the French. They're a bit worried about

it as opposed to running at it. Plisson will adjust. It says a lot

about the way the French are set not knowing what they're going to do,

how they're going to do it and when? . That's why we nearly scored from

our half. It's very ad lib. We know if we are organised, we can win

against England. We need to create magic. Vakatawa, started, and you

think sometimes why we don't kick, why we don't try to play simple.

It's just because we think we want to show we can do some special

things. From a coaching perspective, it's an intriguing confrontation.

What particularly is attracting you here? It's very much a couple of

different philosophies that are at play in the first half. England are

trying to steam roll them a bit much the French are trying to play out,

just like Thomas is saying, play the game out. What happened I notice

issed when the French picked up their aggression in the second part

of that half, their play started happening better. Aggression is the

fuel to most good play. That's what the French love. You take on the

French physically and you break them in ten minutes, they go completely.

They've stood up. The changes they've made have really worked. The

game is still open. 29 points in the first half here in Paris this

evening. We had 141 points in the two matches earlier on today in

Cardiff and in Dublin. Here are some of the best moments.

COMMENTATOR: Jonathan Davis is free. He scores. Davis gets the touchdown

through so many pairs of hands. It went from one end of the field to

the other. George North all the way himself for

the try. What a try from George North! He does it again, four games

in a row in the Six Nations. Only Shane Williams has managed that for

Wales now George North has done. It

Beautiful, magical. That is a little bit special. A fabulous moment of

genius. Stuart Hogg is playing the rugby of his life right now.

It's Keith Earls. On the occasion of his 50th cap making the most of a

very clever little tip. And it did. A fantastic match

earlier on today. That's how the table looks with one

match still to go. Whatever happens in the second half here, England

will receive the RBS Six Nations trophy on the final whistle. They

will obviously hope together with that they will get the Grand Slam,

otherwise it might be muted celebrations, it's fair to say. The

women's Six Nations has reached a climax this weekend, though there

are still two matches that have to be completed. The championship was

at stake in the match between the French women and England's women. If

France won this match, they would win the title on points difference.

That's exactly what happened. The French scrum-half kicking the ball

out of play to round things off there. Absolute delight for the

French team and as we look at the table, we can see that France and

England finishing with eight points each. But with France with a

markedly better points difference. Scotland finishing at the bottom of

the table. They have two matches to play tomorrow.

One always says on these occasions about what's going to be said in the

dressing room at half time, but from a French perspective what do they

need to do, accuracy in the final third? They haven't scored a try

yet. Where's that score going to come from? I think they just need to

believe in themselves down near the goal line. They're making breaks. It

shows the missed tackle count for England is down a bit from what they

usually do. Once they make a break, put pressure on. It's a bit in the

mind as well to be down in the opposition 22. From an English

perspective? Get your tackling right. 4% success rate is not good

enough. Keep the penalties down, six they've conceded, four in their own

half. That's why the French are ticking along the score board with

the numbers. And believe. England have to do that. Don't Veer from

your game plan. Believe it's going to work. The line speed should be

the same for the French. England will attack. In the rucks we need to

be more effective. We need to slow the pace of the English. I think in

terms of being compelling entertainment, let's hope the second

half is as good as the first. COMMENTATOR: The last round of the

Six Nations and they stand on the brink.

The first Grand Slam since 2003. That is a very poor start for

England. France take the lead. We're all square. Danny Care. This

is why he's been picked. Cole. Still Cole. He's there.

France creep ever closer. 12 points to England's 17.

STUDIO: The French are out on the field of play and have been for

quite a while. England have kept them waiting. England have been

waiting for 13 years for a Grand Slam. They're 40 minutes away from

it. Just five points in it, though, this really is a match that is

balanced on a knife edge. I know you're not going anywhere this

Saturday night until the Grand Slam is either won or lost from an

English perspective. We have two teams but no officials. Are you

still convinced that France might upset the English apple cart here?

Yeah, I'm convinced. We show in the first half that we've got the

strength and capacity to do that. The English team, I've been

surprised, you know, even under massive pressure they manage to deal

with the French pressure. England get out of your own half quicker. In

previous games, it's been brilliant, quick, sharp and effective. Here are

the last 40 minutes of the Six Nations 2016.

COMMENTATOR: Joe Marler is on the field. Jules Plisson to start the

second half. England lead by five points.

Penalty advantage to France. We go back for the penalty. England

scramble defence only just holding there. Giving a penalty away because

they were anxious about the ball coming back. Good defensive work in

the end. Great start from Vakatawa. He's involved straight from the off.

Just such a powerful, just to have that power as well as that balanced

running is causing all sorts of problems one on one for defenders.

Nigel Owens has called for a new ball.

Vakatawa is such a threat in open play.

Just look at Vakatawa's stats, he's had 12 carries, over 100 metres,

compared to anyone else on either team he's streets ahead. The more

they can get the ball in his hands, the better it will be.

His fifth penalty, France up to 15. England on 17 have the lead. But

it's been an encouraging start for France. They started brightly. A

ball that squirts out, a bouncing ball always seems to create

difficulties. Vakatawa with the pass off the ground to Bernard Le Roux.

Ben Youngs is on. Danny Care rots off.

-- trots off. Turnover, but illegal. And right -

he knows - right from giving France an early flip, this happens so many

times, from the restart, easy penalty given away. And it's just

unnecessary. He doesn't need to do it. They've just got back really

into the game. Now giving a chance for England to relieve the pressure

a bit and move on again and get the five points ahead. And actually get

some confidence out of the back of it as well.

Owen Farrell missed his last penalty. This one easier, well,

straighter. It's good.

A little anxious look back by Owen Farrell. But England up to 20

points. The people who wondered whether or not this would be a

proper examination of credentials for a potential Grand Slam team have

had their doubts answered. It is going to be a proper examination.

Scrum. Everybody got a little excited. Fair rucking,

counterrucking. In the past when England have narrowly failed to get

either championships or Grand Slams where they've been runners up, it's

at points like this where they've failed, where they haven't been able

to keep their clarity and purpose, where they haven't been able to

execute things properly. Has Eddie Jones found a way to put that

confidence into them? Good tackle in the end. This is what

England need now, just up the pace. Ben Youngs has come on. He's getting

the ball away quickly. It's what they talked about all

week, trying to lift the tempo and tire this French team ou. -- out.

Doesn't bump into his own player, but uses his own player as a shield.

A clear crossing, but from an England point of view, that last two

on three minutes as been much more cogent. You saw in that pattern of

play, George Ford was so much flatter to the line, taking it going

forward. Off the back of that, they got really nice, fast ball, allowing

Ben Youngs to get in and out of the rucks. They've been a bit messy and

the end of the last half, the start of this half, but if they can get

clean, quick balls, that's what they need.

France's captain receiving attention, as is Jefferson Poirot.

It won't be long before the front rows start to change.

Scott Spedding. He won't hold back on the clearance.

Just about up to halfway. France take a leisurely stroll towards it.

They want to get this right. Five points separate the teams, England

in the lead. A change of tactics. Mermoz comes

away with the ball. Thought that had to be a penalty for just pushing him

out of the way there. Penalty advantage. England not

releasing. Dylan Hartley told by Nigel Owens,

plenty of drama left. Someone there shouting "discipline".

But whoever it is is right. Dylan Hartley here. I'm sure he will claim

that he actually ripped the ball there and was in possession.

Imagine if the referee told you to go and have a word with yourself.

That would be an interesting conversation. I talk to myself all

the time. It would be a long one. That's the only way I get a sensible

conversation. Maxine Machenaud lines up the kick

that would - I don't know what it would do to England. It will make

them feel nervous. That is precisely what the French need to do, because

as they know, in the past, England have not been able to see these sort

of situations through. This is a question mark that

everyone has been asking about this team and about the management.

Machenaud straight through the middle. The gap closes again. France

18, England 20. People Jess tick lating at --

gesticulating on the field. France haven't been great at this.

They score a penalty - They've turned it over as well. Then give

something away. This time it's the ball rather than the penalty.

A squirting, drop goal attempt. That is why.

Timeout. George Ford was forced into that ad

hoc decision, because the pass to him was way behind him. He had to

turn round. It killed all the momentum. When you're talking about

discipline, it includes that sort of thing, getting the passes in front

of the man. Give France a lot of credit. They've

handled - we've seen people struggle to handle Billy Vunipola. But today,

they've contained him. He's not allowed to do that. He

rolls back a couple of times too many.

The reasoning behind that is if you're on the floor, you're deemed

to be out of the game. You've either got to release the ball or get to

your feet. And the reason for that law is this: That you're not allowed

to play a man on the floor. If you stay on the floor, you're keeping

people from playing you and that's the reason why that is a penalty.

Thanks for that. What he's trying to do is stop

someone getting their hands on the ball to steal it. Unfortunately he

ended up rolling away from one and into another one.

The crowd is just starting to get back into this game. There was a net

game of 60 yards there. George Kruis steals a French

line-out. Great turnover. I think it's Owen

Farrell who turned it over for England.

Mike Brown kicks when there seemed to be an overlap.

It's fairly chaotic out there. You can just sense the nerves. Someone

needs to look up there. If you look at the numbers out there for France,

not only were they inferior, but there were many front five forwards

potentially going to be trying to tackle backs. Think back to what

Jerry was saying at halftime about England and how they've exited so

well. They're not doing that again. Again, it was rushed. France are

making a few too many errors. Back-to-back turnovers by Itoje and

Farrell. It's just getting too loose at the

moment. England have to get that control back. For France, it started

at the line-out. That was lost. Then two break down losses. England have

not been quite as straight. They're not doing the basics. Have you to

earn the right to go wide by going forward. Getting yourself on the

front foot, allowing the ball to come back quickly. England are not

accurate. They're not making enough yards going forward. Everything else

is falling down behind that. Vunipola. A chance to get a head of

steam of life. We've is clear. Now he looks for support. Anthony Watson

on the left side, Watson for England! Is that the try that seals

the grand slam? That is what you can do if you don't play for penalties,

get over the gain line. It would be interesting to watch that because

Vunipola had so much room. Normally I would expect the back row to pick

him up a bit earlier. Get free run at ten. Going for the wheel of the

scrum. Perfect for what he wants to do. All presented, quick, and a

smart kick. Good pace by Watson do not panic. -- good patience. It

shows that England could, like a lot of sides, hooked the ball into a

scrum, go for a penalty, kick in a corner. There are sides to try to

use scrums as restarts. Owen Farrell moves the camera out of

his pile. It leaves the gap at seven points.

If I was Dylan Hartley, It leaves the gap at seven points.

would be about, let's get a clean exit after this restart. They have

really struggled. England need to get a nice exit, reset themselves

and get back into this game. Not back into it, but get out of their

own arguments and play the opposition's R. Multiple changes for

France. Paul Jedrasiak is into the second row. Slimani is off, Poirot

is off. George Kruis gets a hand to it.

France try and get through. They have won themselves a penalty. The

exit strategy, the management of the restart. You have to give credit to

France. The restarts they have done had given them a real chance of

getting the ball back. But still... They've got to be a bit smarter

about getting people there and protecting Jack Nowell. Even so, if

you are going to lose a ball, then, at the end of the day, it is about

your defence. You can't defend penalty kicks.

Xavier Chiocci in the front row, for France. Jedrasiak in the second.

Start Machenaud is a magnificent game. France 21, England 25. The

French crowd are doing their utmost to win all their team on. -- two

will their team on. Guy Noves, the French coach. The

Florence coach alongside him. England throw. I'll goes George

Kruis. -- up goes George Kruis. France did well to defend that

initially. England trying to spin away from the concerted effort. They

are left with a single player, Chris Robshaw. Dan Cole. It was a good

off-load. Again, the off-load, it runs into

Vakatawa. Jack Nowell, he is tackled by Vakatawa. Vakatawa doing

everything! Once tackle. From once tackle

straight to another. That is what you want as a supporting player,

when you stood still. Oh, thank you. It hasn't looked like it so far, but

England could do with a real challenge at this scrum.

As it is, France Rush forward at the scrum. Easy penalty, England

pulling. That is what a new front row can do for you. That is what 23

stone of Atonio can do for you. Poirot -- Spedding kicks played into

the English car. You were calling for pressure on the

French scrum, but you were looking for something a bit more pushing.

Yeah, not like that. And it is another line-out stolen by Maro

It was a good decision from George Ford. They want a player who can go

forward. But then they have lost the tempo. Sometimes you just have to

turn it and put the pressure back on France.

Guirado, pressure on him. Machenaud is still under real pressure, as

England try to keep him up. I think they have done their job. It is a

good surge from France, after a very not promising start.

That is the damage done by Itoje. Oh, he has been penalised. A bit

unlucky there. He has taken out the scrum. He just carried into

somebody. I think it is the shoulder.

So France are back where they were Eddie Jones... Still nervous

moments. Well, they should be nervous. There is only one

non-converted score. France, because of the seven man

line-out, it hasn't been going well. The problem with shortening your

line-out is they are actually giving, if you look at Itoje and

Kruis, you are giving them an easier target to go after, surely. John

Lacey, a brave Irishman, gets between them. Enough for England to

be concerned about without getting involved. Really, they need a third

of stability now. 14 minutes to go. Damien Chouly against George Kruis.

It came down on the side of George Kruis. Still active.

Nigel Owens has called for the ball to be put down the middle. Let's

have a bet, shall we? Well, he's going to have another

look. You know what, let's just change the law on this and admit

what's going on. It's just awful. It remains the problem area for the

game. Guirado in disgust at the lost art of scrummaging.

Would you not say that France are looking for a penalty there? I would

definitely agree with you, but I think you just wants the ball out

and playing. I think he wants it at the back feet.

The referee talking to Laurel Duchamp at number eight. If he says

use it, it's got to go. -- Loann Goujon at number eight.

This is one of the problems in the scrum. The law says that nothing

should happen, no forward or sideways moment -- movement until

the ball is put in. Free kick, and it goes live. Spedding was called

for and he caught it. -- it goes by. Yoann Maestri was only trying to

help. I know, but you don't lift players are like that. I know it

isn't what Dylan Hartley wants to hear, it didn't he use his arms in

that tackle? Let's see. We are not in charge of the replay. They are

not our pictures. I think it might be to do with what the linesman

says. That might have something to do with it.

Here we are. Start with his arms out. I'm not sure... Head to the

knee. The captain may not be able to go up

to receive the Grand Slam trophy, or the championship trophy.

I think you are right, Mike, he did try to use his arms but the lights

went out before he could. It is difficult. Atonio is a very big man.

He is trying to beat him down but he has lost sight of why he is going to

put his shoulders and he has put on me straight on top of his head.

Becomes captain of England? Chris Robshaw. He'd probably say, no,

thank you, very much! As back-up captains, they have made Brown and

Farrell. Probably Owen Farrell. Owen Farrell has led the huddle

discussion. Nigel Owens is asking about how it

should be restarted. It's going to be an England scrum. What a time for

a first scrum. As I point out on mocht occasions with these, when you

have an extended period like this, you can't tell, but one side comes

out more cogent and benefits from. It you don't know who it will be,

but it will be very important. I'm surprised the players aren't doing

more to keep warm out there. We need to keep everybody warm. Michael, are

you warm enough? Definitely warm down here, there's no doubt about

it. We're close to the play. At this stage of the game, it's funny how

it's early on, there was a fair bit of ball movement. Now it's starting

to get down to winning scrums, winning linouts and penalties. That

shows how important the game is to both teams, for different reasons.

It's going to be an interesting battle about how tight the game gets

now and who can win that tight battle. England on 25 points, hasn't

been an entirely lucky number for them. 25 against Wales, which cue

the Welsh comeback. 25 points in the World Cup game against Wales. Don't

need reminders of that. Well, not in England.

Luke Cowan-Dickie is on as replacement hooker. Dylan Hartley

makes his exit. There's going to be a big question over Cowan-Dickie.

His line-out has come under pressure before. England's set piece has been

fabulous today. It will be a lot of pressure. Need to be solid round our

basics. England's line-out is 100% at the moment. After the stoppage

for Dylan Hartley's attention, we are going to have a scrummage. It's

going to be a good opportunity for England. We'll see as well, because

Luke Cowan-Dickie doesn't really hook the ball. Eddie Jones has been

asking his hookers to do that. Dylan Hartley has been doing that.

If do you that and get the ball to the back, things like the Vunipola

rumble for the England try for Watson can occur. If you don't, it

gets stuck in the middle. It becomes a fight.

How is that different from the last scrum? It's not any different. It's

not to England's benefit to move the scrum before they put the ball in.

Two front rows are going to have a lecture.

Will you please listen. We've got a great game of rugby. The scrums are

not going to spoil the rest of this game. Unless you sort it out, you

will leave the field. It is as easy as that. Take the control on the

set, control your set. Tell him. Because they will leave the field.

He's quite right to do that. We haven't all come here to see people

wandering around in scrums. He has to carry that through then if it

continues. That could be a penalty to France. I

think I'm right in saying Dan Cole is the most penalised of the England

players. He is, though you just take into account he is in the front row

as well. Bearing in mind that some of the penalties won't necessarily

be his fault that are given against him. But there, he's taking the ball

quite upright, goes to ground early. He's got to stay up early till his

support comes because if they're not there, then you have to manufacture

something. England have got caught in the position where they're not

getting the ball away from their body. It's easier for the Jackals,

the guys going over the ball to stay on and take the clear out hits with

them. Loann Goujon is off. Wenceslas Lauret is on.

Back for the penalty. I know there's no intent, but keep

them down, please. This is a big call. You always go

for this shot I-know he hasn't shot them all the time. There's the high

tackle on Ben Youngs. The crucial thing about this, if it

goes over, it is a converted try for France to draw even. An unconverted

try would take them into the lead. There's that little bit of a

cushion. It's over.

Good calmness under pressure. Owen Farrell extends England's lead.

England up to 28 points. The converted try would bring the scores

level. It would be no Grand Slam with a draw.

France can't get their hands on the ball at the moment.

That's a good kick. Absolutely quality. Actually France knew where

he was going there. They didn't have enough players to cover the

territory. It was great ball flight. A really nice roll. Favourable

bounce. It's typical of France this season that Machenaud and Lauret

they didn't call for it, a bit of confusion. You've got to say, oh,

another steal. George Kruis this time. ?

Another three points here would be very useful. France come away with.

It -- with it. England trying to keep the ball off

the ground. They need a converted try to deny

England the Grand Slam. Steady. If it turns out to be an

England win, when you look back at this, I think you will find the

line-out steals by Itoje, Kruis and the like have been absolutely

pivotal in keeping France away from England's line and contributing to

what and if it does happen, a victory for England.

Chris Robshaw is going off. Jack Clifford comes on, one of the

promising players of the future. Ross Moriarty came off for Wales

this afternoon, an excellent game. Young back row forwards coming on.

England could make this a four-minute maul. They don't need

four minutes if they could get a try out of it.

That's a penalty. Hauled right round the side.

Three points here would be so sweet. Just wide. Penalty attempt though.

Yellow card. And a yellow. That seals it, I would think. If

this goes over, that seals it. England doing well in that driving

maul to get a wider base. It does seem that France have run out of

steam a bit. There have been fitness doubts all through the championship.

They haven't really mounted any serious challenge in this last

quarter. As I mention, any platform that they threatened to have in this

half has regularly been ruined by England stealing the ball. That's

both down to improsignificance on their part but very good work by

England's second rows. I completely agree. England's penalties, they've

created their own problems by a high penalty count. But they've solved

them in the way that the line-out has functioned. That's probably

getting them over the line. The performance shall they don't what --

performance, they won't be that proud of. But it's done the job.

England up to 31 points. The gap is ten points. Surely that is it.

England are going to take that and people will say it's been a poor

championship. I'm sure there will be niggly comments about it. Grand

Slams are never easily won. They're always worth something. Three games

on the road to doing the Grand Slam the hard way. Two games at

Twickenham. That is where England want to be.

The clock is running. A minute-and-a-half to go. England's

first Grand Slam in 13 years. The other point if people are saying, it

was an easy Grand Slam. You have to say, why didn't you win it then?

There is no such thing. It's incredibly difficult to win.

Spedding has been brilliant today. Vakatawa always brings something.

Again the ball goes down. The game is going to end with an England put

into the scrummage. They look weary out there. Lauret looks tired.

France, though, the game is going to be lost. It hasn't been a great

campaign for France. It has been such a recovery for England.

Bitterness that went with the defeat in the World Cup, well, this has put

themselves back together as quickly as possible, a Grand Slam in the Six

Nations. From a supporters' point of view, I'm sure that they will

understand the importance of this for future development, but the

thing is, there is a lot more to come, Eddie Jones. They will know

that. There are a lot of areas of improvement. But to achieve that as

well, it just shows there's a lot of potential with this team. Let's not

forget Stuart Lancaster in this. He must be at home wondering what if.

The vast majority of the players that are here, he identified and

took to a certain level, so he should take some satisfaction in

this as well. We are into overtime. Mike, word on the Grand Slam? It's

fantastic. What we talked about, as he kicks it out. You can see what it

means to the players. They've obviously been through the heart

break before. They can thoroughly enJo I this bit now. It is England's

Grand Slam, five out of five in the Six Nations of 2016. It's not just

five out of five, it comes after all the disappointment of their home

World Cup of 2015. Eddie Jones, the new coach, said, "We want prizes."

Well, he's won the first on offer. His England have won the Grand Slam

in the Six Nations. The final score France 21, England 31.

STUDIO: So Jerry, how much is this Grand Slam that man's? Eddie's

inspired his team. That's what a coach is there to do. He's come up

with really good tactics, good game plan. He's changed the leadership,

which has worked. He's brought in vice captains, given them

responsibility. They've grown up. I'd say that a lot of this side has

played as well as they can and is still improving. That didn't happen

so much in the previous four years. Those guys have really stepped up.

They can be very pleased. The pain of missing out over the last few

years is now put to bed and they're Grand Slam champions. A lot of

people asking how Dylan Hartley is. We're trying to find out for you.

Let's hear from Eddie Jones, the man who's Masterminded this Grand Slam.

At the first time of asking, you've led England to a long awaited Grand

Slam. How proud are you right now? I'm very proud of the boys. We

weren't at our best today, but we battled through and really deserved

the victory. It's a great achievement by the team. It all got

very nervy towards the end. There was just two points in it. How

anxious were you? Look, I always had confidence in the team. I thought if

the first half we sat back a little bit, probably more worried about the

result than playing. The second half, we were more positive. I

gather Dylan Hartley is sitting up in the dressing room. He left the

pitch on a stretcher. How influential has his leadership been,

given some questioned his credentials as captain? He's done a

really good job, fantastic. Billy Vunipola, Brown and Owen have done

well supporting him and the other guys Haskell and Robshaw, that

nucleus of the team has been very strong. How much does Steve

Borthwick deserve a pat on the back, at times your line-out kept you in

the game. The two assistant coaches have done a fantastic job. They're

to be congratulated for their efforts. How improved has this group

been in your mind, given what happened at the World Cup? The great

thing is the best is ahead of us. We're looking forward to go to

Australia now. We're only going to get better. Michael Checker is our

guest this evening. Have you got a word for him? We're looking forward

to see you in Australia! Many congratulations. Thanks very much.

STUDIO: Are you shaking in your boots? Well, he'll give us a bit of

a tongue whipping that's for sure. It's good see England playing good

footy. That's what rugby's about, make the contest happen. The one

thing that's important that everyone keep talking about, the World Cup is

over. It's about getting onto the next thing. It's what we're thinking

about as well. I gather that Owen Farrell can talk to us now. Let's go

down to Sonia once more. Just describe the emotions as that

final whistle blew. Brilliant. We set ourselves a goal at the start of

the six nations to be the most dominant team in Europe. We've

aKieved that goal. It weren't the best in the first half. We scored a

couple of tries and were up. We came out there and showed character in

the second half. I thought the boys were brilliant. Were there nerves

out there as France kept slotting the penalties? No, we was focussed

on our job. The right messages were being said out there. Everyone

saying the right things. France are a good side, especially over here. I

thought the boys weathered it well. How much does Eddie Jones deserve

this? Everyone does. You know, this squad's been brilliant since we met

up for the Six Nations. We've got better week on week and built on

performances. We've got what we deserve after it. You remember the

agony of the previous near misses, how special is this for England to

finally get offer the line given what happened at the World Cup, just

in the Autumn? Yeah, I'm just chuffed for the boys. There's a few

that's been through a lot and there's new lads that's coming in

and adding to the squad. I'm chuffed for everyone. You're lifting the

trophy I think. Sip is here, he's up -- skip is here, he's up on his

feet. I'm sure he'll lift it. I think we can see Dylan Hartley, you

can see him, number two. He's out after his head injury assessment,

after what looked a horrible collision. That's good news. Here is

confirmation of how the RBS Six Nations finished:

Let's hear from the man of the match.

Billy, huge smiles from your team-mates. There's hugs all round,

what does this mean to this group of players? It means a great deal. I'm

a bit jealous I get to miss out on this, but I'm thankful for such a

great bunch of guys. We've had a great eight weeks. To come out on

top and win every game, after the World Cup, which no-one can forget

about, I thank God for giving me the opportunity. It was hard fought out

there. How tough was it this evening? I think you could hear how

loud the crowd was and I'm sure they didn't want us, the French team

didn't want us to come and win the Grand Slam on their home soil.

That's credit to them. More credit goes to my team and the way we stood

up to them in a tough first half. Eventually came out on top. Many

congratulations. I can see you're bouncing. Well done. Thank you very

much very ( verymuch ( England are showing us

the way for glory. We are waiting for the presentation. The

presentation party are ready. There isn't a Grand Slam trophy. But there

is a championship trophy and England will get that. To win ugly is not a

bad way to get your first Grand Slam. They're always generally hard

to come by. Now they've gone across that line, these boys are going to

get more confident, believe in themselves more. They have a tough

tour ahead but boy they will grow on that one. Michael, everybody who is

now, we're very close to the press boxes, can see people tapping away

manically on their computers and they will write about Eddy Jones's

contribution to England. This was Stuart Lancaster's squad that Eddie

has manipulated a bit, is it possible to say how important he has

been to this? Obviously, he's made a change

straightaway. You can see that, got the scoreboard is saying five

matches, five wins. Playing better footy, you know what I mean? It is a

good state of mind for them and I think Eddie takes a look at credit

for reinvigorating it. The presentation party is happening.

Each England player is being named in turn. The chief executive of the

Six Nations and Bill Beaumont, your dad, the most powerful man in world

rugby and a former Grand Slam winner himself. When you look back, as all

these players get their prices, and there is the man of the match, the

roll of honour of England captains who have won Grand Slams. Norman

Atherton Woodhouse, in the early days it was mandatory to have a

double barrelled name. W J a Davis, Wavell Wakefield, Ronald: Smith,

another double barrelled one, Eric Evans in 1957, Bill Beaumont,

leading England to a Grand Slam in 1980, will Carling, Ryan maul, he

was part will Carling's site in 1992 and Martin Johnson, 13 years ago.

Dylan Hartley, he is back in one piece and he will be the man who

lifts that trophy shortly. Big applause for Mike Brown, who has

been a stall what for England on the field of play, but also off. You

feel he is one of the talisman of this group, knitting them together

in the aftermath of the World Cup. He said how angry he was after that.

He has carried that positivity into the field of play over the course of

the last six or seven weeks. There are still six or seven players to go

up. Jerry, in terms of stating how important this is for English rugby,

can you put that in some kind of context, given what happened six

months ago? I agree with Michael that the World Cup is gone.

Everybody is building towards the next one. They want to win and they

want to improve. I think we have seen England at strength. The depth

of the squad, talented players, competition for all of the places...

The bench that comes on is very strong. This team are only going to

get better. So much was written about whether Dylan Hartley was the

right man to captain England, but here is the proof of the pudding, as

Dylan Hartley receives his medal and lifts very shortly the championship,

the RBS Six Nations championship but, more to the point, he is the

first England captain since Martin Johnson to captain a Grand Slam

winning England rugby team. We have just got a couple of

moments, England celebrate. They will have a good night, because

Eddie Jones will make sure that they do. A quick thought from our pundits

about the events of the last seven weeks also. England Grand Slam

champions, France finishing in the bottom of the table for the fifth

year in a row. Wales, runners up. What is your take on what we have

seen was to mark Reed I think it was a very good tournament. -- I think

it was a very good tournament. Wales have been very consistent. England

came back very strongly. I still believe they need a win in

Australia, the southern hemisphere. These guys, they are the best. They

need to do that to prove that they have improved. I have enjoyed the

tournament, a lots of close matches. England have proved that you have to

go out and have ambition to score tries. Defences are given. I think

it has been a good tournament. Scotland is improving. Everybody is

improving. I think the World Cup had something to do with that, because

everybody was at a terrific level. It will be tough for us when we come

here in November, that's for sure. Thank you to you and all of our

technical crew who have done a magnificent job over the last few

weeks. The victors, the spoils but England, who have won a Grand Slam

for the first time 2003, when they won the World Cup. From all of us

here, good night. George Kruis has scored for England.

Ajax Norfolk border. England have won the World Cup once again. Mike

Brown this time. England are moving clear at Twickenham. England have

won. They have their third victory. Anthony Watson, and England in full

control. England survive being challenged by Wales. And they stand

over Britain, the first Grand Slam and 2003. This is why Danny Care has

been picked. Watson for England. Is that the try that