France Clinch Back-to-Back Six Nations Titles in Thrilling Victory Over England

PARIS — France secured their second consecutive Six Nations title with a dramatic 48-46 victory over England on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The match was decided by a last-second penalty kick from Thomas Ramos, capping off an extraordinary Super Saturday finale .

Match Highlights and Key Performances

England Player Ratings

• Elliot Daly (15): Showed early kicking prowess and provided an assist for Tom Roebuck’s try, but was defensively questionable, potentially contributing to Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s first-half tries. Rating: 6
• Tom Roebuck (14): Finished his try well and made a quality attacking play in the first half. However, he and Daly were exploited for space by the French attack. Rating: 6
• Tommy Freeman (13): A strong performance from the Northampton star, demonstrating physicality and threat in the wider channels. He thought he had won the match with a late converted try. Rating: 8
• Seb Atkinson (12): An improvement from previous matches, focusing on simple execution. Still adapting to the pace of Test rugby and needs to increase his impact. Rating: 6
• Cadan Murley (11): A solid game with one penalty aside, building on his previous performances and showcasing power and speed. Rating: 7
• Fin Smith (10): Orchestrated the English attack effectively with excellent passing. His goal-kicking needs improvement, but his drop-kick conversion was remarkable. Rating: 8
• Ben Spencer (9): Displayed increased speed at the breakdown, finding rhythm at the base. Rating: 8
• Ben Earl (8): Made significant meters despite time off the field due to injury and a yellow card. Rating: 7
• Guy Pepper (7): Involved in numerous breakdowns but struggled to disrupt French ball. Showed a relentless work rate. Rating: 6
• Ollie Chessum (6): A standout performance with two tries, including a 60-meter intercept run, and a strong presence in both the loose and the tight. Rating: 9
• Alex Coles (5): Key at the lineout, securing consistent ball for the visitors, and a presence in the loose, but was forced off with an injury. Rating: 8
• Maro Itoje (4): Magnificent as captain, a menace at the breakdown, and carried with ferocity. A controversial penalty call before Ramos’s winning kick was deemed harsh. Rating: 8
• Joe Heyes (3): Showed a strong work ethic, scrummaging well and contributing in the loose. Rating: 7
• Jamie George (2): A precise performance from the hooker with accurate throwing. Rating: 7
• Ellis Genge (1): Strong in the scrum and around the field, but his yellow card proved costly, with France scoring two tries during the resulting 10-minute period. Rating: 5

Replacements

The replacements had a mixed impact, with Marcus Smith’s contribution being a positive. However, errors from Luke Cowan-Dickie, Henry Pollock, and Jack van Poortvliet proved detrimental.

France’s Triumph

Thomas Ramos’s nerves of steel secured the title for France, despite a shambolic performance from their pack . The victory marks France’s third Six Nations title in five years.

Key Takeaways

• France’s resilience and Ramos’s composure under pressure were crucial to their victory.
• England displayed significant attacking threat but were hampered by defensive lapses and a costly yellow card.
• The match was a thrilling spectacle, showcasing the intensity and drama of the Six Nations Championship.