beIN SPORTS NBA
  • Football
  • Tennis
  • Rugby Union
  • Watch Live
LaLiga
  • Get beIN
  • TV Guide
  • Live Scores
  • Videos
beIN SPORTS NBA
  • Live Scores
TV Guide
  • Football
  • Tennis
  • Rugby Union
  • Videos
  • Watch Live
  • TV Guide
LaLiga
  • Watch LIVE on beIN this week
  • beINSPIRED podcast
  • Transfer central
  • Get beIN
  • Home >
  • Rugby Union >
  • Six Nations >
  • Video
Six Nations
  • Videos
  • Fixtures
  • Results
  • Ranking

France beats Ireland to hand England the title

October 31, 2020 23:11
8:11 min

England was crowned Six Nations champion as Ireland slipped to a 35-27 defeat to France at Stade de France in Paris.

WATCH the Autumn Nations Cup LIVE, only on beIN SPORTS | 2-WEEK free trial

With Eddie Jones' side having beaten Italy 34-5 in Rome earlier on Sunday (AEDT), Ireland went into the finale knowing it needed to at least win by seven points – or take a bonus-point victory – to claim its fifth Six Nations title.

After a combative first-half display Andy Farrell's side could not match its host after the interval, with a try and three penalties from the brilliant Romain Ntamack putting France in control by the 51st minute.

Ntamack's fellow half-back Antoine Dupont also put in a stellar display, opening the scoring six minutes in before turning provider for Ntamack's try.

Cian Healy had hit back for Ireland, but a penalty-try conceded by Caelan Doris gave France a lead it did not relinquish, and by failing to win by 31 points it handed England the title.

Your 2020 #GuinnessSixNations champions!
🌹🏆 pic.twitter.com/KYYqTgylX0

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) October 31, 2020

France struck first as Gael Fickou raced clear down the wing before finding Dupont, who easily got the better of Jacob Stockdale to slide in close to the sticks, with Ntamack adding the extras.

A frantic opening 10 minutes concluded with a lengthy TMO (television match official) check, which resulted in Anthony Bouthier receiving a yellow card for deliberately knocking the ball out of play.

Ireland made its numerical advantage count with a minute of Bouthier's time in the bin remaining, Healy forcing his way over to mark his 100th cap in style.

Sexton converted and then added a penalty to put Ireland ahead, but momentum swung France's way when Doris dragged back Francois Cros close to the line.

Another Sexton three-pointer dragged Ireland to within a point before Ntamack's penalty gave Les Bleus a 17-13 half-time lead.

Ntamack added five points to his tally three minutes after the restart, touching down after Dupont had superbly kept a France attack alive.

France's five-eighth missed the conversion but made no mistake with two penalties in the space of four minutes to nose Les Bleus 15 points clear.

Robbie Henshaw raced down Ireland's left to lunge over in the corner with 21 minutes remaining and provide hope for a comeback.

But Ntamack wriggled through a gap and set up Virimi Vakatawa to seal France's second-place finish, with Stockdale snatching a late consolation for the visitors.


News France Ireland Rugby Union Six Nations
-

Latest Videos

Montpellier v Monaco
4:20 min

Ligue 1: Montpellier v Monaco

Montpellier v Monaco
4:20 min

Ben Yedder brace sees Monaco beat Montpellier

Lazio v Roma
3:51 min

Serie A: Lazio v Roma

Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen
2:01 min

Bundesliga: Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen

Lazio v Roma
3:51 min

Lazio crushes Roma to claim derby honours

Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen
2:01 min

Alleged racism casts shadow over Union win

Mat Ryan - Where's it gone wrong?
3:20 min

Mat Ryan: Where's it gone wrong?

Ozil close to Fenerbahce? Arteta says there’s ‘nothing concrete yet’
0:20 min

Arteta says no update on Ozil Fenerbahce links

Super Cup exit not a failure - Zidane
1:09 min

Zidane says cup-itulation not a failure

Gunners fail to fire against resolute Palace
1:30 min

Snore draw halts Arsenal momentum

  • Results
  • Table

beIN SPORTS, the biggest shows

Subscribe
Football
  • LaLiga
  • Serie A
  • Bundesliga
  • Ligue 1
  • MLS
  • EFL Championship
  • Carabao Cup
  • CAF Champions League
Rugby Union
  • Guinness 6 Nations
  • November Internationals
Tennis
  • WTA Tour
TV Listings
beIN SPORTS App store Get it on Google Play
beIN CONNECT App store Get it on Google Play
  • Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Get beIN
  • beIN SPORTS CONNECT
  • TV Guide
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Advertise
  • beIN Media Group
  • beIN SPORTS France
  • beIN SPORTS USA
  • beIN SPORTS MENA
  • Digiturk
  • beIN SPORTS New Zealand
  • Find venue
  • beIN SPORTS: The search for LaLiga’s Ultimate Xpert T&Cs
beIN SPORTS App store Get it on Google Play
beIN CONNECT App store Get it on Google Play
Follow us