- England 43-42 France
- Dow and Sing score twice before visitors’ late fightback
There was a moment after France’s Joanna Grisez scored where fans were wondering if this would be the day England’s stranglehold on this competition came to an end. The Red Roses were 31-7 up after 23 minutes, but a resolute France cut back the lead to one point in the final minute. A French knock-on ended the game and the sheer pressure the hosts were under was plain to see by the wild celebrations by the England players at full-time.
Despite the nervous ending for England, they not only retained the trophy at Twickenham but claimed a seventh successive title. England’s victory stretched their winning run in this tournament to 34 games and 25 in all competitions.
The Red Roses are used to lifting silverware, but the trophy they are hunting will be on the line in the next game they could play here in five months’ time in the Rugby World Cup final. That has eluded them since 2014 and it remains their main target in 2025. Their position as one of the best teams in any sport would be cemented with that World Cup crown.
