England proved their dominance once again with a 43-28 victory over France in Bordeaux, sealing an eighth straight Women’s Six Nations title and a fifth consecutive Grand Slam.
Despite extending their unbeaten run to 38 Tests, the Red Roses were pushed hard by a spirited French side. France controlled much of the opening stages and stunned England with a brilliant length-of-the-field try finished by Pauline Bourdon Sansus in the 13th minute.
But England responded emphatically, silencing concerns over their defence after criticism in recent weeks. The Red Roses tightened up at the back and surged into a commanding 26-7 half-time lead with four unanswered tries before holding off a late French fightback.
Captain Meg Jones said England had to “go to the trenches” to answer doubters and show the resilience that has defined their era of dominance.
The win capped another remarkable campaign for England, who finished with five bonus-point victories and 42 tries across the championship, underlining their status as the benchmark in women’s rugby.
