Summary

  • Result: England 23-20 France at Twickenham

  • Dupont scores in second minute before Watson replies

  • Itoje powers over late on to earn England dramatic win

  • England bounce back after defeat by Wales to end France's Grand Slam hopes

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2021

    #bbcrugby or text to 81111 (UK only)

    Mark Zacharias: That French 4 is approximately the size of a young sequoia. He looks like he could swallow a chicken whole.

    *Googles sequoia*

  2. Postpublished at 32 mins

    England 13-10 France

    Max Malins has a go at one of the scything runs that work so well for him at Bristol but it's a bit harder against international opposition and he can't find a way through.

    England concede their third penalty of the match - not bad compared to what their count has been - and France kick to touch.

  3. Postpublished at 17:18 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2021

    England 13-10 France

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    What I like about this is that England have been on the front foot for 20 minutes, but France have just sucked it up!

  4. Penalty - England 13-10 Francepublished at 29 mins

    Matthieu Jalibert

    France were playing with a penalty advantage so Matthieu Jalibert settles for three points instead.

  5. Postpublished at 17:16 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2021

    England 13-7 France

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC 5 Radio Live

    The ball kicked on with top spin, but I think it was just knocked out of his hand by Henry Slade.

    It's hard to pick out highlights from that France attack, because there were so many!

  6. Postpublished at 29 mins

    England 13-7 France

    Incredible defending from England forces Antoine Dupont to take to the skies.

    He chips over for Matthieu Jalibert but Henry Slade gets back in time and forces the fly-half to drop the ball behind the tryline.

  7. Postpublished at 29 mins

    England 13-7 France

    Frenchmen storm the English line again and again but getting into the 22 is a bit of an endeavour.

    Antoine Dupont tries for a no-look pass to Virimi Vakatawa but the timing is off and nothing comes of it.

  8. Postpublished at 27 mins

    England 13-7 France

    France are not looking quite as fluid as they have done as they launch an attack.

    England are forced into a line-out about 10m from their tryline and Ben Youngs manages to clear his lines.

  9. Postpublished at 17:13 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2021

    England 13-7 France

    Mike Henson
    BBC Sport at Twickenham

    Billy Vunipola and Paul Willemse were exchanging niceties after France won a penalty at scrum time.

    Watch that one...

  10. Postpublished at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2021

    England 13-7 France

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC 5 Radio Live

    France need to calm down a little bit, be nice and accurate like they were a month ago.

    Malins grabs the ballImage source, Getty Images
  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2021

    #bbcrugby or text to 81111 (UK only)

    William Heywood: Anthony Watson is like a tall Jason Robinson when he’s got the ball in his hands. World class.

    It feels like England are back.. since the early French try they've been bossing.

    Will

  12. Postpublished at 24 mins

    England 13-7 France

    France keep hold of the ball and Matthieu Jalibert kicks to touch.

    Owen Farrell makes a cameo in a line-out but England are thwarted at the breakdown by Cyril Baille.

  13. Postpublished at 23 mins

    England 13-7 France

    Tom Curry flies through the air to charge down Antoine Dupont's kick. Mark Wilson dives on it metres from the tryline but England are penalised.

    France scrum on the 5m line.

  14. Postpublished at 21 mins

    England 13-7 France

    England's reaction to Antoine Dupont's early try has been so composed.

    Max Malins takes a chip over the top well and Ben Youngs kicks deep behind French defenders. Les Bleus will have a line-out inside their 22.

  15. Postpublished at 17:07 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2021

    England 13-7 France

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Why on Earth are England not playing like this week in, week out, why were they going to this box kick and slow territorial gain when they have such talent?

  16. Penalty - England 13-7 Francepublished at 20 mins

    Owen Farrell

    Bit of a trickier kick this time, further over on the left.

    But Owen Farrell is good for it.

  17. Postpublished at 19 mins

    England 10-7 France

    Anthony Watson is LOVING his 50th cap.

    He twists out of tackles, dances through defenders, then chips over the top and chases. It would have been a Twickenham classic, but he can't quite finish the move off as Matthieu Jalibert interferes.

    England still come away with something, though, as France are penalised on the floor yet again.

  18. Postpublished at 17:04 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2021

    England 10-7 France

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC 5 Radio Live

    There has been some drudgery in recent performances from England, but England got to World Cup finals on the front foot. Its good to see.

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2021

    #bbcrugby or text to 81111 (UK only)

    @Theo (16:50) - let's maybe give it more than 80 seconds of the game before we start putting the boot in on England!

    Ed, Guildford

  20. Postpublished at 17 mins

    England 10-7 France

    Julien Marchand is off! The hooker finds himself with a bit of space and suddenly France are inside the England 22.

    Antoine Dupont is lightning-quick from the base of the ruck but Gregory Alldritt runs his line wrong and can't find a way through.

    England clear to touch.