\n<\/p>\n
England: (33) 38<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n| Tries: <\/strong>Dow, M Packer, Matthews, Penalty, Aldcroft, Davies; <\/span>Cons: <\/strong>Rowland 3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | France:<\/strong>(0) 33<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Tries: <\/strong>Boulard, Vernier, Escudero, Gros, Banet;<\/span> Cons: <\/strong>Tremouliere 3, Vernier<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | England sealed a Six Nations Grand Slam in front of a record women’s crowd of 58,498 at Twickenham, holding on for victory against France on a landmark day for the sport.<\/span><\/p>\n After a nervy start, Helena Rowland broke free in midfield and Abby Dow tore down the right wing to score and further fuel the already festival-like atmosphere in the London sun.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n With the hosts seemingly settled, four more tries followed for a 33-0 half-time lead in England women’s first standalone Test at the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n That proved enough to secure a fifth Six Nations title in a row, but the Red Roses could not push on after the break and it was France who scored five tries to their one.<\/span><\/p>\n The announcement of the attendance – surpassing the previous mark of 42, 579 set at the 2022 World Cup final in New Zealand – breathed joy back into the air and Twickenham was on its feet dancing to celebrate at full-time.<\/span><\/p>\n In Simon Middleton’s last game as head coach, England bounced back from a heart-breaking World Cup final defeat by New Zealand less than six months ago.<\/span><\/p>\n It was a familiar line-up for a Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider, but Twickenham gameday had a whole new feel.<\/span><\/p>\n Travelling to the ground, a smattering of England shirts at various stations across London became a swarm on the slow march to the stadium – a sight never before seen for a women’s game.<\/span><\/p>\n Initial England nerves led to a cagey, kicking-heavy gameplan and early penalties conceded by the hosts in dangerous positions.<\/span><\/p>\n France’s Jessy Tremouliere missed a kick at goal and when she kicked the next penalty to the corner, England heaved France’s maul backwards and eventually won possession on the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n The visitors’ steely attack was met with physical England defence and, against the run of play, the Red Roses got on the scoreboard in the 18th minute.<\/span><\/p>\n Rowland tore into France’s half, propelled by a wall of sound she would never have experienced in her career before, but looked to be out on her own.<\/span><\/p>\n England quickly flicked the ball right and found wing Dow – the Red Roses’ perpetual superstar.<\/span><\/p>\n No amount of nerves could stop her from scoring, leaving the stadium quite literally bouncing.<\/span><\/p>\n Settled and with the floodgates open, Holly Aitchison put in-form centre Tatyana Heard through a gap and when England captain Marlie Packer then got her hands on the ball, even three France defenders could not bring her down.<\/span><\/p>\n The retiring Tremouliere had time for one last yellow card of her career, sin-binned in the 32nd minute for a deliberate knock-on and Alex Matthews was soon over off the back of a dominant scrum.<\/span><\/p>\n Then, France prop Rose Bernadou joined Tremouliere in the sin-bin for an infringement at the breakdown which gave England a penalty try.<\/span><\/p>\n It had largely been England’s backs – corralled by scrum-half Lucy Packer’s controlled performance – delivering the points courtesy of the Red Roses’ brawn up front. <\/span><\/p>\n But Sarah Beckett showed the pack had deft feet too as she cut a neat line inside and sent lock partner Zoe Aldcroft into space to score before half-time.<\/span><\/p>\n Any thoughts of a possible record score against France to match the record crowd were soon snuffed out as Emilie Boulard’s try kicked off a bombardment.<\/span><\/p>\n England showed cracks in their defence and discipline and Gabrielle Vernier exploited the crevices, nipping through a gap and across the tryline to bamboozled murmurs from the crowd.<\/span><\/p>\n With the try tap seemingly turned off, England had to weather the pressure and did just that as they doggedly worked through phases in France’s half.<\/span><\/p>\n When all else fails, the Red Roses have a deadly maul and that is where they turned for their sixth try as Lark Davies touched down.<\/span><\/p>\n Still France kept going, as Charlotte Escudero scored off a line-out and both Emeline Gros and Cyrielle Banet snuck across the tryline in the final four minutes, with England apparently already celebrating their victory.<\/span><\/p>\n The Red Roses’ earlier work was enough to secure a fitting end as they claimed their 12th win in a row against France, a 100th win in the Six Nations and departing coach Middleton’s sixth title in the tournament.<\/span><\/p>\n Captain Marlie Packer raised the newly designed trophy aloft as the vast majority of fans stayed behind to celebrate on a historic day at Twickenham.<\/span><\/p>\n England:<\/strong> Kildunne; Dow, Rowland, Heard, MacDonald; Aitchison, L Packer; Botterman, Davies, Bern; Aldcroft, Beckett; Kabeya, M Packer (capt), Matthews.<\/span><\/p>\n Replacements: <\/em>Powell, Carson, Muir, Cleall, Talling, Hunt, Reed, Breach.<\/span><\/p>\n France:<\/strong> Boulard; Banet, M Menager, Vernier, Llorens; Tremouliere, Bourdon; Brosseau, Sochat, Bernadou, Feleu, Forlani (capt), Berthoumieu, Hermet, Escudero.<\/span><\/p>\n |