'We got it done'published at 18:59 BST 26 April 2025
18:59 BST 26 April 2025
FT: England 43-42 France
England coach John Mitchell: "That was a bit nervy. Defence wins titles and that wasn't great from us but our start was pretty good.
"France made lots of pick and goes and we were poor in edge defence.
"I would rather have this sort of feedback, any day of the week. We got it done, we completed a goal that hasn't been done in the modern era - four Grand Slams in a row - and now we can have a celebration and get ready for a World Cup.
"The French get energy from success but I knew that we would have to win the game three or four times."
'On the plane'...published at 18:53 BST 26 April 2025
18:53 BST 26 April 2025
Maggie Alphonsi 2014 England World Cup winner on BBC Two
England had players who had to step up, not just today but throughout the tournament. There are some selection headaches out there but there are some players who have to earn the right to get on the plane - oh, not on the plane but in the World Cup squad...
When you talk about standards don't understimate the difficulty of keeping going when you are firm favourites. You have to set your own standards. England's defence started to weaken and they had problems.
'France back themselves'published at 18:45 BST 26 April 2025
18:45 BST 26 April 2025
FT: England 43-42 France
Maggie Alphonsi 2014 England World Cup winner on BBC Two
England are learning how to win in different ways. France score so many tries in the last 20 minutes because they back themselves. But they have to not let errors come in.
'Six Nations needed that'published at 18:43 BST 26 April 2025
18:43 BST 26 April 2025
Maggie Alphonsi 2014 England World Cup winner on BBC Two
The Six Nations needed that finish. It was a proper Test match and England should be proud the way they dug deep to win. They had to grind it out and you want that test before a World Cup.
'We battled it out'published at 18:41 BST 26 April 2025
18:41 BST 26 April 2025
FT: England 43-42 France
England captain Zoe Aldcroft to BBC Sport: "I am so proud of all of the girls' effort, we battled it out today. France came at us so all credit to us for holding on.
"When we build pressure we need to keep our foot on the throttle. We will have a couple of drinks after this and enjoy tonight!"
It is about winning and England got over the line. What they did not do is defend well enough at the breakdown. France played high risk rugby and it very nearly paid off.
HeardAitchison 62', substituted for Aitchison at 62 minutes
Number
11
11, MacDonald
MacDonaldRowland 47', substituted for Rowland at 47 minutes
Number
10
10, Harrison
Harrison
Number
9
9, Hunt
HuntL Packer 50', substituted for L Packer at 50 minutes
Number
1
1, Botterman
BottermanClifford 50', substituted for Clifford at 50 minutes
Number
2
2, Davies
DaviesCokayne 50', substituted for Cokayne at 50 minutes
Number
3
3, Muir
MuirBern 50', substituted for Bern at 50 minutes
Number
4
4, Talling
TallingGalligan 62', substituted for Galligan at 62 minutes
Number
5
5, Ward
Ward
Number
6
6, Aldcroft
Aldcroft
Number
7
7, Feaunati
FeaunatiBurton 67', substituted for Burton at 67 minutes
Number
8
8, Matthews
Matthews
Substitutes
home team,England
Number
16
16, Cokayne
Cokayne
Number
17
17, Clifford
Clifford
Number
18
18, Bern
Bern
Number
19
19, Galligan
Galligan
Number
20
20, Burton
Burton
Number
21
21, L Packer
L Packer
Number
22
22, Aitchison
Aitchison
Number
23
23, Rowland
Rowland
away team,France
Starting lineup
Number
15
15, Bourgeois
Bourgeois
Number
14
14, Grisez
Grisez
Number
13
13, Menager
Menager
Number
12
12, Vernier
VernierBerthoumieu 6', substituted for Berthoumieu at 6 minutesVernier 19', substituted for Vernier at 19 minutes
Number
11
11, Arbey
Arbey
Number
10
10, Arbez
ArbezQueyroi 55', substituted for Queyroi at 55 minutes
Number
9
9, Bourdon
BourdonChambon 62', substituted for Chambon at 62 minutes
Number
1
1, Brosseau
Brosseau
Number
2
2, Bigot
BigotRiffonneau 50', substituted for Riffonneau at 50 minutes
Number
3
3, Khalfaoui
Khalfaoui21', Yellow card at 21 minutesBernadou 50', substituted for Bernadou at 50 minutes
Number
4
4, Feleu
FeleuZago 70', substituted for Zago at 70 minutes
Number
5
5, Fall
FallMaka 70', substituted for Maka at 70 minutes
Number
6
6, Escudero
EscuderoBernadou 27', substituted for Bernadou at 27 minutesEscudero 33', substituted for Escudero at 33 minutesBerthoumieu 60', substituted for Berthoumieu at 60 minutes
HeardAitchison 62', substituted for Aitchison at 62 minutes
Number
11
11, MacDonald
MacDonaldRowland 47', substituted for Rowland at 47 minutes
Number
10
10, Harrison
Harrison
Number
9
9, Hunt
HuntL Packer 50', substituted for L Packer at 50 minutes
Number
1
1, Botterman
BottermanClifford 50', substituted for Clifford at 50 minutes
Number
2
2, Davies
DaviesCokayne 50', substituted for Cokayne at 50 minutes
Number
3
3, Muir
MuirBern 50', substituted for Bern at 50 minutes
Number
4
4, Talling
TallingGalligan 62', substituted for Galligan at 62 minutes
Number
5
5, Ward
Ward
Number
6
6, Aldcroft
Aldcroft
Number
7
7, Feaunati
FeaunatiBurton 67', substituted for Burton at 67 minutes
Number
8
8, Matthews
Matthews
Substitutes
Number
16
16, Cokayne
Cokayne
Number
17
17, Clifford
Clifford
Number
18
18, Bern
Bern
Number
19
19, Galligan
Galligan
Number
20
20, Burton
Burton
Number
21
21, L Packer
L Packer
Number
22
22, Aitchison
Aitchison
Number
23
23, Rowland
Rowland
away team,France
Starting lineup
Number
15
15, Bourgeois
Bourgeois
Number
14
14, Grisez
Grisez
Number
13
13, Menager
Menager
Number
12
12, Vernier
VernierBerthoumieu 6', substituted for Berthoumieu at 6 minutesVernier 19', substituted for Vernier at 19 minutes
Number
11
11, Arbey
Arbey
Number
10
10, Arbez
ArbezQueyroi 55', substituted for Queyroi at 55 minutes
Number
9
9, Bourdon
BourdonChambon 62', substituted for Chambon at 62 minutes
Number
1
1, Brosseau
Brosseau
Number
2
2, Bigot
BigotRiffonneau 50', substituted for Riffonneau at 50 minutes
Number
3
3, Khalfaoui
Khalfaoui21', Yellow card at 21 minutesBernadou 50', substituted for Bernadou at 50 minutes
Number
4
4, Feleu
FeleuZago 70', substituted for Zago at 70 minutes
Number
5
5, Fall
FallMaka 70', substituted for Maka at 70 minutes
Number
6
6, Escudero
EscuderoBernadou 27', substituted for Bernadou at 27 minutesEscudero 33', substituted for Escudero at 33 minutesBerthoumieu 60', substituted for Berthoumieu at 60 minutes