Michael Cantillon
Sports Journalist
Tries from Sarah Bern, Ellie Kildunne (two), Jess Breach (two), Amy Cokayne, plus the superb kicking of Zoe Harrison (four conversions, one penalty) saw England’s Red Roses to Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam win over France in Bordeaux; Title is England’s record-extending eighth in a row
Last Updated: 17/05/26 6:54pm
Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach scored twice each as England’s Red Roses delivered a Six Nations Grand Slam against France in Bordeaux
England’s Red Roses secured a record-extending eighth Women’s Six Nations title in a row, performing brilliantly to beat France 43-28 in Sunday’s Grand Slam decider in Bordeaux.
France enjoyed the better of the play in the first half, hitting the front through scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus, but England rattled back to improbably score four tries before half-time through prop Sarah Bern, full-back Ellie Kildunne (two) and wing Jess Breach.
The hosts responded through further tries via wing Anais Grando and Bourdon Sansus to narrow the score to 29-21, only for the Red Roses to strike again when they needed to most through Breach again.
England fly-half Zoe Harrison also kicked magnificently well off the tee, adding four conversions and a penalty – two from the touchline.
Any further French response was then quelled when replacement scrum-half Alexandra Chambon was sin-binned for a high tackle, with England scoring once more through hooker Amy Cokayne and left to celebrate an astonishing 38th Test victory in succession.
France started the contest fully on top, with England struggling to gain a touch on the ball even, but the hosts couldn’t add points for their impressive start.
Instead, France’s opening try bizarrely came from England’s opening attack into the 22 in the 14th minute – lock Madoussou Fall Raclot stripping back possession and the hosts counter-attacking for a try of supreme quality.
Wing Lea Murie did the damage in beating three defenders amongst a series of offloads which allowed Bourdon Sansus to run in.
France scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus scored a stunning team try as they scored first
Six minutes later France had a glorious chance to add to their lead after full-back Pauline Barrat kicked a wonderful 50:22, but – not for the first time in the contest – possession was lost at an attacking lineout.
France were made to pay just two minutes later when England tighthead Bern crashed over after a series of sustained close-range carries in which England displayed their muscle.
Murie skinned Breach in the next major chance only for hooker Cokayne to intercept the ball, and though Kildunne soon made a poor clearance from her own 22, another France lineout went awry.
Just shy of the half-hour mark the Red Roses had their second try out of nothing as a loose ball in midfield was kicked on twice by centre Meg Jones, allowing Kildunne to show her pace and gather the ball to ground under the posts against the run of play.
Kildunne scored her first firmly against the run of play as the Red Roses edged in front
Siobhan Soqueta broke into the 22 for France in response, but Cokayne pinched another big turnover, while an England scrum penalty near the end of the half presented the visitors a big chance.
Though their maul was halted, England shipped play wide where Breach was in space and did well to finish in the corner.
A marvellous Zoe Harrison conversion saw the Red Roses into a healthy 21-7 lead, and they stretched that to a scarcely believable 26-7 in the final play of the half as Helena Rowland found Kildunne with a lovely long pass.
England improbably led 26-7 at half-time after Kildunne’s second of the contest
Less than two minutes into the second half England increased their lead even further through the boot of Harrison, as she slotted a penalty after Fall Raclot was pinged for a tackle off the ball.
A superb carry from loosehead Ambre Mwayembe preceded all out French attack in the England 22, but nothing came from it as off a central scrum France worked the ball out to Grando in space, who knocked on with the try-line begging.
France did finally make their pressure count in the 54th minute when Grando scored out wide as the hosts upped their pace in the carry – Carla Arbez converting well to narrow the deficit further.
Centre Aubane Rousset almost got over for France soon after but was stopped just short, only for the hosts to make that territory count through Bourdon Sansus, who sniped off a scrum to score by the posts – just five minutes after Grando’s try – narrowing the gap to eight points.
Just as the hosts started to believe, however, England clicked into gear at the other end: Breach searing in down the right at stunning pace to score in the corner, and Harrison delivering another wonderful touchline conversion.
Jess Breach scored twice in the Test, her second a crucial score to halt France’s comeback
The final nail in the coffin then came as France were reduced to 14 players for the remainder when replacement scrum-half Alexandra Chambon was sin-binned for a high tackle.
A couple of penalty decisions then went the way of England when they might not have to the ire of the home crowd, with Cokayne scoring after a driving maul to ensure success despite France having the very final say with a Rose Bernadou try.
Women’s Six Nations final-day results: Italy win in Cardiff as Ireland hammer Scotland
Sunday May 17
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