RUGBY – France claimed their seventh Six Nations trophy in a record-strewn 35-16 victory over Scotland yesterday, shaking off their beautiful runners-up tag on a crisp evening at the Stade de France.
Les Bleus matched England’s number of titles since Italy joined the championship in 2000 and did so in style, scoring 30 tries in a pulsating campaign to make sure they would not end up runners-up for the fifth time in six years.
Their only defeat came against England at Twickenham but Fabien Galthie’s side put that 26-25 loss behind them by humiliating Italy before crushing Ireland despite losing their talismanic captain Antoine Dupont through injury.
The hosts turned on the gas after the interval on Saturday, and prevailed through tries by Yoram Moefana (2), Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Thomas Ramos, who kicked the other points to become came France’s all-time record points scorer.
Scotland made a game of it and scored a try through Darcy Graham with Finn Russell kicking their other points.
France, who gave Galthie his second title after the 2022 Six Nations since he took charge in 2020, finished on 21 points with England second.
England produced one of their best performances for years to crush hapless Wales by a record 68-14 scoreline, finishing in second place.
The visitors ran in 10 tries to easily surpass their previous biggest victory margin in Cardiff, a 43-9 success in a 2003 World Cup warm-up.
“We challenged them to go out and play big and they did exactly that,” said coach Steve Borthwick, whose radical team selection was vindicated by a display of impressive power and finishing. “This has the makings of a very good team, we just need to keep at the process,” Borthwick added.
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