Special envoy to Lyon
What a Crunch! Not a tricolor demonstration like a little earlier at Twickenham (10-53), but a standoff of incredible intensity, each team going blow for blow. Three tries for the Blues, four for the English but the difference made by the almost infallible foot of Thomas Ramos, author of 18 points (7/8) including the victory penalty less than two minutes from the final whistle of this France-England of insane suspense, ultimately won 33-31. A success which allows the French XV to finish in second place in this Tournament, behind Ireland.
Beating drum. The Blues, pushed by a public as wild as them, launched the Crunch by imposing a hellish tempo. Dispossession aside, it’s time for all-out races to set fire to the four corners of the field and tire out the English. Surprised by the pace, they quickly got down on one knee, calling more and more to the trainers to get some oxygen.
But if the conductors, Nolann Le Garrec and Thomas Ramos, strive to maintain the pace, it is the XV de la Rose which opens the scoring, taking advantage of a mistake in closed scrum by Uini Atonio (0- 3, 12e). A ball scratched by Julien Marchand allows sniper Ramos to equalize six minutes later. Just before the cavalcade. The Blues restart from their 22 meters. Gaël Fickou rushes into an interval, serves Léo Barré who accelerates, feints to get rid of Marcus Smith before sending a marvelous pass after contact to send Le Garrec to the test (10-3, 19th).
Two penalties from Ramos, taking advantage of the domination of the French forwards, increased the score. 16-3 as the break looms. The moment chosen by the English to finally rebel. They camp within 22 meters, favoring penalties. Center Ollie Lawrence, served high, wins his duel with Fickou and flattens at the foot of the posts. 16-10 at lemon time, there is reason to grimace given the energetic performance of the Tricolores.
The passage to the locker room obviously did not allow the Blues to digest this blow to the head. Which, conversely, invigorated the subjects of his Gracious Majesty. One minute for a new try, Ollie Lawrence, again, going inside to Damian Penaud to flatten after several advances from his forwards (16-17, 41st). The XV de la Rose is in front, and a little more with a third try, once again in the first hand behind a touch. Ben Earl takes advantage of the fragility of the Blues’ 10-12 zone to swing the saloon doors between Ramos and Depoortère. Served, Marcus Smith escapes the returns of Penaud and Barré to increase the ball (16-24, 46th).
Two blows to extinguish the Blues? Well no. They demonstrate their strength of character so praised by their coach Fabien Galthié, setting off again on the attack. Sometimes a little messy, like these kicks in the English 22 meters. But Le Garrec ends up serving Ollivon, who manages a small shift, enough to send an acrobatic pass to Barré, the young full-back from Stade Français, who goes to score his first try in his second selection. The Blues have already returned to a small point (23-24, 56th).
It will only take them four more minutes to regain the lead. An action as strange as it is opportunistic. The English hooker lobs his lineout, Ramos volleys the ball with the outside of his foot, Penaud is the quickest to seize it between two men in white and manages to serve Fickou, launched like a comet in support. His third try in this Tournament, transformed, obviously, by Mr. 90% success in this Tournament, Thomas Ramos (30-24, 60th).
The Crunch has just waited until the hour of play, the teams surrendered blow for blow, three tries each on the clock. It remains to be seen which one will definitely crack. On a new penaltouch, a new first-hand action, the English develop outwards, with a volleyed pass, Ford erases Bielle-Biarrey. Freeman, served, strikes Barré to score the 4th English try, synonymous with an offensive bonus. 30-29, corner transformation that Ford… succeeds (30-31, 75th). Anglican mass said? Not yet. The Blues return to the fight, collecting a penalty 50 meters in front of the posts. Ramos, who experienced his only failure a few minutes earlier, creates his bubble and succeeds in this long-distance penalty (33-31, 78th). For the third time in a row, the French XV beat England in a completely melting OL Stadium.
