France v England LIVE: Result and reaction as Les Bleus edge thrilling Six Nations finale in Lyon

Steve Borthwick has urged his England team to continue to stay true to themselves and his gameplan after a statement victory over Ireland at Twickenham.

Borthwick’s side secured a shock win over a side described as the “best in the world” by their head coach ahead of the game to deny Ireland a shot at an historic second consecutive Six Nations grand slam.

It was best performance since Borthwick took over as head coach at the start of 2023, with England the better side for large periods of the game and holding their nerve at the end as Marcus Smith’s drop goal secured victory in the final moments.

One of the stars of this tournament has been Ben Earl, the Saracen making the England number eight shirt his own after a breakthrough World Cup - and he’s warned his rivals that there is plenty more to come.

Red Roses head coach John Mitchell has said that England’s depth reminds him of the All Blacks sides of old after gushing about the pool of players at his disposal ahead of the Women’s Six Nations.

Mitchell has named three uncapped players in his 35-player squad ahead of his first tournament in full charge of England’s women, including back row Maddie Feaunati, who has turned down a Black Ferns contract to join up with the group.

The returns of Abbie Ward, Zoe Harrison and Emily Scarratt also bolster a group that Mitchell believes “sent a message” to the world with a decisive victory over world champions New Zealand at WXV in the autumn.

Emily Scarratt and Zoe Harrison are set to return to England rugby colours during the Women’s Six Nations after being recalled to John Mitchell’s squad after injury.

The pair missed most of 2023 with after respective neck and knee injuries, but have made promising comebacks at club level to earn inclusion in a 35-player group. The pair are in line to win their first caps since the World Cup final in 2022 alongside lock Abbie Ward, who returns after giving birth to a daughter last July.

Uncapped Exeter back row Maddie Feaunati, who also qualifies for New Zealand, is an eye-catching inclusion in the first official squad Mitchell has named since being appointed as Red Roses coach.

Gloucester have signed former Wasps and England winger Christian Wade – who quit rugby in 2018 to join the NFL’s International Player Pathway – just weeks after losing ex-Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit to the same programme.

The 32-year-old will join from French club Racing 92 ahead of the 2024/25 season and will help fill the void left by Rees-Zammit’s shock move to the US.

Wade was drafted to the Buffalo Bills in 2019 but never played a competitive NFL match and returned to rugby in 2022.

Gregory Alldritt insists France will feed off their supporters’ enthusiasm for ‘Le Crunch’ when they clash with England in Lyon on Saturday.

Les Bleus have a mathematical chance of winning the Guinness Six Nations title in the finale to the tournament but for their captain the encounter is as much about understanding its meaning for fans.

“In terms of rugby, it’s like any other match. We know for all our fans, all French people, they’re our best enemies. People love this match, which makes it a special moment too,” Alldritt said.

“We haven’t always managed to get our fans together and do what we’ve wanted to do on the field. Against England we have a chance to do that.

“We’re determined to put in a big performance to make them proud because we know it’s the end of the Six Nations and they will only see us again in the summer.”

England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has prioritised his health over the prospect of facing France after self-reporting symptoms of concussion.

Attack coach Richard Wigglesworth revealed Feyi-Waboso was ruled out of the climax to the Guinness Six Nations in Lyon after he became “groggy” in the wake of Saturday’s 23-22 victory over Ireland.

Although the 21-year-old Exeter University medical student finished the match, it was only afterwards that he felt the effects of a possible concussion that cannot be traced to any one incident on the field.

The first match of Super Saturday is just getting underway in Cardiff, with Warren Gatland’s Wales knowing victory against Italy is a must if they are to avoid a first wooden spoon since 2003. We’ve got LIVE coverage here - tuck in!

Tom Harrison also gave his thoughts on the Women’s Six Nations, which begins next weekend with England again hot favourites to retain their title. Can anyone other than France challenge the Red Roses? Harrison admits that a more competitive tournament may be a must if it is to continue to grow.

There is a scenario today where Ireland secure another Six Nations crown despite having won fewer games than England. It is a quirk of the bonus point system that has drawn criticism from some quarters, but Six Nations chief executive Tom Harrison suggested earlier this week that they are here to stay.