Thomas Ramos landed a last-minute penalty to give France a dramatic 33-31 victory over England in the Six Nations match on Saturday and secure a second-place finish behind Ireland who had earlier retained the title with victory over Scotland.
Ramos, who landed seven out of eight attempts at goal, split the posts from the halfway line after England looked to have snatched victory through a Tommy Freeman try.
Ireland finished on 20 points with France second on 15 ahead of England on 14 and Scotland on 12.
France showed great intensity from the start and, after an early penalty apiece, scored a classic try after stealing an attacking England lineout.
Gael Fickou swept forward and quick hands sent scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec over.
Two Ramos penalties stretched the lead to 16-3 but England hit back just before halftime with a crisp lineout move that sent rampaging centre Ollie Lawrence over.
George Ford converted to close the gap to 16-10 but England’s first-half struggles in this Six Nations continued as they trailed in all five games.
That situation lasted only two minutes of the second half as another surging run by Ben Earl set up Lawrence for his second try and Ford converted to put England 17-16 ahead.
It was the irrepressible Earl again who blasted through to feed Marcus Smith for England’s third try.
France regrouped and, amid chaotic English defending, closed to within a point with a Leo Barre try after 56 minutes.
An overthrown England lineout then left them horribly exposed as Gael Fickou charged over under the posts to put France 30-24 ahead.
England had barely fired a shot for 30 minutes but hit back with a great combination from Smith and Ford that sent Freeman over and Ford landed the difficult conversion to claim a one-point lead.
A first win in Paris since 2016 looked on the cards but France surged back and Earl was penalised for a no-arms tackle on the halfway line which Ramos drilled through the posts to give his team the victory.
“I thought our attack was fantastic, I was very disappointed with our defence,” said France defence coach Shaun Edwards.
“I thought the England attack was all over us – we should not have to score 30 points to win a game. We were missing tackles, we were not intense enough. It was probably the worst defensive performance since I’ve been here.”
England captain Jamie George was devastated.
“It’s reminiscent of the last time in France against South Africa,” he said of last year’s World Cup semi-final defeat.
“France showed their class, but we found a way back into the game. The way we came out at the start of the second half was impressive. When we play, when we put teams under pressure with the ball, we look a very dangerous team.
“The endeavour to go out there, have a crack and play with a smile on our faces, I thought the boys did that. I have loved the last seven weeks.”
Rio Ferdinand may be done with UK living, for now.
The former Manchester United star, 47, has listed his seven-bedroom Kent mansion for £10.5 million (Dh52 million), hinting his move to Dubai is permanent.
Set in the exclusive Farnborough Park estate, the 12,500 sq ft home features landscaped grounds, a private gym, grand reception spaces, and a luxury master suite with dual dressing rooms. He bought it in 2008 for around £2.7 million, meaning a potential £8 million profit, though tax could apply depending on residency status.
Ferdinand moved to Dubai last year with his wife Kate and their children. They are now living in a luxury villa in Al Barari.
He has been candid about the move, citing more family time, an improved lifestyle, and the appeal of a fresh start. “The lifestyle, safety and weather, it just works for us,” Ferdinand said in the report.
He’s not alone. Vincent Kompany is also reportedly selling his UK home, as more football names rethink where they’re based.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has alerted motorists to expected traffic delays on key roads on Wednesday, April 22, due to the AFC Champions League 2 match taking place at Al Wasl Club.
The fixture between Qatar’s Al Ahli and Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia is part of the ongoing AFC Champions League 2, Asia’s second-tier continental competition, which has been drawing strong crowds across the region. Matches at this stage of the tournament typically attract large numbers of fans, especially when hosted in major cities like Dubai, leading to increased traffic around stadium zones.
Authorities expect congestion on roads leading to and around the stadium, particularly during pre-match and post-match hours, as supporters head to watch the game live.
Motorists are advised to plan their journeys, allow extra travel time, and consider alternative routes to avoid delays.
To help ease congestion, the RTA confirmed that additional parking spaces will be available behind the stadium, offering more options for those attending the match.
The advisory is part of ongoing efforts to manage traffic during major sporting events and ensure a smooth and comfortable travel experience for residents and visitors across Dubai.
If you’re driving around Abu Dhabi this weekend, you might want to plan, because several key roads are set to close.
The Run for the Nation 5km race is taking over Wahat Al Karama this Saturday, bringing together the community for a morning of fitness and fun.
But it also means temporary traffic disruptions you should know about.
Here’s what’s happening Organised by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in partnership with the Zayed Charity Run, the event kicks off at 8am, and it’s completely free to join.
To keep runners safe, road closures will be in place from 5am to 10am around the area. There are additional lane closures on E20 due to ongoing infrastructure works:
• Right lane towards Abu Dhabi closed from April 17 (2pm)- April 20 (5am) • Entry & exit from Al Fursan Street closed from April 18-April 19
Expect delays around Al Fursan Street and Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street (E20).
What should motorists do • Leave earlier than usual • Follow diversion signs • Avoid the area if possible during peak hours
While traffic may slow things down, the event is all about community, fitness, and bringing people together, a big win for Abu Dhabi’s active lifestyle push.
So whether you’re running or just commuting, be ready, plan smart, and stay moving.
