Six Nations: England aiming to spoil France's Championship party

Grand Slam in sight

The 2022 Six Nations reaches a thrilling conclusion in Paris, where France will aim to end a 12-year wait for a Grand Slam by beating old rivals England.

Les Bleus have lived up to the hype in this year’s Championship, staking a claim to be the form team in the world by following up a November victory over New Zealand with four Six Nations wins on the bounce.  

They are now 80 minutes from history; France haven’t won a Championship title since 2010, which was also the last time they clinched a Grand Slam.  

Fabien Galthie’s side will know where they stand before kick-off as Ireland, who sit two points behind them in second, host Scotland earlier in the day.

Regardless of what happens in Dublin, a win will be enough to secure the title for France.

England playing for pride

An electric atmosphere is guaranteed, but the hosts are unlikely to have it easy against an English side playing for pride, with a second consecutive fifth-place finish still at risk.

England travel to Paris in third place, but Scotland in fourth are level with them on 10 points ahead of their trip to Ireland, and Wales, who host Italy, are four points behind.

France thrilled in the first three rounds by scoring more than 30 points in victories over Italy, Ireland and Scotland, but they had to dig deep to grind out a 13-9 victory in Cardiff against Wales last weekend.

That victory showed the resilience of this French side, something England also demonstrated in spades during their defeat to Ireland.

Charlie Ewels was sent off after just 82 seconds but Eddie Jones’ side responded bravely and levelled the score at 15-15 with 20 minutes left, only to concede two late tries in an eventual 32-15 defeat.

As encouraging as the fight of the English players was, it will mean little if they end a second successive Six Nations campaign with only two wins to their name.

France will be hoping to lift the Six Nations trophy as Grand Slam winners in Paris on Saturday night

France clear favourites to lift the trophy

The odds back France to get the job done, with a French win priced at 1.39 and England firm underdogs at 3.85.

As well as form and home advantage, Les Bleus can count on a decorated coaching staff who have been here before.

Galthie won three Grand Slams as a player, manager Raphael Ibanez and scrum coach William Servat lifted two, and defence coach Shaun Edwards is a three-time Slam winner from his time with Wales.

History is also with the French, who have only once failed to clinch a Grand Slam at home when they’ve had the chance, and that was way back in 1955.  

England, on the other hand, have had a disappointing campaign and their attack has come in for criticism as - comfortable win in Italy aside - they’ve mustered two tries in three matches.

Jones dismissed pressure ahead of the match, saying: "The longer you're in the job, the more people probably don't want you to be in the job. It's all part of the job that we have."

Penaud back in the fold

France are at full strength, with winger Damien Penaud returning from Covid-19 to reclaim his place in a settled side, while England are without injured flanker Tom Curry, as well as the suspended Ewels.  

It feels like France’s time, and they’ve made a habit of starting fast during their terrific recent run. They haven’t been behind at half-time in any of their last 20 matches. The last time it happened was in a defeat to Scotland in 2020, while Italy are surprisingly the only team to have been in front against Galthie’s side in the 2022 Championship.  

With that in mind, we’re backing France to get the job done in style in front of a partisan home crowd by leading from half-time to full-time – and finally ending that long wait to hoist the Six Nations trophy aloft.   

Recommended bet

Half-time/Full-time France/France @ 1.73