In the end, no arguments. England may have done all they could to put France under some pressure – and Scotland went on to exert a bit more, testing France as few others can – but Les Bleus can play rugby any which way. They ran through the full gamut in the third quarter, blasting and slashing Scotland with equal facility to take the game away from the visitors and the championship from everyone else.
They are worth it and then some. The Stade de France rang out euphorically, as its darlings returned home after three matches on the road. It was the first of those – in London – that cost France the grand slam they were surely good for. Carelessness blighted their every genius move against England that day, and we wondered if they had it in them, despite it all. But they have been unplayable since and claim a first title since 2022.
