London (AFP)

Cruel.

The XV of France, after a long domination, gave in the last five minutes to England (23-20), defending champion in the Six Nations Tournament, and said goodbye to his dream of Grand Slam, Saturday in London , but keep a chance to win the competition.

The French, who scored two tries in the first period by scrum half Antoine Dupont and winger Damian Penaud, still led with less than five minutes to go.

But a second English try, signed from the second row Maro Itoje and validated by video refereeing, shifted the match to the other side.

It is therefore a stop for the Blues of Fabien Galthié, who had won their first two matches in Italy (50-10) on February 6 and in Ireland (15-13) on February 14 before being cut in their momentum by the coronavirus.

"The team had a big game, we are ahead with three minutes from the end but that is not enough", regretted the French coach, face closed, after the meeting.

The contaminations of twelve players and four members of the management including Fabien Galthié, had resulted in the postponement of the duel against Scotland, initially scheduled for February 28 at the Stade de France.

Not without creating other tumults, with suspicions of violations of the health protocol targeting the coach and players, finally swept away by the government.

On Saturday, the XV of France therefore played its first match in a month with a first victory at Twickenham since 2007 in the sights.

With an bis team, the Blues had bordered on the feat on December 6 in London during the final of the Autumn Nations Cup, yielding only after extra time (22-19).

Saturday, they put intense pressure to enter the XV de la Rose.

It took only 65 seconds for Dupont to register a first try, his ninth in the blue jersey, at the conclusion of a kick over Teddy Thomas on the left side.

In the second row, Paul Willemse and Romain Taofifenua, who replaced the injured Bernard Le Roux, took out the secateurs (24 tackles between them at the break).

The opener Matthieu Jalibert, preferred to Romain Ntamack, recently returned from injury (jaw) and left on the bench, served a caviar for Damian Penaud, lonely in the right lane, after fixing the English defense.

The realization of this beautiful collective movement allowed France to take back control before the break (13-17).

The N.10 of Bordeaux-Bègles, at his ease in front of the poles, had almost materialized himself, a few minutes earlier, a clear kick from Dupont but it played out very little.

- Rendezvous with the Welsh -

After a first period of high level, the game tightened.

The English captain Owen Farrell, impeccable in front of the poles, put his family within range (16-20).

Four points, it was not enough against the English who did not want to let go and bet on the game at the foot of occupation.

Full-back Brice Dulin remained solid under the high balls.

During the last ten minutes, unbreathable, the French resisted the English assaults until four minutes from the end and the decisive incursion of Itoje.

For the Grand Slam, it will therefore be necessary to wait at least until next year.

The Blues, however, still have a hope of winning the Tournament and topping the post for Wales, which prances at the top of the standings after a fourth success in four matches obtained earlier by crushing Italy in Rome (48-7) .

To do this, they will have to win their last two matches, at the Stade de France, if possible with the bonus each time.

First against the XV du Poireau, Saturday at the Stade de France.

And then against Scotland, a priori March 26, the date of the postponement has not yet been officially validated.

Not impossible, but far from simple.

© 2021 AFP