Antoine Dupont try sinks England and secures grand slam for France

There have been some thumping French grand slam victories but never one that has rippled so ominously around the world. Not for a dozen years have France claimed a Six Nations clean sweep but in many ways the dazzling beauty of this one lies in what might still lie ahead. On this evidence anyone else planning to win next year’s Rugby World Cup is going to be disappointed.

England’s players deserve considerable credit simply for hanging in the fight but once Antoine Dupont had surged irresistibly clear at the start of the final quarter to put his side clear at 25-13 it was effectively all over. Not a solitary English supporter in the bouncing stadium or sitting back at home could say the outcome of this compelling finale was anything other than totally deserved.

The final table rarely lies, either, and the best team in the tournament duly finished well ahead of the pack. England were a touch fortunate that Scotland and Wales both lost on the final day, thus sparing them the indignity of a second successive bottom-half finish, but there could be no hiding from the frequently uneven battle at the breakdown, the power of the French forwards or the rock-solid composure of the home side’s outstanding defence.

With Melvyn Jaminet to slot the goals and the understated Gael Fickou arguably the player the championship, it was also lucky for Eddie Jones’s outclassed side that a few early nerves affected their hosts’ handling. But if the stadium was rocking to its foundations last night, just imagine the atmosphere when the Rugby World Cup kicks off next year. Were the tournament commencing this week, Les Bleus would be favourites and they still look to have plenty of growth in them.

‘Super Saturday’ certainly lived up to its