England edge France in thriller to claim Women's Six Nations Grand Slam

LONDON :England overcame irrepressible France 43-42 to clinch a fourth straight Grand Slam and seventh successive Women's Six Nations title at Twickenham on Saturday as they extended their record winning streak in the tournament to 34 matches.

The Red Roses were clinical during a breathless first half with tries from Abby Dow, Emma Sing (2), Lark Atkin-Davies and Claudia MacDonald but leaked three scores to the resilient visitors to squander a 31-7 lead and go in 31-21 up at halftime.

The game sustained its breakneck, tit-for-tat pace in the second half as England captain Zoe Aldcroft finished after Dow cut through before French winger Kelly Arbey replied.

France were never out of it and when Joanna Grisez scorched over down the left to make it 43-42 with a minute left, the upset for an England team that had not lost a Six Nations game since 2018 looked on before the hosts finally triumphed.

It was a showcase of attacking rugby from both sides that left serious questions about England's defence ahead of a home World Cup in August that they are desperate to win and exorcise the demons of their defeat in the 2021 final to New Zealand.

England laid down a marker with a sharp score after four minutes, prolific winger Dow collecting a kick through from Zoe Harrison and fending off a tackle to score in the corner.

But France struck back within a minute, fly half Carla Arbez darting over after direct running and a brilliant midfield offload carved space through the hosts' defence.

Sing, in at fullback for England's injured supreme finisher Ellie Kildunne, then scored the game's third try in 10 minutes as she finished an overlap on the left.

Hooker Atkin-Davies put England 17-7 ahead from a powerful lineout drive after they kicked