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France Caps Six Nations With Grand Slam Win
Jerome Pugmire | March 21, 2010

French national team flanker and captain Thierry Dusautoir, center, waving France French national team flanker and captain Thierry Dusautoir, center, waving France's trophy. (AFP Photo)
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 Saint-Denis, France. France won its first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2004 after beating England 12-10 on Saturday.

After a bright start from England, France came back into the game and three penalties from Morgan Parra put the team 12-7 up at halftime.

Fullback Ben Foden scored a try for England early in the first half, moments after flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc’s drop goal put the French 3-0 ahead.

Flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson came off the bench and kicked England to within three points of France to ensure a nervous last 10 minutes at Stade de France.

“The essential thing was to win it. We showed that we could entertain in the other four matches,” France coach Marc Lievremont said.

“I am very happy and proud of my players, how they played and how they stuck together,” he added. “You have to pay tribute to the English, they played magnificently and as usual they made it very hard for us.”

Lievremont, who took over from Bernard Laporte after the 2007 World Cup, played down his impact on the Grand Slam.

“I’m not hear to write my own personal story, but I am very happy for the players and also very relieved given how the match went,” he said. “I’m happy for French rugby as well.”

It was the first Six Nations title since 2007 for France, which also won the Grand Slam in 2002.

France captain Thierry Dusautoir said he was relieved that “for once we didn’t lose to England in a major game,” referring to World Cup semifinal losses in 2003 and 2007.

England coach Martin Johnson praised his team’s performance despite the loss.

“We did the things we wanted to do, we knew that if we trusted our hands we could get around them. We did that a couple of times and it led to the first try,” Johnson said. “The weather conditions changed dramatically, and in that heavy downpour we spilled the ball a few times. In the second half, we were tactically much better.”

Scotland’s 23-20 win over Ireland in Dublin meant France was already assured of the Six Nations title before taking the field.

France gave England one last chance to launch an attack after losing possession with 30 seconds to go, but the English fumbled and France was able to clear into touch, prompting jubilant celebrations.

France failed to score a try for the first time in the tournament and showed none of the flair it displayed in thumping Ireland 33-10 at home or winning 26-20 in Wales. The French also beat Scotland 18-9 in Murrayfield and trounced Italy 46-20 at Stade de France last weekend.

In the weekend’s other match, Wales beat Italy 33-10 in Cardiff.

 

Associated Press