Le Crunch, the fixture that has measured the championship since France joined it in 1910, went England’s way at Allianz Stadium in 2025 on a converted try in the final play.
England met France in Le Crunch at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on Saturday 8 February 2025, in round two of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations. The match was decided in the last play.
France entered the championship in 1910, turning the Home Nations into the Five Nations. The fixture became the tournament’s measuring stick because the two sides play the game in opposite ways: England through the forwards and the boot, France through width and improvisation.
A Six Nations championship runs to five matches with no second leg, so one February afternoon can settle a season. England had lost 27-22 to Ireland in Dublin a week earlier, and this was their first home match.
France held most of the territory, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored the first try from a Damian Penaud kick. Fin Smith, on his first Test start, set up a try for Tommy Freeman with a cross-field kick. Fin Baxter, a replacement prop, put England ahead 19-18 with ten minutes left.
A second converted try from Bielle-Biarrey looked to have won it for France. In the 80th minute Elliot Daly broke the line, and the conversion made it 26-25.