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AS IT HAPPENED

Six Nations as it happened: France v England

We went minute-by-minute as France attempted to keep their Six Nations Championship hopes alive against England.

As ever we’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on this afternoon’s action. Tweet us@thescore_iefind us on Facebook, or email paul@thescore.ie.

Alternatively, you can do it the old fashioned way and justleave a comment below.

France 22-24 England

Welcome to our liveblog of the final Six Nations game of the weekend. Here are the teams:

FRANCE : 15-Clement Poitrenaud, 14-Vincent Clerc, 13-Aurelien Rougerie, 12-Wesley Fofana, 11-Julien Malzieu, 10-Lionel Beauxis, 9-Julien Dupuy; 1-Jean-Baptiste Poux, 2-Dimitri Szarzewski, 3-Nicolas Mas, 4-Pascal Pape, 5-Yoann Maestri, 6-Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 7-Julien Bonnaire, 8-Imanol Harinordoquy.

Replacements: 16-William Servat, 17-Vincent Debaty, 18-Lionel Nallet, 19-Louis Picamoles, 20-Morgan Parra, 21-Francois Trinh-Duc, 22-Maxime Mermoz

ENGLAND : 15-Ben Foden, 14-Chris Ashton, 13-Manu Tuilagi, 12-Brad Barritt, 11-Charlie Sharples, 10-Owen Farrell, 9-Lee Dickson; 1-Alex Corbisiero, 2-Dylan Hartley, 3-Dan Cole, 4-Mouritz Botha, 5-Geoff Parling, 6-Tom Croft, 7-Chris Robshaw, 8-Ben Morgan

Replacements: 16-Rob Webber, 17-Matt Stevens, 18-Tom Palmer, 19-Phil Dowson, 20-Ben Youngs, 21-Charlie Hodgson, 22-Mike Brown

“There’ll be tears in my eyes if France don’t win this,” says RTÉ’s resident Francophile George Hook.

And we’re off…

England are deep inside French territory already, until a sloppy knock on gives France a penalty and a chance to clear their lines.

England are now under a bit of pressure, as France win a line-out just outside the visitors’ 22.

Dreadful attempt at a drop goal from Beauxis, which falls well short of the posts. That never really looked on.

Julien Dupuy misses his first penalty of the game. He got the distance, but struck it well wide.

TRY FOR ENGLAND!

7-0: Tuilagi catches France on the break and sprints in at the corner, after Julien Bonnaire is just  held up short at the other end. Farrell adds to England’s lead, with an excellent conversion.

Beauxis responds immediately for France with a well-executed penalty.

TRY FOR ENGLAND!

14-3: Great run by Ben Morgan, who powers through the opposition defence, before offloading to Ben Foden, who finishes well to give England a sizable advantage. Farrell makes no mistake with the conversion.

Poitrenaud collects the ball just ahead of an onrushing Sharples to prevent a certain third English try. France are all over the place at the moment.

Indeed.

Farrell makes an uncharacteristic error, hitting the post with a penalty that seemed practically impossible to miss.

14-6: Beauxis successfully kicks a penalty straight in front of the posts. It’s been a highly entertaining first half.

Substitution: Maxime Mermoz replaces Vincent Clerc, whose arm is now in a sling.

Tuliagi scores the game’s first try (AP Photo/Christophe Ena).

14-9: Beauxis kicks another penalty on the stroke of half time.

HALF TIME: FRANCE 9-14 ENGLAND

It’s been a strange game. Just like against Ireland last week, France started very slowly, before belatedly waking up and establishing a foothold in the game.

The second half is underway…

It’s been a scrappy opening to the second period – in contrast with the consistently enthralling first-half action.

17-9: Farrell extends England’s lead with a penalty, after France are adjudged to have deliberately knocked on.

Beauxis produces a fairly poor attempt at a penalty, as France’s Six Nations hopes continue to hang in the balance.

YELLOW CARD! Charlie Sharples is penalised for a deliberate knock on. Can France now capitalise on their man advantage?

The French are growing into this game, while England are starting to look a tad vulnerable, after their excellent first half showing.

With less than 20 minutes left, France are beginning to show signs of frustration in their play, as the England team are about to be restored to 15 men again.

Wesley Fofana runs towards the corner, but the referee brings him back, as France are adjudged to have made a forward pass.

17-12: Morgan Parra has kicked a successful penalty, as French pressure finally tells. We’re all set for a grandstand finish now.

17-15: A wonderful kick from distance by Beauxis ensures it’ll be a nail-biting finish.

TRY FOR ENGLAND!

24-15: Out of nothing, Tom Croft shows his phenomenal pace, sprinting through a tired Hardinoroquy tackle and crossing over. Farrell converts.

Game over?

France need two scores in the next six minutes.

TRY FOR FRANCE!

Wesley Fofana gets his fourth try in four games, as he dives over following a period of sustained French pressure. Parra gets a difficult conversion.

Three minutes to go.

Francois Trinh-Duc has just missed a gilt-edged chance at a drop goal. This is an incredible finish to the game.

FULL TIME: FRANCE 22-24 ENGLAND

It’s not mathematically certain, but that result means Wales have virtually won the Six Nations, barring a miracle next week.

Okay, that’s it from me. Thanks for reading and commenting, and let’s hope next week’s game in Twickenham can be just as thrilling as today’s match.

Read: National Hurling League as it happened: Dublin v Cork>

Read: Lee Jones still in hospital, but making ‘good progess’>

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