France came agonisingly close to winning the 2025 Women's Six Nations, missing out on the title with a 43-42 defeat to unbeaten champions England.
ENGLAND 43
Tries: A. Dow (2) 4’, 58’, E. Sing (2) 8’, 18’, L. Atkin-Davies 12’, C. MacDonald 23’, Z. Aldcroft 48’
Cons: Z. Harrison (4) 9’, 18’, 24’, 49’
FRANCE 42
Tries: C. Arbez 6’, P. Bourdon Sansus 29’, M. Menager 38’, K. Arbey 51’, M. Bourgeois 70’, J. Grisez 79’
Cons: M. Bourgeois (5) 7’, 30, 39’, 52’, 71’, 80’;
Yellow Cards: A. Khalfaoui 22’
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London
Attendance: 37,573
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)
Despite six tries and a spirited fightback in the closing stages, at least two tries, while her decision-making was also an issue with the ball in hand. Yes, she went 100% from the tee, this doesn't earn massive plaudits from me - to paraphrase Roy Keane, that her job.
Les Bleues fell crushingly short of the trophy as the Red Roses claimed a Grand Slam in London. Scores from all but one of the starting backs, as well as a perfect kicking record for Morgane Bourgeois, took the French within touching distance of the title, but they couldn't get the job done at Allianz Stadium.
Here's our player ratings as France lost 43-42 to England in the 2025 Women's Six Nations.
Yllana Brosseau - 5
Brosseau didn't do much in this game before a mixed bag of positive and negatives in the space of just 60 seconds. Her hard running had France inching towards a fourth try before she spilt the ball forwards and ended the move abruptly. She departed after 50 minutes along with both teams' entire front row, following an uninspiring performance.
Manon Bigot - 5
Blagnac hooker Bigot ran hard in contact, causing issues for England on multiple breakaways. However, the running theme of the first half was Les Bleues losing rucks against the head, and more often than not, it was Bigot who got moved aside for the Red Roses to claim possession.
Assia Khalfaoui - 4
Khalfaoui failed to get low enough in the tackle and found herself binned for a high hit on Maud Muir. Combining a stint on the sidelines with a French pack that couldn't handle English pressure, Khalfaoui can't go higher than a four in our books. What especially doesn't help the Stade Bordelais tighthead's case is the impressive stint put in by Rose Bernardou in the second half.
Manae Feleu - 5
The elder Feleu sister didn't pull up trees in this one, having few moments worthy of mention. Her late drop near the goalline after an inspired French breakaway killed off a serious chance to have a nailbiting conclusion at Allianz Stadium. It's a game where France's pack had little chance to show off their talent with the ball
Madoussou Fall Raclot - 6
Raclot generally struggled in this one, as did much of the French pack. She impressed at times with some nice tackling goalline defence and line speed, but overall didn't do enough to move away from a middle-of-the-road rating.
Charlotte Escudero - 7
Escudero's impressive work at the end of the first half was perhaps aided by her stint on the sidelines, sacrificed for Bernardou while Khalfaoui served her ten minutes in the sin bin. Those fresh legs allowed her to break clear and tee up the opportunity, which resulted in Menager's try. She departed on an hour following a solid performance in the back row.
Lea Champon - 5
Champon was another player who didn't do enough to stand out, despite playing most of the match. Top flankers like Josh van der Flier, Zoe Aldcroft or Jamie Ritchie will have moments of magic on both sides of the ball, which receive universal plaudits. Unfortunately, Champon didn't produce anything of the sort in this one.
Teani Feleu - 7
The younger Feleu sister in the French pack impressed with some nice rucking and carries. The Grenoble back row was one of France's standout players in a game they never really looked like winning. The 22-year-old looks like a nailed-on starter for Les Bleues at the World Cup and in the coming years.
Pauline Bourdon Sansus - 7
The Toulouse scrum-half impressed in the tournament closer despite France's limited possession. Bourdon Sansus showed quick thinking and reactions to pounce on her bizarre try in the first half, while running the show with composure whenever France got the ball. Departing just after the hour, the 29-year-old stood out amidst a spirited Les Bleues effort which ultimately came up short in London.
Carla Arbez - 6
Arbez had a mixed bag in her 56 minutes, crossing early for five before some poor kicking from the hands brought her rating back down. The French fly-half had enough influence on the match not to score badly, but didn't set the heather alight and can't be rated highly.
Kelly Arbey - 7
Arbey flew under the radar completely in this game before a moment of brilliance on 51 minutes. Picking up possession out wide just short of the 22, the Toulouse winger fought off two tackles and burst down the line to keep this game interesting. The 19-year-old was spared what looked like a slam-dunk yellow card in the closing stages for a deliberate knock-on, with the assistant referee deciding it went backwards.
Gabrielle Vernier - 6
Vernier produced a lovely run and offload in the buildup to France's opening try before promptly being smashed and taken off for an HIA. She continued to produce occasional moments of quality throughout, notably bursting back to stop a certain-looking English try in the final ten minutes. Nothing spectacular, but a solid showing from the Blagnac centre, especially given the less-than-ideal start.
Marine Menager - 7
Montpellier's Menager had some excellent moments throughout, crossing well in the first half to cut France's arrears towards the break. She came very close to another as she was hauled out of play near the corner by a covering defender in the second half, and had an altogether solid performance at 13 for Les Bleues today.
Joanna Grisez - 6
Grisez came alive in the final 25 minutes at Allianz Stadium, producing some brilliant breakaways and setting up numerous threats to the English line. She grabbed the late score that kept things interesting right to the last, cutting the deficit to just one point. While it was just too little, too late, and her first 50 minutes weren't quite up to scratch, Grisez finished well enough to claw her score back.
Morgane Bourgeois - 5
Aside from her kicking and a very simple try in the closing stages, Bourgeois was really poor in this one. The Stade Bordelais fullback could've done better to keep out Abby Dow for England's early opener, failing to get close to low enough in the tackle. Her positioning cost Les Bleues
Elisa Riffonneau - 6
Riffonneau had 40 minutes on the pitch and didn't do much. She didn't put a foot wrong in the ruck or lineout, and didn't get bullied out of rucks like the starter Bigot did. The Grenoble hooker showed enough physicality to give head coaches Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz something to think about for the upcoming World Cup back here in England.
Ambre Mwayembe - 5
Mwayembe wasn't as impactful as her opposite prop, having little impact on the course of this game in her 40 minutes on the pitch. Neither loosehead was particularly impressive for the French today, perhaps highlighting an area of weakness in their squad as they prepare for this summer's tournament. In fact, Mwayembe did so little in this match that BBC Sport didn't even realise she came on.
Rose Bernadou - 7
It's a damning indictment of your overall performance when the standout front row is the backup tighthead. That being said, Bernardou stood out in defence thanks to some excellent goalline work which eventually forced England to score their points out wide. The Montpellier prop looks much more suitable than Khalfaoui to start France's tournament opener in Exeter against Italy.
Kiara Zago - 6
Introduced with just ten minutes remaining, there wasn't much Zago could do to influence proceedings here. The young lock is still only 19 and being gradually introduced to senior international rugby, so experiencing this atmosphere for a brief period will surely benefit her career.
Axelle Berthoumieu - 6
Berthoumieu was first introduced for a 12-minute HIA stint early on before another 20 minutes in place of Escudero in the closing stages. She had her moments in defence and on the break, helping take France to the line for one of their many missed chances, but overall was just okay in France's narrow loss here at Twickenham.
Taina Maka - 6
Similarly to Zago, Maka's brief cameo was symptomatic of her international inexperience. Added to the squad late in the tournament as injury cover, the 20-year-old had just ten minutes on the Allianz Stadium turf and didn't do a huge deal at flanker.
Alexandra Chambon - 6
Chambon had her moments from the bench, picking up where Bourdon Sansus left off by managing France through the final 18 minutes. While they ran out of time in their bid to come back and snatch the title away from England, Chambon and France can be proud of their efforts throughout the championship as they came unbelievably close to spoiling the Red Roses' party.
Lina Queyroi - 6
Queyroi was introduced at fly-half with 25 minutes left in this one after Arbez's mixed bag performance. The Toulouse back put in a very similar level of quality as France pushed hard to win at Allianz Stadium, but couldn't tear the trophy away from England and stop the title celebrations for the home fans. She too was involved in teeing up some French chances near the end as they battled to take the crown from the English, but the effort was just short of what was required.
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