New Zealand resisted a ferocious French effort to become world champions on home soil for the second time.
A Stephen Donald penalty added to an early Tony Woodcock score before a try from Thierry Dusautoir set up a tense finish. France have now lost in all three of their World Cup final appearances but they came close in a match where many had written off their chances.
New Zealand began this final under the weight of a nation’s expectation and it was the French who began brighter...Read Full Story
France fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc pledged himself to last season's Top 14 finalists Montpellier till 2014 on Saturday. The 25-year-old - capped 35 times - exercised an option in his contract signed at the beginning of the year to extend it by another two seasons as he had wanted to see whether club coach Fabien Galthie replaced Marc Lievremont as national handler. In the event former France captain Galthie lost out to another former skipper Philippe Saint Andre . Trinh-Duc, who won praise...Read Full Story
France (12) 12
Pens: Parra 3 Drop-goal: Trinh-Duc
England (7) 10
Try: Foden Con: Flood Pen: Wilkinson
By James Standley
France completed their ninth Grand Slam but they were pushed all the way by a much-improved England side in Paris.
A Francois Trinh-Duc drop-goal gave France the lead but England went in front when Ben Foden finished off a fine move to claim his first Test try.
Toby Flood converted but three Morgan Parra penalties gave France a 12-7 half-time lead.
England...Read Full Story
France sealed their first Six Nations Grand Slam in six years when they weathered an England storm to run out 12-10 winners at the Stade de France on Saturday. Three Morgan Parra penalties and a Francois Trinh-Duc drop-goal were sufficient for a France team that had already seen off Italy (46-20), Wales (20-26), Ireland (33-10) and Scotland (9-18). France coach Marc Lievremont said that it made him immensely proud to have coached France to a ninth Grand Slam success. "It is a moment of great...Read Full Story
France sealed their first Six Nations Grand Slam in six years when they weathered an England storm to run out 12-10 winners at the Stade de France on Saturday. Three Morgan Parra penalties and a Francois Trinh-Duc drop-goal were sufficient for a France team that had already seen off Italy (46-20), Wales (20-26), Ireland (33-10) and Scotland (9-18). France coach Marc Lievremont said that it made him immensely proud to have coached France to a ninth Grand Slam success. "It is a moment of great...Read Full Story
With veteran halfback Dimitri Yachvili suffering a back problem, Morgan Parra will line up alongside five-eighth Francois Trinh-Duc at Stade ... Phil Dowson and Mauritz Botha keeping their spots, England’s starting 15 boast just 251 caps.
What preceded Trinh-Duc’s spark of inspiration had been 39 largely forgettable minutes. A penalty by Stade’s Julien Dupuy cancelled out first, and then surpassed by, two similar efforts from Montpellier’s Martin Bustos Moyano. Then with ...
Saint-Andre surprisingly selected Vincent Debaty at prop ahead of veteran Jean-Baptiste Poux, but the majority of the pack is the same as the one which rocked the All Blacks at Eden Park in a final that France came very close to winning.
With the likes of Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvilli and Francois Trinh-Duc, they probably have the most feared back line in the tournament. O'Connell is key to Ireland's chancesIreland made all the headlines when they beat Australia in the group stage of the ...
Francois Trinh-Duc takes over at fly-half from Morgan Parra who, after starting the World Cup final against New Zealand, drops to the bench. Saint-Andre, who replaced Marc Lievremont at the helm shortly after Les Bleus lost to New Zealand in the World Cup ...
Uncapped Francois Trinh-Duc will play at fly-half in a much-changed France side for Sunday's RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland at Murrayfield. The 21-year-old is one of four ...
A rampant England flew into a massive 29-0 lead over an abject France side in their Six Nations match-up at Twickenham. England manager Martin Johnson recalled Wasps lock Simon Shaw and Leicester flanker Tom Croft into a new-look pack after their ...