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Ireland win 2018 Six Nations as England fall in France

Anthony Watson gets yellow carded during match between France and England at Stade de France

Ireland are the 2018 Six Nations Champions as England were handed their second defeat of the tournament at the hands of France in the Stade de France.

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France won what was at times a turgid affair in the French capital 22-16, with England’s chances disintegrating following an Anthony Watson high tackle that saw the French awarded a penalty try by referee Jaco Peyper.

England fought back in the 74th minute with a try from Jonny May, but a French penalty in the 77th minute seeled it for Jacque Brunel’s side.

A last-minute fightback by England ultimately floundered with a knock on at the try line.

The loss meant Ireland have won the Championship and head to Twickenham next weekend with the prospect of wrapping up a Grand Slam against an England team low on confidence but with a huge point to make.

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Jon 13 hours ago
Why Sam Cane's path to retirement is perfect for him and the All Blacks

> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.

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