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Recent history: What has happened the last three times England played France?
By Joe Harvey
It has been seven and a half years since England’s Red Roses last lost to France.
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That day in Grenoble it was a last gasp try from the majestic Jessy Tremouliere that ultimately helped Les Bleues to their fifth Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam. England have won every edition of the annual tournament since.
In the 34 years since their first meeting in 1991, the two teams have come up against one another on 58 occasions, with England winning 45 of those encounters.
Now in this era of Red Roses dominance, it is the allure and splendour of Le Crunch that has provided England with their sternest challenges.
This Saturday afternoon the two teams will face-off with one another in the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-finals.
France had to ride their luck to reach the final four. Against Ireland on Sunday afternoon the side trailed 13-0 at half-time and rallied to score 18 unanswered points in the second half thanks to Charlotte Escudero and Joanna Grisez’s tries, and the kicking of Morgane Bourgeois.
Now left bruised after the ban to their captain, Manae Feleu, for a dangerous tackle and Axelle Berthoumieu for her bite on Aofie Wafer, the odds do seem stacked against Gaelle Mignot and David Ortiz’s charges.
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For the Red Roses against Scotland it was a slightly different story. In 80 minutes John Mitchell’s side scored six tries, five of which were converted, and were ruthless in how they went about their business.
There is little doubt that the French will provide the Red Roses with their toughest challenge of the World Cup so far.
A place in the World Cup final at Twickenham Stadium is on offer. Both teams have the motivation.
Ahead of kick-off here are how the last three meetings between the two bitter rivals, who are separated by the Channel.
2025 | France 6-40 England
There were contrasting emotions at the end of this clash in Mont-de-Marsan.
In mid-August it was both teams’ final warm-up match for the World Cup and ended with England running out as six-try winners.
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For France it was a hapless attempt at taking down the number one ranked side in the world as Morgane Bourgeois’ two penalties accounted for all of the French points.
England’s dominance started early. Morwenna Talling, who has been a standout performer the entirety of the World Cup, dotted down in just the third minute.
Before half-time Amy Cokayne and Maud Muir had made their way across the whitewash, before Meg Jones and Lark Atkin-Davies’ brace closed out the contest.
2025 | England 43-42 France
As of last weekend England have won a world record 31 matches in a row. In all of those matches the Red Roses never came closer to losing a game than in this year’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations finale.
In front of 37,000 supporters at Twickenham Stadium, England secured a try scoring bonus point with less than 20 minutes on the clock and scored their seventh try, through Abby Dow, in the 57th minute.
France kept themselves in the contest, but when England took their foot off the gas Les Bleues took the scoreline to just one point thanks to converted Morgane Bourgeois and Joanna Grisez tries.
There was a nervy finish in London but when the final whistle blew it was the Red Roses that cheered loudest and lifted silverware into the sky again.
2024 | England 38-19 France
Ahead of last year’s successful WXV 1 campaign in Canada, England hosted the French at Kingsholm Stadium. To say things went well is putting it mildly.
By half-time in Gloucester the Red Roses had seen Marlie Packer, Jess Breach and Helena Rowland fight their way across the try line.
Even in the face of second half adversity in the form of Agathe Sochat, Romane Menager and Pauline Bourdon-Sansus’ tries, it was expertly managed by an England side hell-bent on chasing excellence.
The 7,500 strong crowd in Gloucester watched Talling, Breach and Lucy Packer dot down in a raucous send-off before they hosted New Zealand in London a week later and picked up a 24-12 win.