Six Nations 2025: Elliot Daly scores last-gasp try as England stun France, Wales' woes continue in Italy
Updated 08/02/2025 at 19:06 GMT
Elliot Daly sent Allianz Stadium into pandemonium as the Saracens back crossed for a last-minute try to help England to a sensational 26-25 victory over France in the Six Nations on Saturday. Elsewhere, Wales slumped to yet another defeat, extending their losing run to a record 14 straight international Test matches as Italy romped to a 22-15 victory over Warren Gatland's side in Rome.
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Replacement Elliot Daly produced a last-gasp try as England secured a stunning 26-25 victory over France to get their Six Nations campaign up and running.
Reeling from an opening-day defeat to Ireland, Steve Borthwick’s side displayed fighting spirit in bucket-loads, as they were pegged back by a France try four minutes from time, yet recovered to secure victory over Les Bleus for the first time since 2021.
The two sides were locked scoreless despite an entertaining opening first quarter, with Antoine Dupont spurning a golden chance to get points on the board with an uncharacteristic fumble from Thomas Ramos’ pass.
Damian Penaud was the next to butcher France’s forward forays, as he also dropped the ball deep inside England’s 22 as the visitors’ search for an opening try continued.
The pair would be influential when France finally found the opener on 29 minutes, though, combining well before Penaud’s grubber kick found Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who did the rest with little fuss.
Borthwick’s side restored parity before the interval, however, with Ollie Lawrence crossing the whitewash following a fine lay-off by Player of the Match Fin Smith.
A brace of Ramos penalties in the second half established a six-point gulf for Les Bleus, but England cut that to one when Tommy Freeman raced onto Fin Smith’s dinked kick forward, forcing his way over, but the hosts failed to take the lead with Marcus Smith pulling his conversion wide.
Penaud went on to put another five French points on the board on 61 minutes, but Borthwick’s side roared back 10 minutes later through Fin Baxter, setting up a grand-stand finish.
And hope looked to have evaporated from Allianz Stadium when Bielle-Biarrey capped off a fine France move to go six points ahead, with a mere four minutes remaining on the clock.
But in an epic twist, England stole victory in the dying embers. Fin Smith - on his first England start - was once again influential, delaying his pass to Elliot Daly before the Saracens back raced through and sent the stadium into raptures - his provider sinking the all-important conversion.
Wales woes continue
Wales suffered their 14th consecutive international Test match defeat as Italy stormed to a 22-15 victory in the Six Nations.
Ange Capuozzo's first-half try and four penalties from Tommaso Allan gave the hosts a comfortable 19-3 lead heading into the closing stages at the Stadio Olimpico.
Aaron Wainwright crossed to respond with 10 minutes remaining, but Allan added another three points to ensure that a late Wales penalty try was no more than a consolation.
Wales have not won a Test match since a 43–19 triumph over Georgia in October 2023, with their only victories coming against Queensland Reds and The Barbarians in that time.
Allan and Ben Thomas traded penalties in the early stages as both sides looked to gain a foothold in the match.
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Capuozzo got on the end of a delightful grubber kick to score the game's opening try, diving over in the corner to give his side a 10-3 lead with a successful Allan conversion.
Allan then kicked Italy to a 19-3 half-time advantage, but Wainwright kept the visitors' hopes alive, crashing over in the 69th minute after a barrage of Wales carries on the Italian line.
Allan's fifth kick from the tee ensured that Wales' penalty try and two late yellow cards for Marco Riccioni and Dino Lamb made no difference to the result.
It serves as another blow for Warren Gatland's side, who opened their 2025 Six Nations account with a thumping 43-0 defeat to France last week.
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