Nigerian-born England rugby international, Maro Itoje was the star performer on the night, as his late try was enough to help his team snatch victory over France in an epic encounter, with the battling star popping up when it mattered most.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, on a night the best form and efforts of the Saracens star were need most, Itoje redeemed himself from a recent setback and turned out to be the hero on Saturday, as the villain was forgotten and new hero celebrated.
Itoje, who gave away five penalties against Wales in their previous game, ended France’s grand slam push four minutes from time when he picked up from a ruck, which had again looked as if it would be the area to cost England, and took two players over the line with him.
The referee, Andrew Brace, initially ruled that Cameron Woki and Teddy Thomas had prevented Itoje from grounding the ball, but after reviewing the incident on the big screen, decided he had been wrong.
That was in agreeing with the television match official, Joy Neville, that it was a try, as they had done in December’s Autumn Nations Cup final here, England denied France victory in the late stages with a try from close range.
Eddie Jones reckoned in the buildup that England would make their superior fitness tell in the final quarter if they were in touch with France, and although they trailed from the 32nd minute, having recovered from conceding a try after 65 seconds, they were never more than seven points behind.
It seemed less a conditioning issue with France, who had not played for a month, and more one of trying to hold on to a narrow lead and surrendering the initiative, abandoning the flowing style that had put them in front.
Until Itoje’s intervention, it looked as if England would again pay for the indiscipline which had cost them against Scotland and Wales but, while they did not concede a penalty in the first 24 minutes, they more than made up for that as the game progressed.
They were penalised six times at attacking rucks, mostly for holding on due to a lack of support, with three of the infringements coming in France’s 22.
It was a ruck that ultimately cost France, who played with such a swagger in the first half that England were forced to shake off their inhibitions to keep up in what was an enthralling 40 minutes of rugby.
Les Bleus attacked from the off and after Virimi Vakatawa and Gaël Fickou created space in midfield, Teddy Thomas’s chip to the line on the left wing with the outside of his right boot was gathered by Antoine Dupont at the second attempt.
France should have used the windfall to establish territory, but they too were unable to sustain attacks because of indiscipline, more in the set pieces than the loose, and they did not mount an attack in the second half.
It became a question of whether they could hold on against a team not renowned for coming from behind to win; just when it looked as if they would, up popped the second row, Itoje, with the decisive score.
