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Ian Walton / AP
England’s Owen Farrell, center, celebrates after kicking a penalty to win the Fall Nations Cup final.
England avoided a big surprise when they beat France 22-19 in sudden death overtime to win a drama-filled Fall Nations Cup final on Sunday.
England were the red-hot favorite just five weeks after leading France to the Six Nations title. They had 10 times the experience and advantage of playing at home at Twickenham.
But a young France team from second and third stringers led for 65 minutes until the last minute of regulation when England pulled a converted try from a lineout to tie the score at 19-19.
SPORT OF HEAVEN
England second five Owen Farrell converts a penalty in extra time to win the Fall Nations Cup final.
That forced the final to an extra 20 minutes of sudden death, with the first to score the winner.
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England captain Owen Farrell had the first chance in the second minute, but his penalty kick from the front went off the right post.
France tried to set up replacement high midfielder Louis Carbonel for a missed goal, but 12 stages in the England half ended with a penalty awarded.
Ian Walton / AP
Owen Farrell missed four penalties before scoring the winning kick in extra time.
In the second half of extra time, England’s George Ford kicked to the left corner, French winger Alivereti Raka couldn’t escape and Maro Itoje tied the ruck to force a penalty.
After missing four penalties on seven goal kicks, Farrell lined up the French 22 penalty from left touch in the 96th minute and hit it straight to crown England champions of the eight-team tournament that replaced the canceled year-end. Excursions.
