the score

A try would have extended the hosts' lead to 22-3, however the video official picked up on a slight knock-on by Cowan-Dickie as he grounded, causing the score to be wiped off.

"At the end there's a significant difference in the score," France head coach Fabien Galthie told TF1.

The visitors stayed in the game thanks to France's poor discipline, conceding eight penalties in the first half, and went in at the break with the score 19-19 after Faessler's second try.

From there, the players continued to exchange opportunities and maintained their high quality - despite the stakes and excitable crowd - as the score continued to rise.

The score marches ahead in a manner that makes progress seem, if not inevitable, relentless in its pursuit of justice.