After an elaborate pre-match ceremony featuring equestrians, pyro and laser projections, the two teams delivered the best, see-saw game to grace any era of their 120-year rivalry.
France’s warp-speed wing Louis Biel-Biare torched England twice with trademark tries in the opening 12 minutes.
The 22-year-old, who has now scored in 10 consecutive Six Nations matches, ran onto well-weighted kicks from Ramos and fly-half Mathieu Jalibert, drawing England’s backline forward and opening up backfield space.
England crossed between those twin scores as the pair of Finn Smith and Elliott Daly combined for the winning effort at Twickenham last year as Tom Roebuck was cornered.
It was clear early on that England’s running lines had intensity and guile, but the forwards met the heavyweight France pack on the front foot.
After Kaden Murley pounced on a backfield leak by Theo Atissagbe to cut the hosts’ lead to 14-10, Ollie Chessom took over after a 13-man 20-metre driving maul rumbled downfield.
Imagery of a swing low sweet chariot rose from the England fan section as the scoreboard marked level at 17-17 and the two teams continued to trade scores with basketball frequency.
Alex Coles put England ahead on the blind side, but a Finn Smith penalty pushed the visitors 10 points clear at 27-17.
Then, with the first half clock in the red, came two big calls.
The hosts opted to kick for a corner and the resulting line-out saw referee Nika Amashukeli rule that Ellis Genge had pulled down the French maul, sending the prop into the sin bin and awarding a penalty try.
Poor discipline has pockmarked England’s campaign, with the 2002 Italy team collecting more cards in a single Six Nations campaign.
England’s coaching staff were exercised by decision when they returned to the dressing room and the start of the second half proved why.
With Genge off the pitch and England down to 14, France made the hay.
Bielle-Biary completed his hat-trick 90 seconds after the restart, before France’s pack won a penalty in the first Genge-less scrum. Attisogbe cruised over as the powerplay continued and France were 38-27 clear.
Competition seemed to be drifting away from England, but resilience and opportunism held it back.
Chessom intercepted a Jalibert pass and, with Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jack van Poortwilt bringing energy off the bench, fellow substitute Marcus Smith scooted around Demba Bamba to put England ahead 39-38 with 25 minutes remaining.
Bielle-Biarrey added his fourth try of the match and ninth of the championship, but the twists and turns kept coming.
Bamba was sent to the bin and Freeman strolled over to silence the Stade de France.
With two minutes remaining, Chessom defended the restart, van Poortliet kicked long, but Jalibert summoned another moment of magic, slicing through the chase to pull England back.
A high tackle call by the referee, highlighted by the absence of a replay on the big screen, then allowed Ramos to step up with the final kick and claim the glory.
