‘Awful’ England plastered in Paris

France 31 England 6

The world champions never recovered from a shambolic first-half performance which included them conceding a try to French centre Florian Fritz after just 41 seconds.

It rarely improved, as England collapsed to their seventh Six Nations reversal in 14 starts since winning the World Cup.

The result equalled England’s worst margin of defeat against France, having lost by 25 points in Paris 34 years ago.

Head coach Andy Robinson will be under pressure as widespread criticism is bound to follow a display which bordered on the abject.

Robinson gave a brutally frank assessment, admitting: “We were awful.”

“We have performed poorly in all aspects of the game, right from the first whistle and allowing France to score seven points.

“Whenever we had the ball we either kicked very poorly and didn’t find touch or we knocked on and turned it over.

“We knew over here it was about silencing the crowd. Today, the band played. The players are stunned.

He also admitted he may have to reassess England’s World Cup chances after back-to-back defeats to Scotland and France.

Robinson has previously spoken of his confidence that England can retain their World Cup in France next year.

“It tests your thought process,” said Robinson.

France never really broke sweat, and the only surprise was that they did not manage more than the three tries scored by Fritz, his midfield partner Damien Traille and wing Christophe Dominici.

Scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili kicked 16 points, while all England could manage were penalties either side of half-time by fly-half Charlie Hodgson and his replacement Andy Goode.

It took France less than a minute to mock English hopes of a first Paris victory since 2000, opening their account through a try assisted by schoolboy-style defence.

Fly-half Frederic Michalak’s steepling kick should have been easily dealt with, but fatal hesitancy between Josh Lewsey and Jamie Noon gifted France a bouncing ball and Fritz swept through to leave England stunned.

Yachvili converted, and after such an appalling start, England needed to settle and control possession, but flanker Joe Worsley and then the front row conceded penalties, allowing Yachvili two sweet left-footed strikes for a 13-0 lead inside 12 minutes.

When England looked to attack, basic errors riddled them and aimless kicking became the norm before Yachvili completed his penalty hat-trick in the 31st minute.

Only as half-time approached did England finally look like opening their account after sniping runs by Dawson and Lewsey stretched the French defence.

France appeared to have coped with the threat, but referee Alain Rolland punished them for deliberate offside in midfield and Hodgson slotted a simple penalty, making it 16-3 at the break.

Hodgson, who received treatment after suffering a knock just before half time, did not reappear for the second period and Leicester’s Goode won his third cap.

England blasted out of the blocks in a bid to impose themselves, and France had all the early defending to do until Goode rewarded impressive - and overdue - territorial supremacy by kicking an angled penalty.

France soon resumed normal service when Michalak’s slashing midfield break carved England open.

France, though, produced an unstoppable final quarter effort as further scores from Traille and Dominici - the latter an interception score - left England humiliated.

France coach Bernard Laporte felt his side had magnificently exploited England’s fragile confidence.

“Our objective now is to go to Wales and win the title,” said Laporte.

“This was an important match because the result was a determining factor in who wins the tournament. We haven’t won the title yet, but we are on the right track.

“The players handled the pressure very well and with a lot of determination. That is what made the difference today.

France scorers: Tries: Fritz, Traille, Dominici. Cons: Michalak, Yachvili. Pens: Yachvili 4.

FRANCE: Castaignede, Rougerie, Fritz, Traille, Dominici, Michalak, Yachvili, Marconnet, Ibanez, De Villiers, Pelous, Thion, Nyanga, Magne, Lievremont.

Replacements: Valbon for Traille (72), Szarzewski for Ibanez (61), Milloud for De Villiers (51), Nallet for Pelous (65), Bonnaire for Magne (58).

England scorers: Pens: Hodgson. Drop Goals: Goode.

ENGLAND: Lewsey, Cueto, Noon, Tindall, Cohen, Hodgson, Dawson, Stevens, Thompson, White, Borthwick, Grewcock, Worsley, Moody, Corry.

Replacements: Voyce for Tindall (58), Goode for Hodgson (40), Ellis for Dawson (58), Sheridan for Stevens (61), Mears for Thompson (61), Shaw for Grewcock (69), Dallaglio for Worsley (61).

Ref: A Rolland (Ireland).