England have been overwhelmed 53-10 by France at Twickenham in a file residence defeat that eliminated them from Six Nations title rivalry and delivered an alarming actuality test to educate Steve Borthwick’s rebuilding undertaking.
Trailing 27-Three at halftime – additionally their highest interval deficit at Twickenham in any fixture – they had been within the midst of a full-blown disaster on Saturday, having been taken aside up entrance.
Thomas Ramos, Thibaud Flament and Charles Ollivon had crossed with alarming ease and England regarded fully misplaced as fault strains opened of their protection, kicking, breakdown and self-discipline.
The arrival of Owen Farrell and Alex Mitchell off the bench early within the second half got here amid a fightback that produced a attempt for Freddie Steward, but it surely was short-lived as Flament, Ollivon and Damian Penaud propelled France additional in entrance.
The gulf between the rivals was embarrassing because the World Cup hosts registered their first Six Nations victory at Twickenham since 2005 in a wonderful return to type after they’d labored by a lot of the match.
And it solely will get more durable for Borthwick’s males as, having confronted the crew positioned second within the world rankings, they need to journey to Dublin subsequent Saturday to tackle grand slam-chasing Eire, who occupy the summit.
Marcus Smith did every part he may, having ousted Farrell at fly-half, however along with his forwards dismantled at each flip he was powerless to halt the collapse.
For all of the discuss of England enjoying with tempo, it was France who raced out of the blocks and when lock Paul Willemse offloaded out of the sort out they had been away, with Ethan Dumortier sending Ramos over within the left nook.
Ramos added a penalty to reward one other Les Bleus assault and with solely 10 minutes on the clock it was already trying bleak for the hosts.
England had been hamstrung by their self-discipline on the breakdown and other than a forceful run by Steward they had been struggling to make any impression as rain started to fall.
Antoine Dupont grew in affect as he weaved his magic across the ruck but it surely was the ability of forwards Francois Cros and Flament that did the injury for the following attempt.
Flament crossed within the 26th minute but it surely was too straightforward for the lock as passive England had been overpowered involved.
And their scrum protection was horribly uncovered in first-half injury-time when Gregory Alldritt charged ahead and seeing blue shirts lined up in help, despatched Ollivon crashing over.
England wanted to behave rapidly and hope appeared to have arrived when Smith delivered a terrific kick on the run for Max Malins however the wing knocked-on over the road.
It was now France’s protection that was disintegrating and after waves of assaults they had been breached with Steward driving a sort out to slip over.
England rapidly renewed their assault however the fightback faltered when a merciless bounce deceived their backfield protection, permitting Romain Ntamack to flick the ball to Flament who scored.
And there was extra misfortune when Smith was pushed over his line by Dupont as he lined for a kick and Ollivon touched down when he let go of the ball earlier than two late tries by wing Penaud drove the ultimate nail into England’s coffin.
