Rugby: England go down fighting as France win Grand Slam

This was payback time for a history of perceived French injustices at the hands of the hated English.

A roaring national anthem set the scene for an emotion-charged night in which the French worked hard for their first Grand Slam since 2004 but their fifth in 13 years.

Yet when substitute Jonny Wilkinson landed a stunning penalty from 48 metres with 14 minutes left to get England within two points at 12-10, the ghosts of Sydney 2003 and Paris 2007 stirred.

It didn't happen, but this was England's best performance of the season by a distance.

France, often left to curse their fortunes against 'Les Rosbifs' got home with a mixture of power and cunning.

England lacked the tactical acumen of the French, especially halfback Morgan Parra, who kept the ball in front of his forwards as much as he could.

Yet there were England successes on a wet Parisian night. Ben Foden played as if to the manner born at fullback.

Foden and club colleague Chris Ashton gave England a real cutting edge running the ball back, and they engineered a brilliant 5th minute try. Flood's conversion was immaculate and England led 7-3.

The French public looked dumbfounded at such finesse and their hunch was correct; it couldn't last.

While Foden was thoroughly enjoying himself, taking high balls with courage and aplomb, another England youngster was finding life very different.

Tighthead prop Dan Cole was constantly penalised by New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence for collapsing scrums. It was true that Cole was finding life extremely tough against a powerful, wily French front row.

But twice the shrewd French won penalties when they refused to take the engagement. Such subtleties were beyond the compass of Lawrence, who climbed into England's many indiscretions.

At times, England tried to play too much football on the wet, slippery pitch. They had enough ball and should have kicked deep for territory, playing off lineouts deep in the French half. Yet their second-half back play was much improved.

Toby Flood at least stood flatter than Wilkinson had done. But Lewis Moody and Joe Worsley would never see the point of using a key to unlock a door when they can try and smash straight through it.

This England side doesn't really do subtlety.

Yet in the final half hour, as if out of nowhere, England suddenly dredged up a performance most of us thought them no longer capable of. They moved the ball, cut some interesting angles and counter-attacked with vigour.

When Wilkinson's kick sailed over, the French visibly wobbled and spent most of the last 10 minutes trying to run down the clock.

It wasn't quite the all singing, dancing affair the romantic French had imagined. But it did show France's increasingly strong streak of pragmatism and their growing effectiveness.

In the other Six Nations matches, Scotland beat Ireland 23-20 and Wales beat Italy 33-10.

Six Nations:

* France 12 England 10

* Scotland 23 Ireland 20

* Wales 33 Italy 10