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England coach Brian Ashton says he and his team probably learned more from yesterday's 21-15 loss to France than from last week's record victory over a second-string Welsh team.
"It's a very angry dressing room at the moment," Ashton said after his team failed to score a try
against the World Cup hosts, who managed one in each half to snatch an evenly balanced Twickenham clash.
"I hope the message we did learn was that we worked incredibly hard to get in a position to win the game, making three or four opportunities to score in the second half, but blew every single one of them.
"You don't win big games playing like that, and you don't win World Cups like that."
Ashton, with probably half his first-choice side on show, was given a harsh reminder that the pure forward power that did for Wales will not be enough against the cannier sides in the World Cup, which begins in four weeks.
"I thought we competed pretty well in every area against a pretty strong French selection," he said.
"We made a substantial number of changes and so obviously it was a lot tougher task this week.
"I thought we defended very well, tackled well but the second-half execution let us down."
Ashton will name his 30-man World Cup squad on Tuesday, and said he was close to knowing its composition.
Of his opponents he said: "I thought the French team showed a lot more heart and application than in the Six Nations but we knew that would be the case and that it would be a battle, especially up front.
"The annoying thing is that I felt we'd come through that battle but then you look at the scoreboard at the end and we've lost it."
Injuries permitting, Ashton plans to play his strongest team when the sides meet again next week.
France coach Bernard Laporte also plans changes for next week's home return in Marseille, but was pleased with his team's effort on a hot afternoon.
"The score was not really important. Much more was the way we've played," he said.
"We are really happy about the enthusiasm and solidarity they showed. The players also showed a lot of spirit, they've been under pressure but they were really together today."
Sebastien Chabal secured the match with his try in the 71st minute and the coach was full of praise for the rampaging back rower's impact.
"To become man of the match when he played only 20 minutes - that's quite good," he said.
"Substitutes are very important now and you saw that today, it's a 22-man game for sure."
Fabien Pelous marked his record-equalling 111th cap and return from a long injury absence by scoring the first try.
"We are very happy about Fabien. He's very fit, he's back in the squad and it's great to have him back after nine months out," Laporte said of his former captain.
- Reuters
