PLAYER RATINGS: Ben Youngs stars for England in Six Nations heartbreak
EXPRESS SPORT brings you England's player ratings from their clash with France
Ben Youngs scored two tries
15. Mike Brown
As safe as houses under the high ball and looked to get himself involved in the game in loose play 6
14. Anthony Watson
Scored his first international try with a simple finish but generally it wasn’t the type of game to be stood out on the wing his speed was under used 6
13. Jonathan Joseph
His brilliance helped created the third try when he had the presence of thought to run the ball out from long his own posts before chipping ahead 6
12. Luther Burrell
Question marks will remain about his ability to be an international centre and is capable of playing much better but did have a couple of decent runs 5
11. Jack Nowell
Reduced to the role of spectator for most of the game and struggling to get involved in the game but then popped up at the right time twice to score tries 7
10. George Ford
His kicking game provided nothing more than simple catching practice for the French but his second half try gave England a glimmer of hope 6
9. Ben Youngs
The most unlikely assassin scoring two tries and set up another clearly England’s man of the match was at the heart of the action from the first minute 8
1. Joe Marler
A decent afternoon at the coalface, was very steady in the scrum and will have enjoyed his battle with the combative French front row 6
2. Dylan Hartley
Hasn’t been his usual self for the whole of the tournament and this game was no different, very quiet and was replaced early in the second half 5
3. Dan Cole
Very lucky to get away with putting the shoulder in during a free for all and generally his discipline was very poor 5
4. Geoff Parling
Recalled to the starting line but with line out few and far between he didn’t have as much of a chance to impress as he would have liked 5
5. Courtney Lawes
Upset the French with a crunching tackle on Sebastien Tillous-Borde that was borderline but he is definitely a needed physical presence 6
6. James Haskell
Struggled to find his Cardiff form but his persistence created Watson’s try but then stupidly got himself sent to the sin bin for tripping Jules Plisson 5
7. Chris Robshaw
Gave everything for the cause to the very last minute of the game used every ounce of energy in his body in an attempt to win the Championship 6
8. Billy Vunipola
Used his strength to good effect in the second half when he was used as a wrecking ball and was rewarded with a straight forward try from close range 6
Replacements
16. Tom Youngs for Hartley
Problems with his line out throwing are always going to be a problem didn’t offer anything more than Hartley 5
17. Mako Vunipola for Marler
Had a couple of useful carries when he was called upon but didn’t have a lot to do in the scrum 5
18. Kieran Brooks for Cole
Came on late in the game but it was too late to have an impact on the scoreline 5
19. Nick Easter for Parling
The oldest man in the England squad was a late replacement but didn’t manage to get his hands on the ball 5
20. Tom Wood for Haskell
Maybe a case of being in the startling line up after Haskell's loss of form. Will consider himself to be unlucky 5
21. Richard Wigglesworth for Youngs
Came on for England’s man of the match but didn’t have the same impact as the man that he replaced. 5
22. Danny Cipriani for Watson
Brought on play at full back when Mike Brown was shifted into the centres but his impact was very limited 5
23. Billy Twelvetrees for Burrell
Came on too late in the game to do anything 5