England vs France LIVE: Six Nations score and result as England fall to humiliating record loss at Twickenham
England 10-53 France: England were embarrassed as Les Bleus ran in seven tries to stun their hosts
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Your support makes all the difference.England suffered their largest-ever home defeat as they were obliterated 53-10 by a rampant France in their Six Nations clash at Twickenham.
England were booed off by a half-empty Twickenham crowd at full-time, with many having left as things went from bad to worse across the 80 minutes as Les Bleus ran in seven tries.
The hosts offered minimal resistance as they were outworked, outmuscled and outclassed – with Thibaud Flament, Charles Ollivon and Damian Penaud all scoring two tries, while Thomas Ramos got another –in a humiliation.
The defeat far outstripped the heaviest previous home loss, a 42-6 reverse to South Africa at Twickenham back in 2008.
Relive England vs France in the Six Nations, below:
PENALTY! ENGLAND 3-17 France (Marcus Smith penalty, 34 minutes)
To cheers of relief at Twickenham, England get their first points of the evening. Marcus Smith’s strike is good, sending the ball between the uprights from 42 metres out.
England 0-17 France, 31 minutes
France knock on after throwing a lineout on halfway. A chance for an England attack? Yes, and a useful launch move, a charging Ollie Lawrence turning distributor and nearly freeing Henry Slade to his left.
It is rather less threatening thereafter, with Jonathan Danty introducing Jack van Poortvliet to the girth of his right shoulder and thumping the scrum half into the damp Twickenham surface.
Danty is off his feet at a ruck two phases later, though - penalty to England and this time the call is to take the points.
England 0-17 France, 29 minutes
But where France were oh-so-accurate in the England 22, the hosts get things totally wrong. Their lifters slide in front of the hoisted Lewis Ludlam at the front of the lineout - that’s obstruction, picked up by assistant Andrea Piardi on the touchline just as the backs try to launch their set piece strike. The home crowd sighs.
England 0-17 France, 28 minutes
Penalty to England to just quieten a restless crowd. Maro Itoje is in with snaffling hands and forces Romain Ntamack to hold on after getting himself isolated.
TRY! England 0-17 FRANCE (Thibaud Flament try, 26 minutes)
The former Loughborough lad is over!
Irresistable attack from France. A front peel at the lineout is cleverly constructed, enough deception in the feigned drive to create soft shoulders through which Gregory Alldritt can bash.
Then it is back to French basics, large human beings taking short pass from their brilliant conducting scrum-half, Antoine Dupont finding Thibaud Flament’s midriff and allowing the lock to power between Henry Slade and Lewis Ludlam to the line. Thomas Ramos adds two more to his tally.
England 0-10 France, 25 minutes
Superb from Antoine Dupont. A 50:22 off his weaker left peg, perfectly weighted, perfectly directed, shuffling out over the touchline out of Max Malins’ reach.
England 0-10 France, 23 minutes
Antoine Dupont is challenging the English fringe defence at every opportunity, connecting subtly with Gael Fickou on his shoulder to create a half-break. But England reform, forcing another aimless French kick. Freddie Steward tonks a clearing punt over the head of Romain Ntamack - a steadying blow from the full back’s booming right boot.
England 0-10 France, 21 minutes
This is turning into a bit of a nightmarish first quarter for England. There is space in front of Anthony Watson as he retreats to claim a kick, Cyril Baille an inviting penultimate defender in the French chasing line, but the wing fails to make sure of his catch - through his grasp it tumbles and France can instead launch an attack from 30 metres out.
England 0-10 France, 20 minutes
Turned over! France initially stall the maul and then explode it entirely, Gregory Alldritt the detonator-in-chief and forcing an error as Jack van Poortvliet searches for the ball at the base. France clear.
England 0-10 France, 18 minutes
England’s attempted drive never quite pulls out of the station, but one of the French locks is picked out for changing his bind to prevent any late movement. Ellis Genge, to the approval of the crowd, instructs Marcus Smith to find the corner - his fly half duly obliges.
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