England took revenge for their World Cup quarter-final defeat and produced by far the best display of interim coach Stuart Lancaster’s young revolution with a nerve-shredding 24-22 victory in Paris.
Tries in the first 20 minutes from Manu Tuliagi and Ben Foden helped England to a 14-3 lead but France, with penalties from fly-half Lionel Beauxis, scrum-half Julien Dupuy and his replacement Morgan Parra, came roaring back to within two points at 15-17.
Tom Croft’s fine solo try and Owen Farrell’s dead-eyed conversion then looked to have made the game safe, only for a late try for the outstanding Wesley Fofana to again bring France within range of a remarkable win.