France 25-20 England, Paris, August 2015

A result that came as a surprise to England in the days immediately before the 2015 Rugby World Cup on home soil. In reality, the defeat in Paris was an omen of what was to come. Frederic Michalak’s boot gave France a 15-6 lead at half-time before Yoann Huget added a converted try on the hour mark. After a raft of substitutions England rallied, and late tries from Danny Cipriani and Jonathan Joseph offered hope, but Stuart Lancaster’s side would come to regret their first-half performance.

England 19-14 France, London, August 2015

England won the first of their World Cup warm-ups against France, but they were hardly convincing. Two brilliant tries from Anthony Watson gave them a very early 12-3 lead, and another superb virtuous effort from Jonny May would make sure of the victory, but England’s forwards were relentlessly pounded throughout, and France almost stole the victory late on.

England 55-35 France, London, March 2015

Where to start? On paper, a 55-35 victory over France is a superb result, and braces from Ben Youngs and Jack Nowell respectively, as well as scores from Anthony Watson and George Ford won England the match. But England required a win by 26-points to deny Ireland and to secure their first Six Nations title in four years, and so the performance was ultimately in vain. France repeatedly stung England on the counter.

France 26-24 England, Paris, February 2014

Another superb match between the two teams, with France winning at the death through substitute Gael Fickou, who denied England what had promised to be their biggest ever comeback win. England conceded a try in the first minute and promptly found themselves 16-3 down, and heading for a pasting. But they defiantly fought back, with tries from Mike Brown and Luther Burrell snatching them back the initiative. Cue Fickou’s late score, which broke English hearts.

England 23-13 France, London, February 2013

Another English fightback, although this time, they held on to win. A superb individual try from Wesley Fofana, as well as the boot of Morgan Parra, had given France a narrow 10-9 lead at the interval. But Manu Tuilagi scored in the second-half, and Owen Farrell found his range to slot home four consecutive penalties, to give England the result.