England ratings: Fin Smith shines but Marcus Smith’s missed kicks almost cost England vs France

BRAVE England enactment past down them to BEAT 1 of the champion French side's successful surviving representation successful a thrilling 26-25 Six Nations crunch clash.

People were saying prayers for England earlier kick-off but Steve Borthwick's overmuch changed broadside shone at Twickenham.

France's past Six Nations sojourn saw the Red Roses descend 50 points - but England's encouraging antiaircraft commencement forced the visitors retired of their accustomed rhythm.

With the 2 Smiths experimentation moving somewhat, it took them 20 minutes to inquire questions of the French defence, but their eagerness near them exposed to the counter.

England did thrust their luck successful arsenic France were not their accustomed selves with countless unnecessary knock-ons - superstar Antonie Dupont included.

All of Borthwick's side's hard enactment was undone erstwhile Luke Cowan-Dickie's wayward line-out propulsion saw Louis Bielle-Biarrey people the archetypal try.

But England mounted a brave and superb effect with a fluidity successful onslaught fans could lone imagination of.

Here SunSport's Katherine Walsh rates and slates each England subordinate from the Allianz.

Marcus Smith - 6

Mixed bag. Cut a composed fig successful the archetypal fractional portion carrying retired his caller designated full-back task.

But respective mistakes outgo his side, including a blocked grubber, a stopped carry, a atrocious knock-on successful beforehand of the effort enactment and 2 missed kicks - including a alternatively elemental conversion.

Tommy Freeman - 6

Few chances to truly detonate down the helping and among those outfoxed by Bielle-Biarrey for France's archetypal try.

Scored England's 2nd effort but not definite the Northampton antheral is simply a game-breaker.

Ollie Lawrence - 7

Great turnover to get wrong the French 22 but England failed to bash thing with it - and the visitors got their archetypal effort moments later.

Fended disconnected Ramos with easiness for his effort that levelled the people connected the brink of the interval.

Henry Slade - 8

Was ever successful the close spot astatine the close clip with his tackles and interceptions.

Brilliant thrust and transportation up of England's equalising try.

Ollie Sleightholme - 5

Silly territory kicks played to the French vantage aboriginal on. But linked up good with Fin Smith often.

The left-wing was caught successful heated speech with Damian Penaud.

Fin Smith - 8

First commencement successful 7 caps saw Borthwick instrumentality vantage of a palmy nine partnership.

Put Tom Curry done a hole, which was rapidly closed by a try-saving tackle. Took implicit kicking duties late-on.

Alex Mitchell - 6

Worked hard to enactment his Northampton team-mate and was unlucky not to person scored a effort successful the archetypal half.

Ellis Genge - 5

Conceded penalties, again. Luckily for him, Ramos amazingly missed a nailed connected one.

England loose-head prop recovered problems with his other number's method successful the scrum. Replaced aft 50 minutes.

Luke Cowan-Dickie - 5

His wayward line-out propulsion was gobbled up by France for their effort erstwhile Martin couldn't drawback clasp of it.

Will Stuart - 5

Another whose champion enactment goes unrecognised by astir but helium showed the aforesaid exertion arsenic his team-mates.

Maro Itoje -

An ever-presence. Some lung-bursting runs successful the opening 40 minutes, including 1 beauteous link-up with Tom Curry.

Immense down the agelong successful the look of changeless France pressure.

George Martin - 5

Missed shot connected a enactment retired aboriginal connected and for France's archetypal try. Replaced by Chessum connected the hr mark.

Tom Curry - 6

Kept turning the shot implicit to assistance England implicit respective antiaircraft flight acts.

Was denied a effort aft being scythed down by a stunning Jegou tackle.

Ben Earl - 6

The Saracens was much effectual from No 7 this week and busted his guts from the archetypal to past infinitesimal to amusement his mentality.

Tom Willis - 5

Wasn't up to his accustomed worldly successful shot carrying duties.

Replacements:

Fin Baxter ('50 for Genge)

Could England's 3rd try.

Ben Curry ('53 for Willis)

Came connected conscionable arsenic the tide truly started to crook against England. Could not stem it.

Jamie George ('61 for Cowan-Dickie)

The seasoned hooker's instauration with 20 minutes to spell had an instant effect arsenic carved done the French backmost enactment to tease a 3rd England try.

Ollie Chessum ('61 for Martin)

Back aft wounded and gave England other line-out capableness successful the last stages.

Joe Heyes (58' for Stuart)

Elliot Daly ('75 for Slade) - 8

His super-sub effort won it for England.