France take English scalp at home

With both sides starting to take the next steps towards finding their best squads and combinations ahead of the 2017 World Cup, it was inevitable that this could be an error strewn game with France not having played a test since the end of the Six Nations, and England fielding a young and inexperienced backline, much like their opponents.

And so it proved to be with handling errors stopping any real sort of flow to the match, which was well handled by Helen O'Reilly - surely the best female referee in the game now - but both sides will have learned plenty ahead of the Six Nations and for England, ahead of a home test against Ireland this weekend.

France made a strong start to the fixture in Martigues, pushing England inside their 22 and coming away with three-points through the boot of Audrey Abadie. The fly-half repeated her efforts soon after, putting France ahead by six.

England had started with a more experienced pack and Marlie Packer and Sarah Hunter were to the fore as they defended doggedly back on their own line to repeal the drives from Safi N'Diaye  and Elodie Poublan, thorugh the middle, and despite huge French dominance the home side couldn't make the breakthrough.

England's efforts on the ball were constantly thwarted by knock-ons and scuffed passes, and though flyhalf Emily Scott tried hard to generate a spark, the visitor's attacks were fairly well contained by a French backline which was led well by Poublan and aided by the fine attacking play of Julie Billes from fullback.

It stayed 6-0 at the break, despite France's assaults on the England tryline.

The second half started in much the same vein, with both sides struggling to make it past the initial phases. Adabie missed her second penalty kick of the night to keep England within one converted try.

The French driving lineout started to come into its own, with Gaelle Mignot involved heavily at the back and England were spared a couple of times with France being penalised after getting a real head of steam up. England's own lineout will be a source of worry to the side going into the Ireland clash.

Finally France took advantage of their possession when Poublan snuck down the blind after a dominant forward effort put France in position. Adabie missed the conversion, putting the home side ahead by 11.

England opted for the posts with a penalty soon after but  Lauren Cattell sent the ball wide. Off the bench. LaToya Mason and Emma Croker's introduction made a real difference with England generating momentum for the first time as the game drew to a close but it was too little too late and even when Poublan was yellow carded, France held out for a clean sheet.

England Women:Sarah Mckenna; Katie Mason, Lauren Cattell, Ceri Large, Charlotte Clapp; Emily Scott, Leanne Riley; Rochelle Clarke, Amy Cokayne, Laura Keates, Tamara Taylor, Abbie Scott, Hannah Gallagher, Marlie Packer, Sarah Hunter (C)

Replacements: Vickii Cornborough, Emma Croker, Justine Lucas , Harriet Millar-Mills, Izzy Noel-Smith, Latoya Mason, Rachel Lund, Ruth Laybourn

France Women:Julie Billes; Céline Heguy, Elodie Poublan , Lucille Godiveau , Marion Lievre; Audrey Abadie , Yanna Rivoalen; Julie Duval, Gaëlle Mignot , Patricia Carricaburu, Audrey Forlani, Marine De Nadaï, Romane Menager, Laetitia Grand, Safi N’diaye

Replacements: Agathe Sochat , Lise Arricastre , Céline Ferer ,  Coumba Tombe Diallo, Pauline Bourdon, Carla Neissen, Caroline Boujard , Amaya Gonzalez