Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson was in world record-breaking form, slotting his 29th Test drop-goal as part of a 14-point haul.

Wilkinson also booted three penalties and a conversion of wing Paul Sackey’s early try as England dashed French Grand Slam hopes to leave Wales leading the championship, while scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth claimed a late try.

France captain Lionel Nallet scored a first-half try, while centre Damien Traille kicked a conversion, 19-year-old scrum-half Morgan Parra and his replacement Dimitri Yachvili landed penalties, but England rarely lost control of the contest as they repeated their World Cup semi-final victory over Les Bleus last October.