A try from Saracens' Billy Vunipola was not enough for England, who finished as Six Nations runners-up despite a 55-35 win over France at Twickenham.

England had been set a 26-point margin of victory after Wales trounced Italy 61-20 and Ireland beat Scotland 40-10 earlier in the day.

But Stuart Lancaster's side, which included Billy and Mako Vunipola and Richard Wigglesworth, missed out on points difference in the end after making heavy weather of victory over the French.

Ahead 27-15 at the break following a pair of tries from Ben Youngs, the Red Rose were pegged back by  tries from Maxime Mermoz, Vincent Debaty and Benjamin Kayser.

James Haskall was sin-binned, heightening the task facing England, who had brief hope after Exeter Chiefs' Jack Nowell went over for the second time.

Ultimately though, England came up short and their wait for a Six Nations title will go into a fifth year.