France vs. England: Winners and Losers for England from International Match

England’s World Cup preparations hit a major road block in Paris with a poor showing in a 25-20 defeat to France.

Late tries by Danny Cipriani and Jonathan Joseph added a gloss to the scoreline that does not hide the dismal display put up in the first 65 minutes that saw the home side rack up a 25-6 lead.

It has left France brimming with confidence as the tournament draws nearer, but England coach Stuart Lancaster has been handed more questions than answers about his first-choice lineup.

Let’s have a look at the winners and losers.

Loser: England’s Game Plan

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The Red Rose brigade seemed too eager to put width on the ball and run France off their feet.

The result was too many isolated ball-carriers and a horror show at the breakdown. England coughed up 12 penalties and were persistently pinged because they weren’t clearing out fast enough.

In the Guardian Paul Rees wrote:

"England’s decision to run from their own half and off-load in dangerous areas, exposing their weakness at the breakdown, smacked of a game plan triumphing over common sense. Instead of forwards keeping play tight and committing defenders to create space, ball was shovelled wide regardless."

Stuart Lancaster's team need to be able to play the opposition rather than try to stick to a plan that isn’t working, and they will need to show they can do this against Ireland in two weeks’ time.

Winner: Mike Brown

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Mike Brown was making his first start after that nasty concussion that left its mark for months on the Harlequins full-back.

He showed no side-effects whatsoever, and gained plaudits from the Telegraph’s Gavin Mairs for slotting right back in at the highest level.

"One courageous take under huge pressure from Yoann Huget and [Scott] Spedding from a close range chip by Sebastien Tillous-Borde set the tone, and aside from one dropped pass he was solid under the high ball and showed glimpses of his counter-attacking brio."

With England’s back line looking unable to conjure much, Brown’s ability to break the game open from counter-attacks may well prove crucial in the World Cup.

Loser: England’s Set Piece

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As happened last week, England’s lineout and scrum were second best. They lost four of their nine throws at the lineout, and their scrum struggled to cope with the French eight.

As far as the lineout is concerned, Tom Youngs’ throwing problems are going to have to be addressed on the training field because he remains first choice with Dylan Hartley’s exclusion.

With other areas not firing on all cylinders, England must be able to rely on their set piece, and that is not the case at present.

Winner: Danny Cipriani

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Danny Cipriani is being tipped to miss out on a place in the final 31 despite a cameo Saturday night that won him much praise.

Sir Clive Woodward wrote in the Mail on Sunday:

"Cipriani did everything that it is possible for a ‘fringe’ player to do in the last 20 minutes of the game. He brought poise to the midfield and took his try very well indeed, showing real strength and speed—and a lot of determination…but reluctantly I concede he probably won’t make it."

It’s a shame that Cipriani has not been given more of a chance to run a back line from the first whistle but perhaps his ability to break a game open late on should not be overlooked by Stuart Lancaster.

England could find themselves a score down against either Wales or Australia in their key pool clashes. Cipriani could be just the wild card to dig them out of that sort of hole.