There's a bit of tactical kicking before Brice Dulin keeps things exciting by gathering his own kick.

France pick up a bit of speed on the left wing but it looks like there might have been a forward pass between Charles Ollivon and Teddy Thomas.

Kim: This has been an incredibly strong game so far. Solid ball in hand work, fast feet, clever play from both sides. More of that please!

Dani B: Hmmm am I heading for an evening entitled 'Smug Wife' again? #frenchwife

England's back row are battering their way through French defenders as first Tom Currry, then Billy Vunipola push the hosts further into the blue 22.

Eddie Jones' side let the errors creep in, though, and concede a penalty. Matthieu Jalibert clears to touch.

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Twickenham

Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie was very vocal in demanding more from his England team-mates as they awaited the nod to get the second half under way.

George Ford and Henry Slade talk tactics before the fly-half kicks left and Dylan Cretin gathers.

Antoine Dupont responds with a box-kick and Max Malins bravely canters forward to try and grab it. No luck, but Billy Vunipola is there.

The sides are back out in an empty Twickenham. It seems particularly cruel that a game this good isn't sound-tracked by screaming fans.

Paul Grayson
Former England fly-half on BBC 5 Radio Live

A fantastic Test, it’s what we want to see from England. They have been accurate, dynamic, controlled in attack, they had France under pressure for 20 minutes but the last quarter of the half shows why France were favourites.

Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

It’s been non-stop. The second French try will stay with me forever – simply breathtaking. England’s mindset and intensity, we have not seen that in this Six Nations, Whatever’s happened, they need to bottle it up.

Philip West: The scoreline doesn’t do justice to how well France played in that first half. They’re absolutely miles ahead of England as the build-up to the 2023 World Cup starts. England? Decent in parts, but still extremely disjointed at times as well.

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Twickenham

A great 40 minutes of rugby. Both teams look like have dug deep in that relentless first half, trudging off the pitch with shoulders heaving.

Might it all be decided by the depth of the bench? France have a six-two split, heavy on forward bulk, light on backline replacements. Is that a winning hand for Fabien Galthie?

It looked as if England's 2021 woes were set to continue when Antoine Dupont crossed for France's first try after just over a minute.

But Eddie Jones' men responded superbly with Anthony Watson's score.

THEN we were treated from some first-phase loveliness before Damian Penaud crossed.

Here's hoping for a second half that's equally as good.

Image source, Getty Images

Kyle Sinckler runs a lovely line but spills the ball forward.

He is duly punished by France, but England manage to recover the ball at the breakdown and kick to touch to end the half.

And what a joyful half it was.

Luke: England v France, the two most successful juggernauts of Northern Hemisphere rugby, never fails to disappoint. It's the only game the English and French ever care about. Always a spectacle.

George Ford kicks long and Teddy Thomas miraculously manages to catch it without going into touch. Got a future as a ballerina if this France wing thing doesn't work out.

The visitors are up to the English 5m line in a flash, but concede a penalty on the floor.

England can't make much progress with their maul so Ben Youngs goes for a box-kick.

Tom Curry manages to regather on the floor and England try to make something happen on France's 10m line.

Andy Bennett: That was a beautiful bit of play by France. I'm slightly confused why their training ground moves include a forward pass and the ref doesn't seem to mind

Steve Hodgson: It’s like France just decide when they want to score. This France team are so good. Yet another team that use the Autumn Nations Cup to bed players in and give them exposure. Wonder if Jones had the time again if he would do the same

Alan Ferguson: That was a stunning try and deserved that conversion to go over too. Wow

Paul Grayson
Former England fly-half on BBC 5 Radio Live

That is sublime! Poetry in motion.

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Twickenham

Oh my. Gasps of admiration along the press gantry as France cut England to ribbons off first-phase ball.

A delicious dummy from Gael Fickou, a lovely lobbed mis-pass from Matthieu Jalibert and a walk-in from Damian Penaud...

Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

That's got everything - assessment of the opposition, execution, dummy lines of running and the accuracy to allow Jalibert to deliver it!

You will not see a better first-phase try in world rugby. Period.

Image source, Reuters