In the end, even the win eluded them. On a thoroughly muted afternoon in a stadium barely a third full, an England XV contrived to lose to a France XV even further from full strength than they were. At the death, Romain Taofifénua crashed over from close range to clinch the match with an equally uninspiring try.
Worse, England will lose the services of a player only just making his comeback from a long absence. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s wild tackle on Antoine Hastoy in the first half earned him a 20-minute red card and with it a likely ban. England’s wing had not been ruled out of contention for the Lions tour to Australia, but now even a place on England’s three-match tour of Argentina and the US must be in doubt. World Rugby announced that Feyi-Waboso’s case, along with that of France’s Cameron Woki, would be heard by the independent disciplinary commission on Sunday; England leave for Argentina on Tuesday.
