France completed an impressive Grand Slam in terrible conditions in Paris but only after being given a serious test by a much-improved England side before eventually winning out 12-10.
England team manager Martin Johnson opted to drop Jonny Wilkinson to the bench after a string of disappointing displays in favour of Toby Flood, while former rugby league player Chris Ashton was handed his debut on the wing.
Lewis Moody captained England for the first time while colossal centre Mathieu Bastareaud returned to France's starting line-up.
The hosts took a fourth-minute lead when, from 30 metres out, Morgan Parra fed Francos Trinh-Duc whose scuffed drop-goal attempt just scraped between the posts.
However, just 60 seconds later, England scored a superb try when Ben Foden squeezed in at the corner after a blistering run down the wing after some quick hands across the line, particularly from Ashton.
Flood converted from the touchline to make it 7-3 to England who almost immediately scored a second try when Mark Cueto made ground down the same flank before seeing his chip forward charged down.
However, France hit back in the 18th minute when Riki Flutey conceded a penalty for leaving his feet at the breakdown. Parra stroked the kick over and added another three points seven minutes later after England's scrum had collapsed.
Another collapsed scrum six minutes before the break allowed Parra to kick his third penalty as France went in to the interval 12-7 ahead.
England continued to play well at the start of the second half although individual errors blighted their game.
On the hour mark England almost scored a second try when Cueto raced forward, only to be too quick for his support and, when play eventually moved on, Danny Care dropped the ball.
England refused to lie down and Wilkinson was introduced to the fray for the final quarter and he duly kicked a brilliant penalty from the touchline to reduce the deficit to just two points.
However, despite producing by far their best display of the last two months, England could not find a way through in the closing stages as France held the ball in the forwards to ground out a somewhat fortunate victory.