England player ratings: Jonny May the only player to pull weight as Red Rose struggle in Six Nations opener
FRANCE kicked off the 2020 Six Nations Championship in style with an impressive win over England in Paris on Sunday.
A youthful French squad beat the World Cup finalists 24-17 at the Stade de France.
The hosts stormed to a 24-0 lead following tries from Vincent Rattez and their captain Charles Ollivon, on top of a stunning kicking display by fly-half Romain Ntamack.
Jonny May hit back with two tries for England but the gap was already too big that not even a last-gasp bonus point to fix.
Eddie Jones' men travel to play Scotland at Murrayfield in Round 2 next Saturday.
Here, SunSport's Jonny Fordham offers his ratings...
England - George Furbank - 5/10
Tough debut, dropped a few clangers, but put in a decent kick as England finally started to play. One to forget in all though.
Jonny May - 8
The only England player to have a decent spell. Superb solo tries. Sparked something of a comeback, but his team-mates couldn't get close to his moments of magic.
Manu Tuilagi - 5
Off after just 15 minutes when he twerked his groin and England desperately missed their most physical and aggressive player.
Owen Farrell - 5
Never plays well when England lose a game. The ultimate warrior, but didn't have the answers as things went from bad to worse.
Elliot Daly - 5
Still not sure under the high ball, for once, can Jones just pick him in his best and most-natural position at outside centre?
George Ford - 6
Controlled the game and a calm head when things were going drastically wrong. Looked at times like he was the guy captaining this side as they looked for answers.
Ben Youngs - 5
Shown up by 23-year-old superstar Antoine Dupont. Put in two decent kicks in the second half, but first half was inaccurate.
Joe Marler - 5
Solid at scrum time.
Jamie George - 5
Creaky lineout as France frustrated and attacked England in the air. Only lost one throw, but won't be satisfied at it on the whole.
Kyle Sinckler - 5
Looked to carry more with no Billy Vunipola in the side, but France's hungry pack swallowed him up and sent him packing.
Maro Itoje - 5
Quietest game for England in memory. Looked out on his feet at times too after a horror season with Saracens so far off the pitch following the salary cap scandal.
Charlie Ewels - 5
Had little impact on the game and didn't grasp the opportunity given to him with a few knock-ons too.
Courtney Lawes - 5
Put himself about, but didn't have enough allies to make it mean anything as he started to wilt in the second half.
Smashed backwards several times - usually he's the one doing that. Struggled to dominate the breakdown like he normally does.
Tom Curry - 5
Wasn't able to control the scrum at his first Test outing here. A poisoned chalice filling in for Billy Vunipola. And didn't have an impact at the breakdown.
Replacements
Luke Cowan-Dickie (on for George, 48) 6
Ellis Genge (on for Marler, 51) 6
Will Stuart (on for Sinckler, 73) 5
George Kruis (on for Ewels, 57) 6
Lewis Ludlam (on for Lawes, 55) 6
Willi Heinz (on for Youngs, 62) 5
Ollie Devoto (on for Ford, 76) 5
Jonathan Joseph (on for Tuilagi, 16) 5
France
Anthony Bouthier 8, Teddy Thomas 8, Virimi Vakatawa 7, Gael Fickou 7, Vincent Rattez 9, Romain Ntamack 8, Antoine Dupont 9 STAR MAN; Cyril Baille 7, Julien Marchand 7, Mohamed Haouas 8, Bernard Le Roux 8, Paul Willemse 8, Francois Cros 7, Charles Ollivon 8, Gregory Alldritt 8.
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Replacements
Peato Mauvaka 7 (on for Marchand, 67), Jefferson Poirot 7 (on for Baille, 48), Demba Bamba 7 (on for Poirot, 48), Boris Palu 7 (on for Willemse, 57), Cameron Woki 6 (on for Cros, 57), Baptiste Serin, Matthieu Jalibert 5 (on for Ntamack, 77), Arthur Vincent 5 (on for Vakatawa, 79).