France who looked nervous throughout took their ninth Grand Slam under real pressure from a much-improved England side in Paris.
A Francois Trinh-Duc drop-goal gave France the lead but England went in front when Ben Foden finished off a fine move to claim his first Test try. Toby Flood converted but three Morgan Parra penalties gave France a 12-7 half-time lead.
England dominated the second half as France struggled to contain them, but it was a day for defences as England could only manage a Jonny Wilkinson penalty and France held on. To win with the final score of:
France 12-10 England
Scorers
France
Pens: Parra 3 Drop-goal: Trinh-Duc
England
Try: Foden Con: Flood Pen: Wilkinson
Teams
France: Poitrenaud; Andreu, Bastareaud, Jauzion, Palisson; Trinh-Duc, Parra; Domingo, Servat, Mas, Nallet, Pierre, Dusautoir, Bonnaire, Harinordoquy.
Replacements: Malzieu for Andreu (73), Marty for Bastareaud (51), Poux for Domingo (55), Szarzewski for Servat (53), Chabal for Pierre (59), Lapandry for Harinordoquy (53).
Not Used: Yachvili.
England: Foden; Cueto, Tindall, Flutey, Ashton; Flood, Care; Payne, Hartley, Cole, Shaw, Deacon, Worsley, Moody, Easter.
Replacements: Tait for Tindall (53), Wilkinson for Flutey (61), Thompson for Hartley (41), Wilson for Cole (41), Palmer for Shaw (15), Haskell for Worsley (64).
Not Used: Youngs.
Att: 80,000
Ref: B Lawrence (New Zealand).