France XV delivered a convincing 35-19 victory over England in their summer warm-up match in Vannes, showcasing superior skill and depth despite both sides missing key players. England struck first through Cadan Murley's early try, but France's handling game quickly took control as Nicolas Depoortere and Gregoire Arfeuil crossed to establish a 14-5 lead.

France's Top 14 semi-finalists Toulouse, Racing 92, Stade Francais and Montpellier all retained their internationals, while England were without Northampton and Exeter stars preparing for the Premiership final. The hosts' seven starters from European champions Bordeaux-Begles provided cohesion that England lacked in their makeshift lineup.

Two tries within five minutes of the restart from Nolann Le Garrec and Antoine Hastoy effectively sealed the result, with England's set-piece issues compounding their problems in the final quarter. Wing Noah Caluori and Murley impressed for England, while Ted Hill's energy and Raffi Quirke's cameo offered positives for Steve Borthwick.

The defeat leaves England with questions to answer before their Nations Championship opener against South Africa in Johannesburg on July 4, though promising combinations between Max Ojomoh and Murley suggest potential for improvement.