ENGLAND extended their winning run against France to 23 matches with a comfortable 40-8 victory at Stade Ernest-Wallon in Toulouse.

In the absence of head coach Shaun Wane, recovering from ankle surgery, England hit back after France had taken a surprise early lead to score eight tries and remain unbeaten against France since 1981.

The winning margin would have been bigger had Wigan half-back Harry Smith not missed four of his eight conversion attempts, but England were made to work harder than the scoreline suggests.