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England got their Six Nations campaign back on track by scoring five tries in a 34-10 demolition of France at Twickenham.

Martin Johnson's under-fire side produced a superb first-half display to lead 29-0 at the break, and although France improved after the interval there was never any doubt about the outcome.

Riki Flutey provided more evidence of his international credentials by grabbing a brace of tries, while Mark Cueto, Delon Armitage (pictured) and Joe Worsley also crossed to give England their second win of the championship.

The result moves England into third spot in the table and while the title lies beyond them they prevented France from having say on the destination of the Six Nations trophy, which will now be decided when Ireland travel to Wales next Saturday.

Wales need to beat Ireland by 13 points to retain the title. A narrower Irish defeat would give Ireland their first championship since 1985 and an Ireland win would secure their first Grand Slam since 1948.

France scored both their tries in the second half through Dimitri Szarzewski and Julien Malzieu but, after soaking up several periods of pressure, it was England who finished the stronger as they went in search of a sixth touch down.

After the indiscipline and lack of composure in defeats to Wales and Ireland, England mostly kept on the right side of referee Stuart Dickinson in a first half that saw them blow France away.

Credit must go to England's captain Steve Borthwick. The lock was not only competitive in the loose and reliable at the lineout, but also much more vocal in his leadership after a difficult build up in which he and Johnson came under fire in the press.

A decent kick-off by Toby Flood set the scene for the first half as England put France under immediate pressure.

Two minutes later Flutey got the better of a mismatch with Sebastien Chabal, broke through the France defence and fed Cueto who had a simple run in to the line.

Although Simon Shaw was guilty of conceding two penalties in the first 15 minutes, France were unable to make any inroads into England's water-tight defence, and in the 18th minute Flood kicked a penalty to put England 10-0 ahead after Imanol Harinordoquy had strayed offside.

Five minutes later England scored their second try from a set piece. Man-of-the-match Tom Croft won a lineout on the France 22m line, Cueto came in off his wing to create a hole in the France midfield before passing to Flutey for the first of his two tries.

Flood added his second conversion and England were 17-0 ahead before putting the game beyond France with two more tries just before half-time.

England's third came after Flutey had dispossessed Chabal in the middle of the pitch, Armitage saw the space behind the French line and kicked deep into their half.

Although Maxime Medard got to the ball first, he was caught in possession on his own try line by Cueto. Shaw went close as the England forwards tried to drive their way over and when the ball was recycled Armitage cantered over for a simple try.

There was still time for one more England score before the break. Shaw forced a turnover, Cueto kicked upfield and, after Croft and Flood failed to score with the try-line begging, good hands from the impressive Nick Easter and Borthwick worked the ball to Worsley who crashed over.

Any suggestions of England easing up after the interval were soon dismissed when France spilled the ball in midfield after an attacking lineout on the hosts' 22m line.

Andy Goode, on for the injured Flood, secured the loose ball and Armitage burst free down the left touchline before feeding inside to Flutey, who just managed to evade the tackle of wing Cedric Heymans.

With the game beyond France, it was no surprise England's performance dipped in the third quarter. Indiscipline crept back into their game as they conceded a series of penalties.

Replacement Damien Traille took a quick tap from a 55th minute England infringement and, after Ugo Monye had been penalised for intentionally knocking the ball on to prevent a certain try, Szarzewski burrowed his way over from a well-worked lineout drive.

France continued to attack and following further infringements from England Dickinson warned Borthwick that the next would result in a yellow card.

Eight minutes later France scored their second when they won a scrum deep in England's half and a simple miss-pass in midfield put Malzieu over in the corner to make it 34-10 with 15 minutes left on the clock.

England upped their performance in the final quarter and went close when a lovely inside pass from Easter to Armitage put the full-back clear, only for the French defence to haul him down just short with Croft up in support.

Although England were unable to increase their winning margin in the closing stages, there was more than enough evidence to suggest that they may just have turned a corner under Johnson.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport