Ben Foden scored the only try of the game and the visitors generally showed more attacking intent than Les Bleus’ star-studded backline.

And Moody, who stood in for injured captain Steve Borthwick, believes England can still up their performance by nearly a third as thoughts turn to their summer tour of Australia.

“The guys played some good rugby in defeat but knowing this team still has another 30% to give fills me with confidence for the future,” said Moody told BBC 5 Live.

“This team knows where it has to go now and I think that showed on the pitch.

“We started off well against Wales; unfortunately we just didn't keep that momentum going and if we had done we would probably have been competing for a Grand Slam against France.

“We only lost to Ireland in the last couple of minutes and we drew against Scotland in a game we should have won so it was all there for us.

“We know how much it has got to hurt on the pitch and I know as a player how much this team still has left to give.

“The guys have played some good rugby but we came off on the losing side so I am still as frustrated as ever at having lost.

“But I couldn't have asked any more of the team, we put every bit of ourselves into that game.

“We kept them at bay all day, they never posed much of a threat in attack. I thought we played a lot of rugby but unfortunately we just couldn't finish it off.”