If Martin Johnson needs any reassurance the anguish of developing a new team can be worth it, he should listen to Marc Lievremont.

The France coach kept his post-match duties to a minimum because, after two painful years of rebuilding Les Bleus, he had a Grand Slam to celebrate.

Lievremont started from scratch when he took charge after the 2007 Rugby World Cup, using over 70 players in two years and suffering some heavy defeats along the way.

Only 12 months ago, England scored five tries in 42 minutes against France as they romped to a 34-10 victory at Twickenham.

But Lievremont's no pain, no gain attitude bore fruit in the Parisian rain as France produced a typically English performance to win 12-10 and complete their first RBS 6 Nations clean sweep since 2004.

"This is a very nice baby - even if the birth was quite difficult," said Lievremont.

"For the first time we have reached the end of a series or a tournament and I can be satisfied."

Johnson has not been quite so ruthless in his attempts to build a new England. His win-at-all-costs mentality would never contemplate such open experimentation.

But 20 players have made their England debuts in 19 Tests and the growing pains have been hard to bear at times, both inside and outside the camp.

England have laboured to victories over Italy and Argentina this season, drawn 15-15 with Scotland and lost narrowly to Ireland and France.

In all the key areas - tries, points, turnovers - they were worse in this year's Six Nations than last. Johnson conceded many of the performances had not been good enough.

But England finally showed a glimpse of their true selves in Paris, pushing France to the brink with their best attacking performance of the championship.

Johnson still cut a frustrated figure because of the result but England had finally begun to live up to their promises of progress, which sounded so hollow until now.

"It is not just the public who have been disappointed. There has been some private disappointment. We are not living in a world where we think we are great," Johnson reflected.

"It is anguish. We live and breathe it. We are frustrated today because we lost but I said to the guys as France picked up the trophy 'you have played the Grand Slam champions and you took them all the way'.

"We have known we were capable of a performance like that. I have never doubted we are capable of it - but that is why it has been frustrating.

"I have always said that if we were playing as well as we can, then fine. But we know we can do those things better.

"The public only see the performances and at times it hasn't been good enough. We see the team off the field and how it has developed."

That development took a potentially significant step forward against France.

The performance, even in defeat, will do more for the squad's development than any number of drab victories over the Pumas or Azzurri.

Ben Foden announced his arrival on the Test stage with a try and confident all-round display, Chris Ashton's England debut on the wing was encouraging while Danny Care injected real tempo into the game.

Tighthead prop Dan Cole struggled as France dominated the scrum but he has developed promisingly through the tournament while lock Tom Palmer forced his way back into the fold.

"Ben Foden has come of age at full-back. Everyone will say 'you should have picked him earlier' but I think we did a good job of managing him into Test rugby," said Johnson.

"His counter-attacking, his play under the high ball was great. Mark Cueto was outstanding again. Chris Ashton has played a Test match and handled it very well.

"Danny Care played his best game for England. Toby Flood managed the week well after he replaced Jonny Wilkinson.

"We have good competition within the squad. We would like another game next week but the guys now have a couple of months to play domestic rugby before we go on tour to Australia."

Johnson added: "Once you have shown you can do it against the Grand Slam champions hopefully guys understand they can do good things."

England returned from Paris with three injury concerns over Simon Shaw, Nick Easter and David Wilson.

Shaw, who missed the Scotland game after damaging his left shoulder, was replaced after just 15 minutes in Paris having hurt the right one.

Wilson is being assessed for a foot problem and Easter has an ankle issue.