England captain Phil Vickery was carried off three weeks before the World Cup as France powered to victory at the intimidating Stade Velodrome.

Vickery was left prone on the turf just before half-time after being laid out in a collision that saw lock Simon Shaw sin-binned for a high tackle on France centre Damien Traille. And England, who have now lost 15 of their last 16 away games, never really recovered.

Flanker Martin Corry took over as leader for the second period, yet England's final World Cup warm-up game before they defend the Webb Ellis Trophy back in France next month effectively ended as a contest when centre Yannick Jauzion powered over for 49th-minute try.

Scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde put the boot into England by slotting 14 points through four penalties and a conversion, while fly-half Frederic Michalak landed a late penalty.

Jonny Wilkinson, meanwhile, moved above Australian legend Michael Lynagh on Test rugby's all-time points chart, passing his mark of 911 as he kicked three penalties to claim third place behind Welshman Neil Jenkins and former Italy fly-half Diego Dominguez.

Only Argentina have ever beaten France in Marseille, and England never seriously threatened to emulate the Pumas.

It was a another tryless England display, following up their 21-15 home defeat against France last Saturday, leaving head coach Brian Ashton with plenty to contemplate over the coming days before the world champions head to their Paris training base on September 3.

Previous French scalps in Marseille included England, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, which underlined the degree of difficulty facing Vickery's team. Vickery led a side showing 11 changes from the one beaten by France a week ago, with only Shaw, wing Josh Lewsey, scrum-half Shaun Perry and hooker Mark Regan retained.

Regan answered a late call to replace sprained knee victim George Chuter as England targeted only a fourth away win from their last 18 games on the road.

Inevitably, England received a hostile reception from the capacity 60,000 crowd, although the visitors looked to familiarise themselves ahead of a potential World Cup quarter-final against Wales or Australia at the same ground in early October.

Wilkinson swung the game into action, and England made a purposeful start as Shaw and centre Andy Farrell both kept them on the front foot.

Farrell, perceived in many quarters as being fortunate to have landed a World Cup squad place, looked assured amid a white-hot atmosphere as England encouragingly spread early possession wide.

The visitors also threatened early scrum dominance, but Wilkinson let France off the hook when he blundered by miscuing an attempted penalty to touch. Defensively, both sides were assured and organised, and it was England who drew first blood on 13 minutes when Wilkinson rifled over an easy penalty.

England had settled well, but their hard-earned advantage was quickly wiped out through Elissalde landing an equalising penalty strike.

Tempers boiled over entering the second quarter of a lively contest, with Irish referee Alain Rolland issuing a stern lecture to England flanker Martin Corry and France lock Fabien Pelous after they grappled on the floor. Another brief skirmish prompted a general warning from Rolland to rival skippers Vickery and Raphael Ibanez as the referee saw his patience tested.

England though, had stood up to French fire in the heat of battle, despite seeing their early territorial supremacy gradually eroded. The French forwards, led by a livewire Ibanez, looked to hurt England at close quarters, launching snappy breaks from rucks and mauls which challenged the visitors' defensive organisation.

Wilkinson, whose general kicking game was not at its best, sent a 48-metre penalty chance wide 10 minutes before the break, and France made a rare visit to England's 22 through a lengthy Damien Traille clearance.

Elissalde edged France in front when England's forwards infringed, then he completed his penalty hat-trick on the stroke of half-time for a 9-3 lead. But England ended the half with 14 men when Shaw was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Traille, and Vickery had to be stretchered off after being laid out in the same incident before Elissalde landed a fourth penalty.

With Shaw still off early in the second period, France knew they had to make their brief one-man advantage count, but Elissalde drifted a penalty attempt wide.

England were stretched in defence, and it took a brilliant Tom Rees tackle to deny French flanker Yannick Nyanga a try in the corner, although Rolland required assistance from video official Malcolm Changleng before it could be discounted. It was a narrow escape for England, yet it could not last, and France converted quick scrum ball into a seven-point maximum when Michalak's delightful inside pass sent Toulouse star Jauzion crashing over.

Elissalde added the extras as Shaw returned, meaning France had scored 10 points in the Wasps lock's absence and eased into a confident 19-6 lead. Corry found himself in another scuffle minutes later - it spilled over into touch - and England had to reassert themselves as France threatened to run away with the game.

But they could never manage it as the form book held true and France moved ominously towards staking their claim for 2007 World Cup glory.