England will be without Manu Tuilagi and a specialist No.8 when they go to Scotland in search of Six Nations redemption.
Eddie Jones’ side were chronically under-powered in Paris, carrying less than half as far on average as the fully charged French.
Tuilagi suffered an early groin injury, which will rule him out of Saturday’s Murrayfield clash, and Billy Vunipola’s forceful presence was badly missed.
Jones admitted afterwards that “we need to find a way to get some more power because you’ve got to carry through bodies”.
Yet he has decided against calling in a No.8 specialist, such as Alex Dombrandt or Sam Simmonds, and instead named the same squad.
Jones, as usual blamed himself for the loss, but he did wonder aloud whether they had prepared well enough.
“We were not cohesive and we didn't work well as a team,” said the coach. “All I can put that down to is the preparation.
“We deliberately held the players back because we felt that off the back of the World Cup and playing club rugby they needed more of a break.
“We didn't start training until Saturday and had a shorter preparation than we normally have for the first Six Nations. But that is no excuse. We had done enough training to be right.”
Scotland, who blew a golden victory chance in Ireland through desperate finishing, will take on England without star fly-half Finn Russell.
Russell left the squad prior to the 19-12 defeat in Dublin for "breaching team protocol" during a drinking session and is again omitted.
But Jones said: “I'm sure the Scotland team will be full of vigour and vim - and whatever else they can bring to the party - and we are going to have to find a way to get better.”
