James Haskell impressed at times against France, but his yellow card may have cost England © PA

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James Haskell insists that his yellow card in the second half of Saturday's explosive Six Nations clash against France did not cost England the title.

England won the match 55-35, but France outscored England 10-7 during Haskell's 10 minute spell in the sin-bin, with Billy Vunipola's converted try offset by Vincent Debaty and Benjamin Kayser's scores.

Despite England's swashbuckling performance, Ireland beat them to the title by just six points. Haskell revealed that he was "devastated" by the yellow card, awarded for tripping Jules Plisson, but that it is not fair for him to be held up as the scapegoat for England's fourth consecutive second-placed finish.

"I saw the ball bounce from an overthrow. I dived one way and the ball was still bobbling," Haskell told talkSport. "I left my leg out to get to the ball and, having zero football skill, I completely missed the ball. My leg didn't pull back in time and he tripped up.

"I have to live with that error. I don't think one error ruins a good game for myself and a good Six Nations.

"These things happen in the heat of the moment. There was no intent. I let my team-mates down and some supporters down but there were many opportunities in that game to win it, as there were in the Six Nations.

"I have taken a bit of heat for it but to blame me for losing the Six Nations is a bit harsh."

Head coach Stuart Lancaster refused to blame Haskell after the match, saying there had been too many incidents in the game to single out a turning point, a view Haskell expanded upon.

"If we had taken some of the opportunities in the other games and if we had performed better against Ireland, it would have been a different story," Haskell said.

"Everyone poured so much into that France game and I think we have lost a bit of perspective because we put 50 points on France.

"It was a great rugby afternoon for everyone and we fell short but I think that will stand everyone in good stead moving forward.

"We are always very harsh on ourselves. The culture we have got is that no one shies away from putting their hand up and says, 'I made a mistake here', and you might not get another opportunity but if you do, you go away and improve yourself."

Haskell will next meet up with his England team-mates in June for a World Cup training camp, spending two months together before three warm-up games in August - two against France and one against Ireland. Lancaster's side open the tournament at Twickenham with a game against Fiji on September 18.

"I, 100 per cent, believe England can go out and win the World Cup," Haskell said.

"We have so much talent and ability. To win a World Cup you have to be relentless and ruthless, which we are working on. There are errors we have to eradicate, but every side makes them. You have to be consistent when it counts."