PARIS, (Reuters):

FRANCE RETAINED their Six Nations title but needed a last-gasp try in a 46-19 win over Scotland yesterday to deny Ireland their first championship since 1985.

Ireland?s 51-24 demolition of Italy earlier yesterday in Rome left France needing to beat Scotland by a margin of at least 24 points at the Stade de France. They duly won by 27, but only after a tense finish.

Match points difference

Both sides finished with four wins and eight points, France having a better match points difference.

England could still have deprived the French of their third crown in four years. Needing to beat Wales by an improbable margin of 57 points in the last game of the championship they lost 27-18 in Cardiff.

The Six Nations organisers waited until the end of the Cardiff game before handing the Cup to the French at the Stade de France with only a few officials in attendance. Coach Bernard Laporte had already left the stadium.

France's hopes looked to have been dashed four minutes from time when Prop Euan Murray scored Scotland's third try.

With the last play of the game, France?s number eight Elvis Vermeulen was driven over for a try only confirmed, after a nerve-jangling delay, by the video referee.