France win title for 15th time

France won their 15th Six Nations title yesterday thanks to a 21-16 defeat of outgoing champions Wales and a record try count during the tournament.

Ireland finished level with France on four wins after inflicting a 28-24 defeat on world champions England thanks to a last-gasp try by winger Shane Horgan, his second of the match at Twickenham.

France ended with a 148-85 points difference, compared with Ireland's 131-97, and scored 18 tries - one more than their previous competition record.

All three matches were decided in the dying minutes - a try by France centre Florian Fritz ended Welsh resistance in Cardiff while Scotland closed an encouraging campaign with a 13-10 defeat of Italy in Rome thanks to a late Chris Paterson penalty.

The standard of attacking play was higher than in previous rounds although World Cup favourites New Zealand will have seen little to concern them ahead of next year's tournament in France.

A large question mark now hangs over England and their coach Andy Robinson after their third defeat in five matches.

Robinson made six changes for the Ireland game in response to England's 31-6 humiliation in Paris last weekend. His side showed better cohesion over the 80 minutes and scored two tries. However, Ireland, who won the Triple Crown, still notched up their third successive victory over England and a shake-up of the coaching staff, perhaps involving Robinson, is a near-certainty.

"Everybody will be reviewed, it is important that we have that honesty," Robinson told a news conference.

The other five coaches, though, had something positive to take from the final day - even Italy who once again finished with the wooden spoon, with just one point.

That, however, was earned with an 18-18 draw in Wales and Italy, who had led during the second half of their previous four matches, were by no means outclassed by Scotland yesterday in a free-flowing game.

The Scots, ahead 10-7 at half-time after a try by Paterson, which the winger also converted, and a drop goal by flyhalf Gordon Ross, had to wait until the 78th minute before sealing their first win on the road since they beat the Azzurri 29-12 in 2002.

Italy's points were scored by centre Mirco Bergamasco. His third try of the tournament followed a beautiful chip over the Scottish defence by flyhalf Ramiro Pez who kicked the rest of Italy's points.

Wales, who played exhilarating rugby to win the Grand Slam last season, suffered injuries to key players and were pole-axed by the shock resignation in mid-February of coach Mike Ruddock.

Yesterday, they matched France in most areas of the game and scored a fine first-half try through centre Hal Luscombe.

France, however, kept their heads to fight back from a 13-6 half-time deficit thanks to tries from replacement hooker Dimitri Szarzewski and Fritz at the death.

Inventive backlines

Ireland and France deserved their four wins because they had the most inventive backlines.

Centre Brian O'Driscoll has played himself back to peak form during the championship after injury and England's defence, the backbone of their World Cup success, was repeatedly stretched by him, Ronan O'Gara, Horgan and centre Gordon D'Arcy.

England's best period of pressure created a second-half try for lock Steve Borthwick.

England continued to spill the ball and a lost lineout allowed number eight Dennis Leamy to juggle the ball and dive over the line.

The home side led 24-21 before a terrific attack ended with Horgan diving over in the corner. After the video referee ruled that he had not strayed into touch, the Irish fans among the 70,000 Twickenham crowd went wild in celebration of his try.