England loses to France 22-16 and relinquishes title to Ireland

Defending champion England conceded the Six Nations title to Ireland after losing to France 2216 on Saturday.

England's bid to win a third straight championship collapsed with a second away loss in the Six Nations for the first time since 2009.

After falling to Scotland at Murrayfield, England started the match at Stade de France knowing Ireland would be crowned champion unless it could beat the French with a four-tries bonus point.

Instead, England was uninspired in attack and dominated at the breakdown. It gave away 16 penalties, missed 16 tackles, and turned over nine times. It crossed the line just once, when Jonny May touched down with seven minutes left, and failed to see a chance in the final seconds.

Maxime Machenaud converted four penalties and replacement flyhalf Lionel Beauxis added another for the French, who were awarded a penalty try to break a 9-9 deadlock in the 49th minute.

It was France's first win over England in four years.

Dominated early when they were made to pay for their indiscipline, the French turned things around in the second half.

Back from the dressing room, England launched a gritty attack but it was stymied by a brilliant tackle from center Mathieu Bastareaud on prop Mako Vunipola.

France came back with a move ignited by captain Guilhem Guirado, who took them into the English 22. Flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc kicked the ball high into the left corner, the ball fell for Benjamin Fall, but he was hightackled by England fullback Anthony Watson.

Referee Jaco Peyper awarded a penalty try, sin-binned Watson, and France had rallied from 9-3 down.

France had another excellent chance soon after but Gael Fickou was stopped before the line after Remy Grosso broke the defense.

Machenaud made it 19-9 with his fourth penalty kick in the 63rd minute after England conceded for holding on.

Then England reduced the gap to 19-16 with a superb try. Elliot Daly collected the ball out wide and found May inside for the try, which was converted by Owen Farrell.

But England gave away yet another penalty and Beauxis kicked it. Beauxis failed to find touch in injury time to extend some suspense. In front of the French posts, the England backs were poised for an overlap but a knock-on in a ruck finally ended the match and England's twoyear reign.

Scotland upended England last time out but that was at Murray- field. With an awful record away from home, the Scots' own championship bid was almost inevitably squashed by an Irish side which owns the visitors in Dublin, where Scotland has won only once in 20 years. Scotland had its chances but wasn't as accurate, and butchered two tries, probably three.

By the time new cap Blair Kinghorn claimed Scotland's sole try, Ireland had three, two to wing Jacob Stockdale.

The bonus-point fourth try came with 11 minutes to go, when Sean Cronin, only three minutes after replacing captain and hooker Rory Best, dived over from the back of the rolling maul.

Ireland made its bonus-point intentions known after only four minutes, when flyhalf maestro Jonathan Sexton waived off a penalty goalkick to set up a lineout. However, the throw-in wasn't caught. The Scots' relief was brief as they knocked on two early high kicks. Against the run of play, they took the first points from a Greig Laidlaw penalty.

Scotland managed to get hands on the ball and looked threatening until Peter Horne threw a wayward pass between center partner Huw Jones and Stuart Hogg straight to Stockdale. The wing took the gift 55 meters untouched to the posts with the usual Sexton conversion.

Scotland was bearing more gifts for the hosts. An attack from deep saw a Jones chip and catch, and Hogg inside him with only the posts ahead. Jones drew last-man Sexton but passed too far in front of Hogg.

Back came Ireland. Right on halftime, a nice flick-on by center Garry Ringrose, playing only his second match this year, freed fullback Rob Kearney, and Bundee Aki was held up. From the result- ing scrum, Ringrose doubled round Aki, and Stockdale stepped opposite Kinghorn to score his second try of the match, and a leading sixth in the championship.

Sexton's conversion gave Ireland a 14-3 lead into the break and breathing room.

Scotland missed 13 tackles in the first half, and looked outclassed after the new half began and an Irish lineout drive to the try-line finished with scrumhalf Conor Murray barging over with a push from Aki. At 21-3, Ireland was cruising.

But Scotland didn't think it was over. Another attack foundered when Hogg threw too high for Kinghorn, but Kinghorn scored on debut moments later when all seven Scottish backs lined up to the right from an attacking scrum, and executed a great two-wave move to put Kinghorn into the right corner.

The Scots, 21-8 behind, should have had another try moments later when Horne slipped through a big gap. He had Jones beside him and Kinghorn further out but threw to the wrong man - Kinghorn - and over the sideline. That was Scotland's last gift.

Ireland went all out for the fourth try. Devin Toner, Peter O'Mahony, and the front row were replaced.

Scotland captain John Barclay conceded a penalty in his half but Sexton, again, kicked for touch rather than the posts. The lineout throw was caught, the ball was mauled, and Cronin didn't wait for the pack to go over the tryline, preferring to dive from three meters.

Sexton converted, and Irish fans started singing.

One more win, at Twickenham no less in a week, will give them only a third Grand Slam ever.

Irish players celebrate their title victory