England surprised titleholders France 24-13 and left only Wales unbeaten halfway through the Six Nations on Saturday.
Le Bleus were on track for an unprecedented third consecutive outright championship, but that bid was ruined only four months after England ended France's World Cup campaign in the semi-finals on the same Stade de France turf.
Wales remained on track for there first championship since their 2005 Grand Slam with a 47-8 pasting of Italy -- their biggest winning margin in tournament history -- and Ireland stayed in the race with a 34-13 beating of Scotland in Dublin.
PHOTO: AFP
England scored two tries to one with Jonny Wilkinson kicking 14 points against a French side which paid for playing without a recognized kicker for the first time since 1980.
France closed to 13-10 behind with 30 minutes to go on a penalty by replacement kicker Morgan Parra, but Wilkinson then landed a record-setting drop goal and scrumhalf Richard Wigglesworth touched down in the final seconds of his maiden start to cap England's first tournament win in Paris since 2000.
England had lost to Wales 26-19 and narrowly beaten Italy 23-19, and another tight encounter left coach Brian Ashton relieved and proud that his team didn't capitulate in the second half.
"There were one or two things we needed to iron out at halftime. But we weathered the storm," he said. "We knew the French would come out fighting and worked our way pretty intelligently back into the game."
Four months ago at the World Cup, Josh Lewsey scored after only two minutes -- this time, France held out for five.
Center Jamie Noon jolted France fullback Cedric Heymans in a tackle and the loose ball was kicked ahead by England winger Paul Sackey, who sprinted 30m into the right corner for a converted try.
Wilkinson made it 10-0 with his first penalty before France replied through captain Lionel Nallet with a pushover try.
France's makeshift kicker Damien Traille converted, but Wilkinson then nailed a 35m penalty on the left touchline to put England 13-7 ahead in the 30th.
After halftime, replacement kicker Morgan Parra narrowed the gap to three, but Wilkinson restored the six-point advantage with his world Test record 29th drop goal.
Another Wilkinson penalty and Wigglesworth's last-minute try capped England's brilliant effort and left France wondering why coach Marc Lievremont played rookies Parra and Francois Trinh-Duc in the halves and without a recognized goalkicker.
Lievremont defended his decision to pick novices, saying both halves "were excellent." He also praised No. 8 Louis Picamoles, who earned only his second cap.
"If there are changes to be made we will discuss it. But any changes we make won't be a punishment, far from it," Lievremont said.
Wales scored five tries, including two each to fullback Lee Byrne and winger Shane Williams, and Stephen Jones kicked 18 points for the Dragons to surpass their 49-14 win over France in 19-10.
"That's three from three," Wales captain Ryan Jones said. "We've always had huge belief and that's what got us the victories so far."
After leading 13-8 at halftime, Wales scored 34 unanswered points at the Millennium Stadium against an Italy that had narrowly lost to Ireland and England.
The first half was competitive and Italy missed going in to the break with a narrow lead only because fullback Andrea Marcato twice hit the post with goalkicks and Gonzalo Canale fumbled the ball when clear for a try.
"You can't miss an opportunity like that," Italy coach Nick Mallett said.
Immediately after the break, Italy flyhalf Andrea Masi threw a speculative pass that Tom Shanklin, playing in his 50th Test for Wales, intercepted to score. Williams added his brace and Byrne notched his second.
Prop Martin Castrogiovanni scored Italy's sole try.
Flyhalf Ronan O'Gara dictated play for Ireland, who needed a convincing win in Dublin to build upon an improved performance in a 26-21 loss to France two weeks ago.
"It was important that we got a win today," man-of-the-match Geordan Murphy said.
Ireland, who missed out on last season's title only when France scored a last-minute try, scored tries through David Wallace, Rob Kearney, Marcus Horan and Tommy Bowe (two).
Scotland, down 14-3 at halftime, hit back with Chris Paterson's second penalty and a try by Simon Webster, but Ireland produced the try of the match in reply.
Murphy offloaded a looping pass to O'Gara and the flyhalf gathered and flicked the ball under his right arm to Andrew Trimble in one fluid movement. Trimble then drew in the defense before passing inside to Bowe, who just made it across the line despite a last-ditch tackle by Mike Blair.
The tournament resumes in two weeks with Ireland hosting Wales, Scotland taking on England and France welcoming Italy.
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