France pip Ireland

Ireland racked up a 15-12 lead at half-time courtesy of a tries from Fergus McFadden and Tomas O'Leary, with Jonathan Sexton adding five points with the boot.

But a further try from Jamie Heaslip was not sufficient as Maxime Medard's score and six penalties from Morgan Parra and Dimitri Yachvili ensured that France clinched a hard-fought victory to join England at the top of the Six Nations table with two wins.

Leinster number eight Heaslip returned to bolster Ireland's back-row having missed the opener with an ankle injury, while a season-ending injury suffered by Maxime Mermoz triggered a reshuffle as Damien Traille assumed the Number 12 shirt.

Ireland full-back Luke Fitzgerald hurtled over for a try in the corner inside three minutes, but the referee spotted a forward pass from Sexton in the build up which saw a scrum awarded.

But the hosts did record the game's first points two minutes later as Clement Poitrenaud spilled the ball forward, and McFadden powered over the line to give his side a quite stunning start to the match with Sexton adding the extras.

Parra and Sexton exchanged penalties, but a flurry of composed kicks from the France scrum-half saw Ireland punished for ill-discipline as France assumed a 12-10 lead on the half hour mark.

Ireland were undeterred, and the hosts restored their advantage going into the break, as a second try set Marc Lievremont's side back on the stroke of half-time.

Desperate defending from France could not repel Ireland sufficiently, and one final push from Tomas O'Leary saw the Ireland scrum-half over the line as Declan Kidney's side enjoyed their reward for incessant pressure.

France came out for the second half with renewed vigour and intensity, and Ireland were caught napping as the impeccable Parra added a fifth penalty, only to be swiftly replaced as Yachvili was introduced.

Further damage was inflicted to the hosts as Maxime Medard scythed through the Ireland midfield with an incredibly powerful run following fine open play from Aurelien Rougerie, and Gordon D'Arcy missed a crucial tackle as the visitors established a seven-point lead on the hour mark.

Another penalty was dispatched by Yachvili, before Heaslip goes over in the corner as the beneficiary of a very fortuitous ricochet off Vincent Clerc's boot out on the right wing, and substitute Ronan O'Gara's conversion reduced the arrears to five three points.

Ireland had a glorious opportunity to clinch a last gasp match-winning try in the final minute, but a desperate counter-attack fizzled out disappointingly as Fitzgerald was held agonisingly short of the line and the hosts could not muster a crucial second wave.

France held on to clinch a slender victory, and in so doing joined England at the top of the Six Nations table with four points from their two opening games, while Ireland suffered a significant setback to their Championship campaign.