France withstood a strong Ireland comeback to win their Six Nations match on Saturday, while England needed three late converted tries to subdue Italy.
France scored six tries in its 43-31 win over Ireland at the Stade de France. Leading 43-3 with 30 minutes left, France was looking at a record-breaking win before four Irish tries gave respectability to the score.
"Physically we held them off for 50 minutes," France coach Bernard Laporte said. "But after that, Ireland were much stronger and at the end we just couldn't get the ball. It was like a nightmare."
England's 31-16 victory in Rome was its first away victory in six matches over two years and kept it on course for the Grand Slam after last week's 47-13 victory over defending champion Wales.
"This is a big deal for us," England captain Martin Corry said. "The real test is playing well on the road, and we knew that Italy would provide a major challenge. But we have put in a real dogged performance away from home, and there is certainly a buzz in the changing room."
At Saint-Denis, David Marty and Cedric Heymans scored two tries each for Les Tricolores, with Aurelien Rougerie and Oliver Magne also crossing the line for the home team. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde kicked five conversions and a penalty to banish memories of last week's 20-16 loss to Scotland.
Ronan O'Gara, Gordon D'Arcy, Donccha O'Callaghan and Andrew Trimble replied with tries for Ireland. O'Gara kicked four conversions and a penalty.
France led 29-3 at the break and, at one stage, was on target to surpass its record 44-5 win over Ireland in 2002.
Heymans scored his second try on the left wing soon after the restart and, in the 48th minute, Marty charged down another O'Gara kick for his second touchdown for France to lead 43-3.
Ireland then scored 28 straight points.
"We were fragile after our defeat last week," Elissalde said. "Perhaps we didn't prepare as well as we could have. Ireland started to take risks and everything went right for them."
Ireland's unlikely comeback ended after Trimble scored its final try with 10 minutes remaining.
"We gifted them most of their tries so we felt under a lot of pressure to perform in the second half," Ireland fullback Geordan Murphy said. "We didn't lie down and at one stage we even thought we could come back and win it."
Italy -- which had conceded 154 points in England's last three visits to Rome -- held England scoreless for 26 minutes and led 9-7 early in the second half.
"For eight minutes in the first-half, England were within one meter of our line and they couldn't score ... which proved we can play against sides like England, but we have to keep working hard," Italy captain Marco Bortolami said.
"No one can deny the desire and pride of this squad. Most of our players play in Italy. I thought our players today played beyond their level."
Mike Tindall scored England's first try and Charlie Hodgson converted to make it 7-0 before Italy hit back. After hitting the post with his first penalty kick, Ramiro Pez didn't miss with his next two kicks -- a penalty and drop goal -- to cut the gap to one point.
Another Pez drop goal two minutes into the second half gave Italy the lead.
England replacement scrumhalf Matt Dawson came on after 53 minutes and passed the ball for Hodgson to cross for England's second try. Hodgson converted for England to open up a 17-9 lead. Mark Cueto crossed for England's third try, with Hodgson converting for a 24-9 lead.
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