Ireland give O'Driscoll the perfect send-off
Brian O'Driscoll's swansong ended in glorious victory for Ireland as they claimed the Six Nations title with a 22-20 win against France.
After England's 52-11 triumph in Italy earlier on Saturday, the Irish came into the game in Paris knowing a win would be enough to seal a first championship title since 2009.
And there was an added incentive for the visitors as they said goodbye to O'Driscoll, the most-capped international player of all time and talisman in their midfield over the past 14 years.
In truth, the centre had a quiet game, a far cry from the stunning performance shown when he burst onto the scene in 2000 with a hat-trick in the same stadium.
First five-eighths Jonny Sexton took centre stage, scoring two tries and 17 of Ireland's points, before being carried off following a collision with Mathieu Bastareaud.
The hosts started brightly and took a 6-0 lead inside 15 minutes through the boot of Maxime Machenaud, but Sexton crashed over from close range in the 20th minute after a superb offload from Chris Henry.
Sexton missed the conversion, but the visitors went ahead shortly afterwards when Conor Murray released Andrew Trimble, who sped over the whitewash. Sexton made no mistake with the conversion this time to give the Irish a 12-6 lead.
The French responded strongly and were back in front on the half hour, Yoann Huget doing brilliantly to tap Remi Tales' long cross-field kick into the path of Brice Dulin, the full-back touching down before Machenaud added the extras with an excellent kick from the right touchline.
The last action of the half saw Thomas Domingo penalised just outside the French 22, but Sexton missed the relatively straightforward kick as Ireland went into the break 13-12 in arrears.
The lead changed hands for a fourth time in the 47th minute as Sexton grabbed his second try of the game.
Trimble made the initial break, before feeding O'Driscoll, who was brought up just short of a fairytale try on his swansong. But as the ball was recycled Murray fed Sexton and he went over with the French unable to recover in sufficient numbers.
The fly-half added the conversion and then five minutes later slotted a penalty to extend Ireland's lead to nine points, but again the momentum swung and France were rewarded for a sustained period of possession with their second try 17 minutes from time.
Dimitri Szarzewski appeared to have lost control of the ball as he attempted to touch down against the post, but referee Steve Walsh awarded the try and Machenaud kicked the simple conversion to bring his side back within two points.
Ireland were dealt a huge blow five minutes later when Sexton was carried from the field on a stretcher after being knocked out in attempting to tackle Bastareaud, but they were gifted a reprieve shortly afterwards when replacement Jean-Marc Doussain missed a penalty that would have seen France creep in front once more.
There was a late scare a minute from time for the Irish, Damien Chouly going over in the corner, but replays suggested the final pass had been forward and the score was disallowed.
The visitors saw off a final France attack to seal a narrow victory and spark scenes of jubilation among the Irish, who gave O'Driscoll the perfect send-off.
