FRANCE HAVE FINISHED bottom of the Six Nations table after a late Tim Visser try left them on a worse points difference than Ireland. Philippe Saint-Andre’s side won 23-16 in Paris but it was not enough to save them from a sixth place finish.
Two tries in the final 15 minutes gave their support hope but a try from the Dutch-born winger made it a seven-point victory and meant sighs of relief in Ireland.
Two Greig Laidlaw penalties and meagre French resistance made it 6-0 to the visitors at half-time.
Frederic Michalak landed three unanswered penalties after the break to make it 9-6 before Laidlaw levelled up the tie.
Clermont centre Wesley Fofana then had the home crowd on their feet as he raced free for the first try of the game.
Winger Maxime Medard then sprinted clear of the Scottish defence, on 71 minutes, and it appeared the tie was safe when Michalak added the conversions.
The game was not over as a contest though as Tim Visser powered up the centre and dotted down. Ruairidh Jackson added the extras to make it a seven-point game.
Scotland pressed for the chance to even up the contest but it never came.
The win was the first in eight Six Nations games for France following five losses and two draws against the Irish over the 2012 and 2013 campaigns.
