FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte declared himself fairly satisfied with his team’s Six Nations performance, though admitting he must solve a flyhalf-goalkicker problem before this year’s World Cup.

ENGLAND coach Clive Woodward has insisted he would have no worries if he lost Jonny Wilkinson for the likely RBS Six Nations decider against Ireland in Dublin.

France coach Bernard Laporte has named his 22-man squad to take on Italy at Rome's Stadio Flaminio in the RBS Six Nations next Sunday, with versatile halfback Frédéric Michalak and Bourgoin prop Olivier Milloud both earning call-ups.

BAFFLED French coach Bernard Laporte claimed yesterday that one reason for his side’s slide from Grand Slam champions to also-rans was the lack of leadership displayed by his senior players.

Ireland remain on course for that elusive Grand Slam after the slimmest of wins against France at Lansdowne Road.

Free-scoring Ireland could not add to their try tally but led 12-3 against reigning RBS 6 Nations champions France at half-time in a tense match at Lansdowne Road.

Ireland remain on course for three wins out of three as they lead France by 12-3 at half-time in their Six Nations clash against les Bleus at Lansdowne Road.

Ireland lead France by 9-3 on the half-hour mark in their Six Nations clash against the Grand Slam champs at Lansdowne Road.

FRENCH coach Bernard Laporte insisted yesterday he had never ruled Ireland out of his RBS Six Nations Championship calculations.

FRANCE prodigy Dimitri Yachvili may have enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence but the scrum-half is not about to rest on his laurels.

FRANCE will try to make up for the absence of injured Fabien Galthie with a Lansdowne Road double act — Fabien Pelous taking over as captain and Dimitri Yachvili as playmaker for Saturday’s Six Nations game against Ireland.

THE Irish management team are by no means gloating at the loss of brilliant French scrum-half and captain Fabien Galthie ahead of their RBS 6 Nations clash on March 8.

Scotland skipper Bryan Redpath lamented his side’s inability to learn from their mistakes as France became the latest team to put Ian McGeechan’s men to the sword in the 2003 RBS 6 Nations championship.

SCOTLAND’S battered pride was dealt another blow at the Stade de France yesterday afternoon as Ian McGeechan’s men collapsed to their second heavy RBS Six Nations Championship defeat in succession with a 38-3 defeat to France.

France 38 Scotland 3

Fly-half Gerald Merceron has lost his place in France‘s side for this weekend‘s RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland in Paris.

WELSH coach Steve Hansen has named two uncapped players in his squad for the RBS Six Nations Championship.

Saracens‘ Thomas Castaignede will play for France for the first time in two years after being named in the team to face South Africa at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Saturday.

Australia 29 France 17

France were crowned kings of Europe in Paris this afternoon as they collected the Lloyds TSB Six Nations championship and the Grand Slam with a record demolition of Ireland.

France coach Bernard Laporte has bemoaned the injury curse that has plagued his team after having to make four changes for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Wales.