LONDON — Ireland won the Six Nations Championship on points difference after beating Scotland 40-10 at Murrayfield Saturday as comprehensive victories for England and Wales proved in vain on a dramatic final day featuring 27 tries. Wales humbled Italy 61-20 to lay down a marker but Ireland's victory lifted it top of the standings and left England needing to beat France by 26 points to win the title. England did prevail 55-35 in an extraordinary game at Twickenham but it was not enough to deny Ireland a second successive crown. Wales began a remarkable day with a sensational second-half display in Italy during which it scored seven tries to win 61-20 and surge to the top of the standings. In Edinburgh, though, Ireland forwards O'Connell and Sean O'Brien scored early tries to put Ireland 17-3 ahead before Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell scampered over in the left corner to reduce the deficit to 20-10 at halftime. Ireland dominated possession and was rewarded when center Jared Payne scythed through the Scottish defense to touch down and Scotland was on the ropes when prop Geoff Cross was sent to the sin-bin. But Jonny Sexton missed two straightforward penalties before extending the Irish lead to 33-10 and O'Brien burrowed over from close range seven minutes from time. England, knowing the monumental nature of its task at Twickenham, started superbly, scoring an early try through scrumhalf Ben Youngs. But it was rocked by conceding two quick tries to Sebastien Tillous-Borde and Noa Nakaitaci which turned a 7-3 deficit into a 15-7 lead for France. England hit back through Anthony Watson and Youngs to lead 27-15 at halftime and the tries continued to flow as Maxime Mermoz and George Ford each crossed under the posts. Jack Nowell produced a brilliant finish for England but prop Vincent Debaty galloped 70 meters to reply for France. Billy Vunipola bundled over and Benjamin Kayser did the same before Nowell's second took England beyond its previous highest score against France, a 48-19 win in 2001. The host pounded the line but France held out, leaving 82,000 England fans breathless and hugely disappointed at the same time. Wales finished third on points difference after also collecting eight points with France fourth on four points, Italy fifth on two and Scotland collecting the wooden spoon following five successive defeats. — Reuters
