DUBLIN: Defending champion France fed off sloppy errors from Ireland to claim a 25-22 win in Dublin Sunday and join England on maximum points from two games in the Six Nations. The Irish outscored their opponents three tries to one but gave away too many soft penalties that were pounced on by France scrumhalf Morgan Parra, who kicked five from five attempts. Toulouse winger Maxime Medard's crucial 55th-minute try, which put France ahead for the first time, also came from an Irish mistake, with Gordon D'Arcy missing a tackle in midfield on opposite center Aurelien Rougerie. Ireland scored first-half tries through winger Fergus McFadden and scrumhalf Tomas O'Leary to take a 15-12 lead at the break, while returning No. 8 Jamie Heaslip went over in the 68th to set up a nailbiting finale.France held on, though, and next face a trip in two weeks' time to Twickenham, where England lie in wait. The 2003 world champion thrashed Italy 59-13 Saturday and are top on points difference. “We are really happy, it was really important to win. We did it, but it was very tough,” France captain Thierry Dusautoir said. “We stayed in the game and scored a lot of penalties, but we scored just one try and the Irish scored three – that's why it stayed tight to the end of the game.”
