France will have to win by 19 points in Cardiff next Saturday to deprive Wales of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

The French maintained their title hopes with a 25-13 win over Italy. Their narrowest margin over the Italians in seven years reflected a typical effort from the visitors – tough, committed and highly competitive, particularly in the set-pieces, but without ever looking seriously like winning. Forced to make a virtue of an open style by set-piece problems, particularly in the line-out, France claimed tries through full-back Anthony Floch, centre Yannick Jauzion and wing Aurelien Rougerie, with scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili kicking 10 points. Italy pulled to within five points at 18-13 when prop Martin Castrogiovanni forced his way over after 57 minutes, but Rougerie’s score sealed it for the French.