Legendary centre Brian O'Driscoll signed off his Test career in style with the second Six Nations title of his career
Ireland are the 2014 Six Nations champions after surviving a dramatic finale at the Stade de France.
Brian O'Driscoll signed off his Test career in style with the second Six Nations title of his career - and Ireland's first since the Grand Slam triumph of 2009.
And it was a fitting farewell for the 35-year-old.
Cruelly denied at the death by the All Blacks in November, Ireland just about held on in Paris as England hoped for a French vvin that would have handed the trophy to Stuart Lancaster's men.
France thought they had nicked it in the 79th minute when Damien Chouly crossed the Ireland line but the TMO Gareth Evans rightly ruled it out for Vincent Debaty's forward pass.
Scrum-half Jean-Marc Doussain also missed a vital penalty kick with 10 minutes to go and the French were made to pay for their mistakes.
Johnny Sexton scored two tries for the second Saturday running to give Ireland what proved to be an unassailable lead.
But it was a rollercoaster afternoon for the out-half, who missed a penalty a conversion in the first half which could have proved costly.
He was also carried off on a stretcher with 12 minutes to go after going down as he tackled French man-mountain Mathieu Basteraud.
Fortunately the 28-year-old was up and able to enjoy the trophy presentation and lap of honour after the final whistle.
Ireland won the title the hard way as France, who were lacklustre for most of the championship, turned up to play on their home ground.
Stung by criticism this week, Les Bleus were fired up and took a first minute lead through the boot of Machenaud, who made it 6-0 after a quarter of an hour.
Ireland eventually settled and hit back with two tries of their own in the next 10 minutes.
Sexton pounced for the first off Chris Henry's excellent pass in the tackle, then the excellent Andrew Trimble grabbed his third try of the championship.
The game was hotting up and France responded through full-back Brice Dulin's superbly-worked try off Remi Tales' cross-kick and Yoann Huget's knock-down.
Machenaud's conversion gave France a one point lead at the break.
But Ireland struck on the counter in the 46th minute through Rob Kearney and Trimble and Sexton was in the right place to score and convert for a 19-13 lead.
Sexton added a penalty soon after but Ireland were then put under fierce pressure as the home side threw the kitchen sink at them.
Eventually it took it's toll and Dimitri Szarzewski got over. Machenaud's conversion made it a two-point game.
But Ireland somehow held on to crown O'Driscoll's golden goodbye at this level.
SOURCE-IRISH MIRROR
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