PARIS (AP) Fullback Maxime Medard's late converted try settled a tight and gritty match as France beat defending Six Nations champion Ireland 10-9 on Saturday.
France had not beaten Ireland since a warmup match before the 2011 World Cup, and that dismal run looked set to continue when flyhalf Jonathan Sexton's three penalties put the injury-hit Irish 9-3 up at the interval.
But the French changed their front row, tightened their defense, and the attack came to life in the last 15 minutes, thanks largely to the fresh legs and quick hands of replacement scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud.
With France in front of the Irish posts, and having a try ruled out moments earlier because the ball was unsighted, Machenaud picked out Medard on the right of a scrum and he swooped around behind the posts.
