France 34-21 Scotland

Tries from captain Alastair Kellock, Kelly Brown and Sean Lamont were not enough for Scotland to claim a first RBS 6 Nations win in Paris as defending champions France triumphed at the Stade de France.

Les Bleus, who had lost three of their previous five Tests since securing the Grand Slam last March, quickly recovered their confidence following their 59-16 mauling by Australia last November to state their ambitions of retaining their title.

France crossed for tries through Maxime Medard, a penalty try, Imanol Harinordoquy and Damien Traille, with Morgan Parra kicking two conversions, Dimitri Yachvili two conversions and a penalty and Francois Trinh-Duc a drop goal.

The visitors were always chasing the game and Kellock and Brown's close-range tries followed by Lamont's late score - all converted by Dan Parks - were ultimately in vain as Scotland suffered defeat on the opening Six Nations weekend for the 11th time in 12 tournaments.

Scotland's most recent win in Paris had come on the way to victory in the final Five Nations Championship in 1999 and since the inaugural Six Nations tournament in 2000, Scotland had won their opening game just once - their most recent defeat of France, at Murrayfield in 2006.

Again Scotland return home from the French capital empty handed, looking to reclaim the momentum in next weekend's Test with Wales.

Italy 11-13 Ireland

Ireland required a late drop goal from Ronan O'Gara to avoid a first defeat by Italy in the RBS 6 Nations.

The Azzurri crept 11-10 ahead in the 76th minute through a try from Luke McLean and one of the championship's greatest upsets looked likely.

But Ireland, who started as overwhelming 1/8 favourites, hit back two minutes later when O'Gara was on target from in front of the posts.

It was dismal start to the campaign for a side hoping to be in the title mix, but there was nothing on show at the Stadio Flaminio today to suggest they can win the Six Nations.

Brian O'Driscoll crossed in the 44th minute while Jonathan Sexton kicked five points, but it was otherwise a torrid afternoon for the 2009 champions.

They dazzled with some thrilling running but time and again failed to capitalise, making desperately hard work of subduing stubborn but limited opposition.

Worryingly for Ireland, they are group rivals at this year's World Cup and the teams are due to meet on October 2. Italy will only have been encouraged by today's events.

O'Driscoll, Heaslip and Sexton agree new deals

Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Heaslip and Jonathan Sexton have all agreed new contracts with Leinster and Ireland.

Speculation had linked Heaslip and Sexton with moves to France, while the move clears up uncertainty about the future of Ireland captain O'Driscoll.

O'Driscoll's contract takes him to the end of the 2012-13 season, while Sexton's runs until June 2013. Heaslip is now contracted until June 2014.

As well as ending speculation about his retirement, O'Driscoll's new deal also puts the 32-year-old in the frame for the Lions Tour to Australia in 2013, 12 years after making his Lions debut against the same country.

According to O'Driscoll, the continuing development at Leinster was key to his decison.

He said; 'Playing in Ireland with Leinster for my entire career has been all the more enjoyable knowing that my rugby goals I have achieved to date were with an organisation that has really grown at the same time as me over the last ten years.

Ireland XV to face Italy in Rome.

Declan Kidney has selected Leinster duo Fergus McFadden and Luke Fitzgerald and Munster's Tomás O'Leary in his backline to face Italy in Ireland's RBS 6 Nations opener in Rome on Saturday.

Kidney lost five experienced players in the wing and full-back positions in the runup to the Six Nations. He has picked Fitzgerald in his favoured full-back position for the first time at international level.

McFadden, who was drafted in to the squad from the 'A' panel last week, will win his first cap on the right wing with Munster's Keith Earls picked on the other side.

Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll are the centre pairing, with O'Driscoll to captain the side.

O'Leary, who was initially not picked in the main squad is picked at scrum-half ahead of Eoin Reddan and Peter Stringer, with Jonathan Sexton set to start at out-half. Sexton's regular provincial partner Eoin Reddan is on the bench, along with Ronan O'Gara and Paddy Wallace.

France team to face Scotland.

Sebastien Chabal has been left out of the France team to face Scotland on Saturday in their Six Nations opener.

Imanol Harinordoquy was selected ahead of Racing Metro's number eight who was named among the substitutes for Saturday's game at the Stade de France.

The main absentee from the 23-man group is centre Yannick Jauzion.

Coach Marc Lievremont has selected Maxime Mermoz instead.

Damien Traille, used as a fly-half during November's tests, has been named fullback.

France team to face Scotland at the Stade de France, Saturday, 5 Februay, kick-off 5.00pm:

Damien Traille, Yoann Huget, Aurelien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Maxime Medard, Francois Thrinh-Duc, Morgan Parra, Imanol Harinordoquy, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir (captain), Lionel Nallet, Julien Pierre, Nicolas Mas, William Servat, Thomas Domingo.

Substitutes: Guilhem Guirado, Luc Ducalcon, Jerome Thion, Sebastien Chabal, Dimitri Yachvili, David Skrela, Clement Poitrenaud.

Wolfhounds trio called up to Ireland squad

Gavin Duffy, Tomas O'Leary and Kevin McLaughlin have been called up from the Ireland Wolfhounds to a 26-man Ireland squad to begin final preparations ahead of the opening game of the RBS 6 Nations Championship against Italy.

There are no fresh injury concerns for the Ireland team after last week's camp in Limerick and the Ireland Wolfhounds game against Scotland.

The only change to the squad is the inclusion of Duffy, O'Leary and McLaughlin.
The Ireland team to play Italy will be announced this Tuesday, while the Ireland Wolfhounds squad to face the England Saxons in Ravenhill on Friday night will also be announced on the same day.