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Television match official Simon McDowell, an Irishman, took several minutes before giving his verdict on Elvis Vermeulen's late try as Les Bleus retained the title with a 46-19 triumph over Scotland.

A sparkling 51-24 victory against Italy appeared to have put Ireland in the driving seat but France responded magnificently to edge the Triple Crown holders on points difference.

He said: "I watched the France game in my room. I got back to the hotel in time and got changed watching the game. I felt very helpless like everybody else.

"I thought Scotland had done us a favour. The wait to see if the try had been given was excruciating.

"The call could have gone either way but went against Scotland and us too. I didn't know which way the call was going to go.

"Everyone was on the edge of their seat. The TMO is there to make a tough call and if he thought it was a try then it was a try.

"Some days you get those decisions and some days you don't so I don't have any gripe with the decision.

"They have to call what they see and what they believe is right. It was a tough call."