England scored seven tries in an emphatic 52-11 victory over Italy on Saturday, but their hopes of winning the Six Nations Championship depended on Ireland losing or drawing with France in a later match.

One of the recurring touchstones of this season’s Six Nations tournament has been the imminent retirement of Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll. But rather than give way to nostalgia, the 35-year-old’s farewell tour has turned out to be far more purposeful as the Irish travel to Paris on Saturday tied at the top of the standings with both France and England.

England may recall Manu Tuilagi to their replacements bench as they plan one final attempt to take the Six Nations title this weekend.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre backed his side to be a much-improved outfit when they face Ireland in a potential Six Nations title decider in Paris on Saturday.

Brian O’Driscoll has called on his Ireland teammates to raise their game one last time as he bids to retire from international rugby on a high.

Stuart Lancaster was left looking for a favour from France after his side’s 29-18 win over Wales set-up a three-way fight for the Six Nations Championship.

Ireland turned on the style to give a teary-eyed Brian O’Driscoll the perfect farewell present in his last test on home soil with a thumping 46-7 Six Nations victory over Italy at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

England coach Stuart Lancaster has urged the Twickenham crowd to find its voice once more when two-time defending Six Nations champions Wales arrive at the London ground on Sunday.

"In no time, no one will remember me." Of all the words that will be written and spoken about Ireland rugby great Brian O'Driscoll as the gifted centre enters the final stage of his test career, surely none will prove so wide of the mark as his own absurdly modest self-assessment.

Even after their heaviest Six Nations defeat in five years, France are still in the title race. But with points differential likely to determine the champion, France have the worst of the four teams tied for the lead – plus one. Ireland, by contrast, are plus 42.

The latest stop on Brian O’Driscoll’s long goodbye to rugby is at Lansdowne Road on Saturday against Italy in the Six Nations, with the centre marking his final home match for Ireland with a record 140th test cap.

The Scottish scrum will have to produce their best performance of the Six Nations if they are to upset France in their match at Murrayfield on Saturday, former Scotland lock Nathan Hines said.

Wales will be motivated by their hatred of England when the sides face off in Sunday's Six Nations showdown at Twickenham, said English wing Jack Nowell.

Leigh Halfpenny has warned his Wales teammates that opposing fullback Mike Brown can hurt the Six Nations champions when they face England at Twickenham on Sunday.

Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi and London Irish wing Marland Yarde were recalled to the England squad after injury lay-offs ahead of Sunday’s Six Nations international against two-time defending champions Wales at Twickenham.

Former England centre Jeremy Guscott has hit out at the France rugby team, saying watching them is “like watching clowns at the circus”.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre dropped number eight Louis Picamoles from his squad to face Scotland next week because he showed a lack of respect towards referee Alain Rolland during last Friday’s loss to Wales.

Scrum-half Morgan Parra faces an anxious wait after being recalled to the French Six Nations squad for their match with Scotland on March 8.

England’s Billy Vunipola will miss the final two matches of this season’s Six Nations, the Rugby Football Union has announced.

England fought back to spoil Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll’s record-equalling test appearance with a 13-10 Six Nations victory at Twickenham on Saturday.

A Duncan Weir drop goal in the final minute gave Scotland a stunning 21-20 victory over Italy at Rome's Olympic Stadium in an enthralling Six Nations clash on Saturday.

Wales coach Warren Gatland was an unusually happy man on Friday after a try in each half earned a third successive win over France and put them back in the hunt to retain their Six Nations crown.

Nobody likes Scotland as much as Italy do. The Scots are the team Italy beat most often in Six Nations rugby – six times out of 14, the last three at home. And that's where they will be on Saturday, at the Stadio Olimpico.

In a tasty Twickenham clash, the pressure will be keenest on Cian Healy and his fellow Ireland front-rowers Rory Best and Mike Ross. For it’s their job on Saturday to expose England’s enforced gamble on David Wilson, the tighthead prop who has been granted a rare Six Nations start.

Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll is set to equal George Gregan’s world record for the most test appearances when he runs out against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

England coach Stuart Lancaster made two changes to his squad for Saturday’s Six Nations match against Ireland at Twickenham. Bath tight-head prop David Wilson replaces Dan Cole, who suffered a season-ending neck injury, while the uncapped fly-half George Ford comes in for Brad Barritt on the bench.

Wales half back Mike Phillips has been dropped to the bench for Friday’s must-win Six Nations match with France in Cardiff, while wing George North has moved into midfield in the absence of Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies.

Racing Metro flanker Wenceslas Lauret returns to the French line-up for the Six Nations match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Friday night.

Uncapped fly-half George Ford was included in England’s 23 for their Six Nations international against Ireland at Twickenham this weekend when coach Stuart Lancaster announced his match-day squad on Tuesday.