/world sport
PARIS, France -- France overcame Italy 25-13 at the Stade de France to keep their Six Nations title hopes alive ahead of next weekend's showdown with unbeaten leaders Wales.
Yannick Jauzion celebrated his return to the France side with a try in the win against Italy.
The defending champions must travel to Cardiff on Saturday in the final game of the tournament, and must win by 20 points -- while the Welsh will be seeking to complete a Grand Slam.
"We are not very confident as we know it will be very hard next week," scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili said.
"We will try to do our best. However, we are very happy to beat the Italians. We will try to work well during the week. We just want to win first and then we will think about the points difference."
Les Bleus ran in three tries to one against the visitors, with winger Aurelien Rougerie denied a second individual score by the video referee after a fine in-goal tackle by Mirco Bergamasco.
Anthony Floch was the first to touch down, with his first try for France, in the 13th minute after a punishing drive by his forwards allowed Francois Trinh Duc to chip over the defense for Clermont winger Julien Malzieu to set up his club-mate.
Andrea Marcato reduced the deficit with a penalty, then Gonzalo Canale dropped the ball with the French try-line at his mercy -- and then infringed to allow Yachvili to land a penalty for 10-3.
Marcato stroked over his second penalty just after the half-hour mark, but Yachvili's third successful kick on 36 gave France a 13-6 lead at the interval.
Yachvili's chip kick set up recalled center Yannick Jauzion for a try, but his conversion attempt came back off the post.
Italy hit back again through prop Martin Castrogiovanni, who also crossed for a try in the previous match against Wales, then Bergamasco denied Rougerie in the 61st minute.
Rougerie did get his name on the scoreboard four minutes later as he seized upon Damien Traille's pass, and Yachvili converted to give the French a comfortable lead.
Italy, who have now lost all four matches under new coach Nick Mallett, will finish their campaign at home to Scotland -- who notched their first win on Saturday, beating England 15-9. E-mail to a friend 
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