France sent records tumbling as they were crowned Six Nations champions for the 19th time courtesy of a 35-16 win over Scotland at the Stade de France.
Following England's ruthless 68-14 demolition of Wooden Spoon winners Wales in the tournament's penultimate match, Fabien Galthie's men knew that only victory would suffice if they were to usurp Steve Borthwick's team at the summit.
Despite some threatening advances from Gregor Townsend's men in the opening period, the champions quickly regained the momentum - thanks in no small part to some marginal decisions - and deservedly stormed to the win that punched their ticket to glory.
With injured star Antoine Dupont watching on from the sidelines, Les Bleus did take the lead that their initial dominance deserved as Yoram Moefana clambered his way over, but to say that France got the rub of the green in the first half would be an understatement.
Just three minutes after Moefana's opening try, Peato Mauvaka controversially avoided a red card for a seemingly blatant and inexplicable headbutt on Ben White, who had been needlessly pushed over France's number two by Thomas Ramos.
It was determined that there was "no high degree of danger" to Mauvaka's indiscretion, although an explosive Scotland side were up for a scrap and got on the board as Finn Russell released Darcy Graham to score.
Ramos, Bielle-Biarrey break records in title-winning victory
However, France enjoyed another huge stroke of luck on the stroke of half time, where Tom Jordan had ostensibly propelled Scotland into the lead after an astounding surge from Blair Kinghorn, but the 28-year-old had just gone into touch and the try was chalked off.
The hosts made the most of that huge reprieve just three minutes into the second half, where the lightning-quick Louis Bielle-Biarrey sprinted into acres of open space to go over after a Scotland error, making history in the process.
The 21-year-old's try was his eighth of the tournament, setting a new record for the most by any player in a single edition of the Six Nations, and there was subsequently no stopping Galthie's rampant troops.
Quickfire efforts from Ramos and Moefana saw Les Bleus etch their name into another page of history as they racked up an unrivalled 30 tries, the most for a team in one Six Nations tournament, surpassing England's 29 from 2001.
Late forays forward from a beleaguered Scotland side were futile against a rigid French defence, and the raucous Stade de France crowd had already commenced their title party before Matthew Carley signalled the end of the championships.
As well as France and Bielle-Biarrey's record try haul, Ramos made national history as he overtook Frederic Michalak to become Les Bleus' all-time leading Test scorer, now sitting on 450 points for the Six Nations champions.
France's success means that the new holders finish on 21 points - one better off than England and two above the dethroned Ireland - while Scotland end up in fourth place with 11 points to their name.
Italy - who were narrowly beaten 17-22 by Ireland in Saturday's first match - only claimed five points throughout the tournament, but the former perennial Wooden Spoon winners still managed to finish above a woeful Wales, who collected a meagre three points as they lost every single game. body check tags ::
