France, Feb. 23 -- Fabien Galthie's men ran in five tries to collect a bonus point on Sunday afternoon and return to the top of the table after Scotland briefly held supremacy following their 26-23 vicotry over Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

"It was tough going," Galthie told broadcaster France TV after his France squad's match at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille, northern France.

"We managed to win the arm-wrestle, and the team managed to find the energy to break through the Italians and take the bonus point at the end of the match."

During the game, France's star centre Louis Bielle-Biarrey, notched up a record when he scored a try in his eighth consecutive Six Nations match.

The 22-year-old struck inside three minutes for his 24th t...