Rugby Union: France feel the power of Scotland

France 22 Scotland 36 Tries Dominici, Juillet, Tries M Leslie 2, Tait 2, Townsend Ntamack Conversions Logan 4 Conversions Aucagne 2 Penalty Logan Penalty Aucagne Half-time: 22-33 Attendance: 80,

NEXT TIME, perhaps the band at the Stade de France will make sure they hit the right tempo before kick-off. For, despite the brilliant sunshine and the sparkling spring conditions in Paris on Saturday, la Fanfare de la Police Nationale managed to turn "Flower of Scotland" into an unrecognisable dirge, playing the Scottish anthem as if it were a funeral march.

Which in some ways it was. But the only thing being buried in this magnificent stadium on Saturday was the pride of French rugby, and apart from one flash of individual brilliance by Thomas Castaignede in the first minute of play, the Tricolores spent the next 79 minutes stumbling down a road to self-destruction.

Although Castaignede was injured doing so (a knee injury putting him out for seven weeks) his 50-metre break from a tapped penalty produced a fine try for Emile Ntamack. But the Scots immediately unleashed an extraordinary sequence of play, the quality of which has rarely been matched in a Five Nations international, running in five tries in the space of 20 minutes. "I have never seen anything like it," enthused Jim Telfer, Scotland's head coach. "It was as if every time we had the ball we scored a try. For a time it was like the other team wasn't even on the park."

Breaking the French defensive system with remarkable ease, playing with confidence, flair and consummate ball- handling skill, the Scots shot to a 36-12 lead after 27 minutes. With the forwards supplying an endless stream of quick, quality possession, the Scottish back-line clicked immediately into top gear. Gregor Townsend was in exquisite touch, repeatedly scything through the French defence. The rejuvenated Alan Tait picked up two tries, while with his distribution skills and eye for the half-gap John Leslie once again dominated the midfield.

Perhaps even more satisfying for the Scots though was the quality and precision of their support play which enabled them to keep the ball alive. Open-side flanker Martin Leslie was outstanding in the role, picking up two tries for his pains, while the second-row of Stuart Grimes and Scott Murray proved itself to be one of the most mobile and dynamic in world rugby.

"We wanted to play a wide game, the sort of game that they used to such good effect against us last year," said their captain Gary Armstrong. "It worked, and we cut through them like a knife through butter."

France struck back with a soft try to left-wing Christophe Dominici from broken play, and a penalty to David Aucagne enabled France to struggle back to 33-22 at half-time.

After eight tries and 55 points, the second half was a totally different affair, with only three points (a penalty to Kenny Logan) being scored.

But this was to be a game of contrasts, with Scotland registering their biggest ever total against France in the Five Nations' Championship and mesmerising the French with their Caledonian flair. The back-flips, the quick hands, the dazzling breaks were all Scottish, while the pedestrian French descended even further into a spiral of bungling, blundering desperation.

"We were ridiculous," sighed Ntamack who, with Dominici was one of the few French players to come out of the match with credit. "As soon as the pace of the game sped up, we were in difficulty. We were powerless, we could have been beaten by 50 points."

So, if Scotland return home with renewed hope and confidence in the depth and quality of their players, time is running out for France in the countdown to the World Cup. After winning two Grand Slams in a row, they appear to have completely lost their way. Mentally tired, physically flat, and incapable of ensuring even the most basic of tasks on the field, they were as naive on attack as they were on defence.

While a number of players will undoubtedly be sacrificed following this defeat, the coaching pair of Jean-Claude Skrela and Pierre Villepreux will also be under pressure on their summer tour to Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand.

FRANCE: E Ntamack (Toulouse); X Garbajosa (Toulouse), P Giordani (Dax), F Comba (Stade Francais), C Dominici (Stade Francais); T Castaignede (Castres), P Carbonneau (Brive); C Califano (Toulouse), R Ibanez (Perpignan, capt), F Tournaire (Toulouse), O Brouzet (Begles-Bordeaux), T Cleda (Pau), C Labit (Toulouse), C Juillet (Perpignan), R Castel (Beziers). Replacements: D Aucagne (Pau) for Castaignede, 2; C Laussucq (Stade Francais) for Carbonneau, 37; S Marconnet (Stade Francais) for Califano, 55; D Auradou (Stade Francais) for Cleda, 55; P Benetton (Agen) for Castel, 55; T Lombard (Stade Francais) for Comba, 60.

SCOTLAND: G Metcalfe (Glasgow Caledonians); C Murray (Edinburgh Reivers), A Tait (Edinburgh Reivers), J Leslie (Glasgow Caledonians), K Logan (Wasps); G Townsend (Brive), G Armstrong (Newcastle, capt); D Hilton (Bath), G Bulloch (Glasgow Caledonians), P Burnell (London Scottish), S Murray (Bedford), S Grimes (Glasgow Caledonians), B Pountney (Northampton), S Reid (Leeds), M Leslie (Edinburgh Reivers). Replacements: S Graham (Newcastle) for Hilton, 60; P Walton (Newcastle) for Pountney, 70; A Reed (Wasps) for Murray, 70.

Referee: C Thomas (Wales).