France vs Scotland LIVE rugby: Final score and Six Nations result as Gael Fickou seals bonus-point win

France beat Scotland in the final match of the Six Nations third round

Reaction after France's Six Nations Grand Slam hopes end with defeat to Ireland

France ended Scotland’s hopes of a Six Nations Grand Slam with a 32-21 victory in a high-octane, nail-biting clash with both sides reduced to 14 men early on at the Stade de France on Sunday.

Gael Fickou gave the defending champions a bonus point with a last-minute try to add to those of Romain Ntamack, Ethan Dumortier and Thomas Ramos, who kicked the rest of the points.

Scotland, who defended ferociously and came close to overturning a 19-0 deficit, scored with two tries from Huw Jones and the boot of Finn Russell, who also added a try as the visitors recovered from a woeful start.

They had lock Grant Gilchrist sent off after seven minutes, six minutes before France prop Mohamed Haouas was also shown a red card.

France vs Scotland LIVE: Latest updates from Six Nations

• F/T: France 32-21 Scotland
• TRY! FRANCE 30-21 Scotland (Gael Fickou try, 80 minutes)
• TRY! France 25-21 SCOTLAND (Finn Russell try, 68 minutes)
• TRY! France 22-14 SCOTLAND (Huw Jones try, 48 minutes)
• TRY! France 19-7 SCOTLAND (Huw Jones try, 26 minutes)
• TRY! FRANCE 19-0 Scotland (Thomas Ramos try, 19 minutes)
• RED CARD! Mohamed Haouas sent off! France 12-0 Scotland, 12 minutes
• TRY! FRANCE 12-0 Scotland (Ethan Dumortier try, 9 minutes)
• RED CARD! Grant Gilchrist is sent off! France 7-0 Scotland, 7 minutes
• TRY! FRANCE 7-0 Scotland (Romain Ntamack try, 5 minutes)
• Unbeaten Scotland are taking on France in Paris - live on ITV4

[26 February 2023 13:49 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Ireland survive Italy test to keep grand slam chase alive

Trips to Rome no longer look at all straightforward - Kieran Crowley’s frisky Italy side have now run France and Ireland, perhaps the two best teams in the world, mighty close over the first three weeks of this Six Nations. It was all action and adventure in the Italian capital, with Andy Farrell’s side eventually emerging (just about) on top.

(Getty Images)

[26 February 2023 13:47 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France vs Scotland

Yes, welcome along one and all to the conclusion of the middle weekend of the Six Nations. We are now beyond the halfway point of this competition, eight matches concluded with seven more to go to decide our 2023 champions.

Colliding this afternoon are France, stung by a first defeat in 14 before the fallow week, and Scotland, hopeful of heady heights after back-to-back wins to open their tournament but knowing the challenge ratchets up this afternoon.

Kick off is at 3pm GMT - and before we get in to the thick of the build-up, let’s remind you of all of yesterday’s action...

[26 February 2023 13:45 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France vs Scotland: Five talking points

Scotland head to the Stade de France aiming to continue their stirring start to the Guinness Six Nations campaign.

Gregor Townsend’s team have won both their matches so far and will fancy their chances of another victory over a France side who lost away to Ireland on matchday two.

The PA news agency looks at some key talking points ahead of the high-stakes Paris showdown:

[26 February 2023 13:40 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France vs Scotland

Gregor Townsend has challenged his Scotland players to “go up a few levels” as he backed them to deal with the formidable test they face against France in Paris this weekend.

The Scots are top of the Guinness Six Nations table after opening their campaign with bonus-point wins away to England and at home to Wales.

However, head coach Townsend feels they will need to show further improvement if they are to maintain their perfect start in the Stade de France against the side ranked second in the world.

“We were tough on the players going into the Wales week, and rightly so because in the past we haven’t backed up our first performance going into the second week of the Six Nations and also because we believed there was much more to come from the group,” Townsend said, speaking on Friday morning as the team prepared to fly to Paris.

“We feel the same way this week. I think the players realise what a big test this is going to be, playing one of the best teams in the world on their home patch, at a venue we haven’t had much success at over the past 100 years.”

[26 February 2023 13:35 · Lawrence Ostlere]

France vs Scotland

Follow live updates from France vs Scotland in the Six Nations.