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
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 22-14 Scotland, 54 minutes
Here come France! A fluid move to the left off the back of the scrum, collecting metres on the outside. Charles Ollivon hits a fine angle to keep the momentum going.
Held up! What defence from Scotland, Ben White somehow locking beneath Ethan Dumortier as the wing forced his way over between two other Scottish tacklers. Goalline dropout - France are denied a bonus point score.
France 22-14 Scotland, 53 minutes
Caution to the wind! Circus stuff from Scotland as they play intricately, inaccurately in the tramlines, Finn Russell and Ben White throwing ugly offloads but just about keeping the ball in the field of play. Eventually it spills free from a tangle of hands - Scotland’s, it seems, as France will have the scrum feed.
Paul Willemse trudges off. The similarly bruising bouncer-typie Romain Taofifenua takes over on the door.
France 22-14 Scotland, 52 minutes
Scotland are swelling by the minute. Duhan van der Merwe is permitted an opportunity to thump into the back of a retreating Damian Penaud, the wing releasing his frustration on the Frenchman. France just about survive to clear again, but momentum feels to have shifted Scotland’s way.
France 22-14 Scotland, 50 minutes
Finn Russell is starting to pull those marionette strings. France are short of number on the outside as Scotland play from near their own line, Russell weighting his cross-kick perfectly for Kyle Steyn. Thomas Ramos gets back to a bouncing ball and swivels away a clearance of sorts.
TRY! France 22-14 SCOTLAND (Huw Jones try, 48 minutes)
A second try for Huw Jones!
The centre is having some game. Jones initially hurries on the outside arc, taking Antoine Dupont on and out-gassing the scrum half. Scotland reload, with Jones back up off the deck and in the line to add his hands to a four on two, straightening up onto centre partner Sione Tuipulotu’s pass and powering through the challenge of Dupont to score.
Finn Russell converts. A very good start to the second half from the visitors, who are right, right in this.
France 22-7 Scotland, 47 minutes
Back to the maul, and more metres collected by the Scottish drive. A high tackle on Jamie Ritchie gifts Scotland another advantage which they can take on their latest expedition - and into the French 22 Huw Jones cuts!
France 22-7 Scotland, 45 minutes
Scotland’s maul has done good work today, though, when Turner has been able to hit double tops. They earn a penalty advantage as a rumbling mass again with France swimming up the side to bring it down.
A wide pass is adjudged to have travelled forward - perhaps slightly harshly - as Scotland make a right-ward exploration. Back they will come for the penalty.
France 22-7 Scotland, 43 minutes
Not for the first time today, an inopportune Scottish lineout misfire - it’s an ambitious move, with Jamie Ritchie peeling away at the back to take George Turner’s long throw, but it’s a tough dart for the hooker, and Ritchie has to turn to take. His resulting offload is knocked on by Duhan van der Merwe, stomping off the blindside wing with intent but unable to gather cleanly.
France 22-7 Scotland, 42 minutes
Fine work from George Turner at the tail, recognising Julien Marchand’s throw has travelled beyond the fifteen-metre line and thus allowing him to knife in at the back of the maul.
Antoine Dupont is penalised for offside as Scotland try to attack the blindside. Dupont asks the officials to look at a Pierre Schoeman hand-off, grabbing at his throat, but we don’t see a replay - Scotland will have a lineout 15 metres from the French line.
France 22-7 Scotland, 41 minutes
Romain Ntamack sends something skyward, Finn Russell setting himself on the boundary and taking reasonably comfortably. Russell punts the mark out of play inside the France half.
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