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 12-0 Scotland, 11 minutes
Penalty to Scotland. They needed that, Thibaud Flament taking the restart well but a teammate then commiting an offence to protect the ball.
Francois Cros came on for Anthony Jelonch, by the way, and I suspect he may on for the remainder. Gregor Townsend has been prompted into a change, too - the Scotland coach feels his side need a second lock on the pitch, so Hamish Watson is sacrificed for Jonny Gray, who joins his brother in the engine room ahead of a five metre lineout.
TRY! FRANCE 12-0 Scotland (Ethan Dumortier try, 9 minutes)
There’s the second score!
Oh, Scotland. All that optimism coming in to today and twice they have been ripped open in the opening ten minutes. Kyle Steyn inadvertendly kicks the ball free as he tries to secure possession after Hogg had been hauled down, with French hands sharpest down to it.
Scotland’s 14 are much too narrow having hared back to try and get to Thomas Ramos’ chip ahead, meaning it is simply a matter of hands for France to finish it off. Gael Fickou straightens, Romain Ntamack turns provider, and in goes Ethan Dumortier untouched in the corner.
Ramos misses from the tee this time.
France 7-0 Scotland, 8 minutes
France play twice out the back to Thomas Ramos, who turns Stuart Hogg with a chip in behind.
And France have it! They busy the breakdown and the ball pops out their way...
France 7-0 Scotland, 7 minutes
Grant Gilchrist grasps at his scrum cap, clearly distraught. It was a dangerous challenge in an attempt to impart some physicality, and it’s the right call.
France kick up to halfway from the penalty.
RED CARD! Grant Gilchrist is sent off! France 7-0 Scotland, 7 minutes
It’s the same two Scottish tacklers, Matt Fagerson contacting first and then Grant Gilchrist afterwards and...the lock will be in trouble here. There doesn’t appear to be a clear wrap from the second row, and there’s significant contact direct to Jelonch’s head.
This might well be red. It is - Grant Gilchrist is sent off! Nika Amashukeli works through the process with his TMO Ben Whitehouse, and out comes the card - from bad to worse for Scotland!
France 7-0 Scotland, 6 minutes
Again Stuart Hogg’s restart lands in the arms of Anthony Jelonch, and again the flanker delivers some punishment to the Scottish chasers. With two flankers on the bench, the French back row can afford to empty their tanks - it’s been an action-packed opening from Jelonch.
Antoine Dupont clears well once more, and the medic is checking Jelonch over - it looks like he is ordering the flanker off for an HIA, but Jelonch rejoins his teammates hoping to continue. He won’t be allowed...and a replay on the big screen will prompt a TMO check of the challenge that caused the head injury...
TRY! FRANCE 7-0 Scotland (Romain Ntamack try, 5 minutes)
A scintillating start from France!
Sacre bleu - that’s a worrying first defensive set for Scotland, unable to at all stall the French heavy runners. The bludgeons open up space for Romain Ntamack’s blade, advantage coming as Antoine Dupont finds his halfback partner sweeping around to the left edge.
Ntamack shimmies home about ten metres in from the touchline. Thomas Ramos’ first conversion is true - an ominous start.
France 0-0 Scotland, 4 minutes
A strong initial surge from France before hooker Julien Marchand bursts away. And here come the heavy mob, men pouring around the corner, first Thibaud Flament and then his lock partner Paul Willemse doing the toting.
Willemse again! Bish, bash bosh and the French are up to withina metre through Cyril Baille...
France 0-0 Scotland, 3 minutes
Anthony Jelonch fancies this! You don’t see Duhan van der Merwe deposited on his derriere too often, but the wing is flat-footed as Jelonch ploughs into him, allowing the flanker to keep his legs driving. Scotland infringe at the ruck; France kick into the visitors’ 22.
France 0-0 Scotland, 2 minutes
A more awkward collision now as Kyle Steyn slips into contact, with the high hit negated by Steyn’s significant change in height. Finn Russell goes to work, throwing flat to Pierre Schoeman at the line.
Russell orchestrates again but Stuart Hogg can’t gather cleanly in a wide channel.
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