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 15:01 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France 0-0 Scotland, 1 minute

A deep kick off from Stuart Hogg, forcing Anthony Jelonch to retreat before the flanker comes stomping forth again on the lumber for the first time. A major collision as Jelonch meets the shoulders of Matt Fagerson and Grant Gilchrist.

Antoine Dupont ensures a tidy exit with a powerful box kick.

[26 February 2023 15:00 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

KICK OFF!

Stuart Hogg’s right boot sends the ball skywards and we are underway at the Stade de France!

[26 February 2023 14:59 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France vs Scotland

One for the neutrals? I fancy this will be plenty of fun. The middle weekend of the 2023 Six Nations concludes in Paris, and kick off is moments away...

[26 February 2023 14:58 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Anthems

“Flower of Scotland” is piped prettily and sung well by the Scottish squad, grateful, you’d assume, not to have contend with the travelling anthem mishap that Ireland did yesterday. The pockets of tartan scarves wave.

“La Marseillaise” is delivered forcefully, a couple of chilly looking mascots lending their help as the players chant along behind them.

[26 February 2023 14:55 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France vs Scotland

A great banner is on the pitch to welcome the players, “united for one dream” the message to the French crowd and players with the autumn World Cup now very much on the horizon.

Before kick-off, as has been the case at all three games this weekend, a moment to pause in support of the people of Ukraine one year on from the escalation of the Russian invasion.

[26 February 2023 14:53 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France vs Scotland

France are in their change white kit today, with the Scottish visitors clad in familiar navy blue.

Antoine Dupont and Jamie Ritchie stand shoulder to shoulder in the tunnel as the rest of the 23s file in behind them. Chilly but dry in Paris - it might be a good day for some running rugby.

[26 February 2023 14:51 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France vs Scotland - Match Officials

World Rugby have spread the refereeing appointments around for this Six Nations, given all of their likely World Cup officiating panel a go in the middle. Fast-rising Georgian Nika Amashukeli takes charge this afternoon in a multi-national team.

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) ARs: Karl Dickson (RFU) & Andrea Piardi (FIR) TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

[26 February 2023 14:49 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France vs Scotland

The flags are beginning wave in the stands at the Stade de France with kick off swiftly approaching. I think France will try to really control things in the first 40, building through their long kicking game to win territory and push Scotland back having struggled to prevent Ireland settling in two weeks ago.

(Getty Images)

[26 February 2023 14:43 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France vs Scotland - Shaun Edwards speaks to ITV

“The fact that Scotland were the only team to have beaten us here in the last three years is a huge part of it,” the France defence coach says. “We don’t want them coming to Paris and winning again. We want to regain momentum. We lost against Ireland last week in a very, very high quality game.

“Obviously you have to take into account how much possession Ireland have but a couple of tries we definitely could have stopped. Four tries if four tries, but we were back to normal being the most disciplined team in world rugby, which we were last year.”

[26 February 2023 14:35 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France vs Scotland

Slightly peculiarly, there were plenty of French accents in Cardiff yesterday, busying the bars around the Principality Stadium and mingling with the Welsh and English. Sunday Six Nations games don’t always sell brilliantly but there should be a good turnout this afternoon, boosted by a healthy group of travelling Scots.