Scotland v France highlights: Six Nations score and updates as visitors hold on to win in thrilling end
Scotland 16-20 France: Les Bleus bounce back from last week’s humiliation against Ireland with a dramatic win at Murraygield as Scotland denied at the death
Scotland suffered a dramatic 20-16 defeat to France as the second weekend of the Six Nations kicked off in style in Edinburgh.
Gregor Townsend’s side just about survived a scintillating Welsh comeback to secure a first win in Cardiff in 22 years in round one but endured similarly dramatic heartbreak a week later.
Louis Bialle-Biarrey’s stunning 70th-minute solo try – as he collected his own chip over the top to dot down – had put France one point ahead and they added a penalty to extend the lead to four before Scotland drove for the match-winning try as the clock seeped into the red. They burrowed their way over the line from close range but, after a long TMO review, it was determined they had been held up, with insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field call of no-try and Les Bleus clung on.
Scotland had led for most of the match due to Ben White’s early try but Gael Fickou scored for Les Bleus and kickers Thomas Ramos and Finn Russell traded penalties before the late drama.
Relive live coverage of Scotland vs France in today’s live blog:
TRY! Scotland 16-17 FRANCE (Louis Bielle-Biarrey try, 71 minutes)
Magnifique!
Sumptuous from Louis Bielle-Biarrey! What a talent this young wing wonder is!
Nolann Le Garrec deserves some credit for a fabulous flat pass to put Bielle-Biarrey on the outside, but it’s all about the finish from the wing. He gathers and eats up the ground, tightroping the touchline and then dropping on to his toe, judging his chip and chase perfectly. Harry Paterson is helpless as Bielle-Biarrey accelerates away, grounding from his knees and putting France within kicking distance of the lead.
Can Thomas Ramos take it from the tee? He can - France go in front!
Scotland 16-10 France, 69 minutes
Damian Penaud covers as Finn Russell chips, an apparent forward fumble ruled sideways by the officials. Back into a kicking exchange, each side attempting to drag the other out of shape.
France end it with an attacking adventure, Yoram Moefana offloading to no-one in particular but Grant Gilchrist’s hurried flick between the legs not the steadying act required for Scotland. Finn Russell thumps the loose ball into Pierre Schoeman’s paunch - accidental offside, France’s scrum.
Scotland 16-10 France, 67 minutes
A loose pass skids towards Duhan van der Merwe with Gael Fickou riding the slip-and-slide after it, a strange taking of man-and-ball from the centre as he uproots the big Scotland wing. Fickou is penalised, perhaps for the hands on the floor he seemed to use to secure the ball after Van der Merwe came to deck.
Scotland advance up the left touchline.
Scotland 16-10 France, 65 minutes
Into a period of kick tennis, Harry Paterson heavily involved before his co-captain Russell settles things down, catching and pausing to not allow the waiting French defensive line to advance. He eventually kicks to touch...and France throw it quickly.
Scotland 16-10 France, 64 minutes
That’s not Finn Russell’s best - the goalline drop out lands in his hands and he launches for goal, the drop kick of appropriate oomph but misdirected.
Scotland 16-10 France, 63 minutes
So nearly a 50:22 from Finn Russell, a timely sidewards hop saving Matthieu Jalibert from a fruitless pursuit and allowing him a more leisurely grounding in-goal.
Yoram Moefana is introduced to try and spark France into life.
Scotland 16-10 France, 61 minutes
What can France produce in this final 20 minutes? You feel like they need Matthieu Jalibert to take hold of the contest, with a young nine inside him and the visiting attack yet to really click today.
PENALTY! SCOTLAND 16-10 France (Finn Russell penalty, 58 minutes)
Finn Russell has three more points.
Scotland 13-10 France, 56 minutes
The Scottish scrum gets on top, too - penalty advantage with which to work. Harry Patterson and Duhan van der Merwe do some wide wandering, and then it’s over to Finn Russell to pull the strings, picking his runners, searching for space. Huw Jones skips by one tackler but not the second...and with Scotland in retreat, Nic Berry’s whistle brings everyone to a halt.
Finn Russell will look to extend Scotland’s advantage.
Scotland 13-10 France, 52 minutes
And Murrayfield roars as back-to-back French knock-ons allow their side to advance into the France half. The French coaching box throw their hands about in frustration - those are handling errors eight and nine of the day for the visitors, now absent their captain.
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