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:
KICK-OFF! Scotland 13-10 France
And we’re back under way in Edinburgh. A crucial second half coming up for both sides - this game could go either way. France still down to 14 men for the first seven minutes of the second half with Uini Atonio’s sin-bin, remember.
Why was Uini Atonio only given a yellow card?
Plenty of talking points from that first half with a big one right at the end as France prop Uini Atonio was sin-binned for a no-arms hit close to the line. The TMO Bunker reviewed the hit and determined that it would say as a yellow card rather than being upgraded to red.
The referee (and the bunker) has to go through a four-step process (detailed below) to determine the extent of the foul play and the sanction. The four steps are:
- Has head contact occurred?
- Was there any foul play?
- What was the degree of danger?
- Is there any mitigation?
A no-arms tackle is an always-illegal act, leading to a red card if there’s head contact. In this instance, the bunker either determined that there was a low degree of danger in Atonio’s hit and he tried to wrap his arms (ensuring it wasn’t a no-arms hit) or that it was a no-arms hit but there wasn’t clear head contact
Half-time! Scotland 13-10 France
A fascinating first 40 minutes in Edinburgh as Scotland hold a narrow lead but France are still right in this.
Scotland 13-10 France, 40 minutes
Penalty France! Cyril Baille leaps to his feet in delight having forced Zander Fagerson to floor. France survive.
And more good news for the visitors - Uini Atonio’s yellow card stands. He’ll be back with us reasonably soon after the interval, and France punt to touch to send us down the tunnel.
Scotland 13-10 France, 39 minutes
They will. Five out, virtually dead centre. A try before half-time would be huge.
Scotland 13-10 France, 39 minutes
Atonio slopes off; replacement tighthead Dorian Aldegheri trudges on with Scotland calling for a scrum. France sacrifice another forward and the Scottish front row draw a penalty. Will they scrum again?
YELLOW CARD! Uini Atonio is sent to the sin bin! Scotland 13-10 France, 38 minutes
France are in bother here. Another penalty, this time for a rather nasty no-arms hit from Uini Atonio a metre short of the line.
And Nic Berry goes to his pocket! That’s not great at all from Atonio, whose off to the bin for ten minutes at least with the incident referred to the bunker.
Scotland 13-10 France, 37 minutes
French hands pilfer Scottish ruck ball, but they can’t retain it, allowing the hosts back in. The Murrayfield crowd rises in expectation, and there’s a penalty to come back to when the home side stall.
Tapped off the floor - here come Scotland...
Scotland 13-10 France, 35 minutes
Some amateur acrobatics from Finn Russell, forced off his feet by a shallow Sione Tuipulotu pull-back pass but still managing to force on the next transfer. But Scotland can’t build too much further.
Neither, though, do France make much of turnover ball. Scotland back on the attack.
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