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:
Scotland v France
The atmosphere is bubbling away nicely at Murrayfield. Chilly and dry - it could be a good day for some running rugby.
Scotland v France
Kick off creeping ever closer in Edinburgh. You’d imagine France will be desperate for a fast start after a flat opening showing last week. Can Scotland ride the early punches?
Why Scotland’s Cardiff collapse was a blessing in disguise
If not now, when? That seems to have been the question following the Scotland rugby team around for the last half-decade or so as a talented squad looks to finally mount a genuine Six Nations title challenge for the very first time.
Despite having never finished in the top two since the Five Nations became Six a quarter of a century ago, the recent vintage under Gregor Townsend have felt on the brink of doing something special. These are no longer the dark old days of the late Noughties and early 2010s when Scotland would invariably scrap it out for the wooden spoon with Italy year after year. Recently, they often win their first game or two (one of those normally against England) to raise hopes, only to falter and be out of the running by the time Super Saturday rolls around.
Every February, it feels like this could or even should be Scotland’s year and this month has been no different. They’re the one team with continuity – Italy have a new coach, while the other four opponents have lost either their talismanic fly half or otherworldly scrum half since the World Cup. But Scotland... Townsend and his coaching staff remain in place, the magical Finn Russell is still pulling the strings from No 10, Duhan van der Merwe continues to run in tries for fun... if not now, when?
Why Scotland’s Cardiff collapse was a blessing in disguise
Scotland came close to surrendering a 27-point lead, the biggest in Six Nations history, in their opener against Wales but held on to win and that may just be the best thing that could have happened to them
Posolo Tuilagi set for a second international involvement
We only got fleeting glimpses of Posolo Tuilagi’s teenage talent on his international debut last Friday, but that a 19-year-old lock did not at all look out of place says a lot about the potential he possesses. Uncle Manu was in Marseille watching on - here’s a bit more about the latest product from a famous rugby family.
Who is Posolo Tuilagi? Manu’s massive nephew set to make France debut in Six Nations
The 19-year-old lock weighs nearly 150kg and is the latest rugby star from a famous Samoan family
Scotland vs France match officials
Australia’s Nic Berry has the whistle this afternoon, with compatriot Jordan Way and Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli on the touchlines as his assistants. Brian MacNeice is in the TMO truck, while the bunker system is again in place, as it will be throughout this Six Nations. Need a refresher on how the foul play process now works? Here’s our handy guide:
What is the TMO Bunker and how will the foul play process work in the Six Nations?
The inclusion of the foul play review process follows successful trials throughout 2023
Grant Gilchrist hopeful Cardiff scare serves Scotland well
Grant Gilchrist believes Scotland’s bitter-sweet Guinness Six Nations victory over Wales has left them in the perfect frame of mind for France today.
The Scots pulled off their first triumph in Cardiff for 22 years last weekend after clinging on to win 27-26.
However, the satisfaction of beating the Welsh on their own patch was tinged with a sense of deflation in the Scottish camp afterwards because they completely lost their way in the second half, missed out on the chance of a bonus point, and almost succumbed to what would have been the biggest comeback in Six Nations history.
Lock Gilchrist was suspended for the Cardiff clash and admitted he was “panicking” while watching it unfold on television.
However, the veteran second-rower feels it should be viewed in a positive light that his team kicked off the tournament with an away win yet still have so much scope for improvement.
“Winning at this level is tough,” he said. “And I don’t think that it’s a bad thing that we’re ambitious enough to want to put a complete performance out there.
“When you sit back and think that we’ve won in Cardiff for the first time in 22 years – that’s a big achievement. But we’re also not going to sit there and celebrate that as the perfect performance as we know we can be so much better.
“We showed that for 50 minutes with how in control we were. When you win a Test match you should always feel a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment because the amount of work that goes into that is huge and should never be underestimated.
“No matter what the scoreline is or what happened in the game – to get across the line in a Test match is huge.
“To win in the first game of the Six Nations is massive as you need to keep trying to build momentum throughout the tournament and winning ensures you can still do that.
“But having that little slant of disappointment is also no bad thing. It brought us in on Monday eager to learn how to get better in the second half and put a full performance together rather than coming in talking about staying grounded or any of these things.
“I feel it’s not a bad place to be, to feel a little bit disappointed despite winning in Cardiff for the first time in 22 years.”
Scotland v France: A debut for Harry Paterson
It feels somewhat fitting for a full-back named Paterson to be back in the Scottish 15 shirt, with Harry whistled in late with Kyle Steyn rightly attending to other business. This will be a huge test for the 22-year-old, who hasn’t played a whole lot of high level rugby and won’t necessarily have been expecting this opportunity. France are sure to plenty of high balls up on his head - can Paterson handle the heat?
Team news - France
Despite a heavy defeat to Ireland in Marseille, Fabien Galthie has made minimal changes to his France side, instead giving those beaten in the opener the chance to atone. One enforced switch comes in the second row, with Cameron Woki the beneficiary of Paul Willemse’s ban, while Louis Bielle-Biarrey is preferred to Yoram Moefana on the left wing.
Back row Alexandre Roumat will make his debut from the bench, with Posolo Tuilagi also retained in a six forwards to two backs split once more favoured by Galthie. Romain Taofifenua’s infected leg again rules him out, but brother Sebastien takes over from Reda Wardi, who has broken his arm, as the loosehead cover.
France XV: 1 Cyril Baille, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio; 4 Cameron Woki, 5 Paul Gabrillagues; 6 Francois Cros, 7 Charles Ollivon, 8 Gregory Alldritt; 9 Maxime Lucu, 10 Matthieu Jalibert; 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Jonathan Danty, 13 Gael Fickou, 14 Damian Penaud; 15 Thomas Ramos.
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Sebastien Taofifenua, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Posolo Tuilagi, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 Paul Boudehent; 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Yoram Moefana.
Team news - Scotland
News of a late switch for Scotland: Kyle Steyn is out with the arrival of a child imminent, which means a surprise debut for Harry Paterson in the back three. Kyle Rowe switches to the wing.
Up front, Gregor Townsend is able to welcome back a couple of key forwards to his starting line-up, with co-captain Rory Darge returning on the openside and Grant Gilchrist in alongside Scott Cummings in the second row. That compensates for the loss of Richie Gray and Luke Crosbie, who are out of the championship due to injury, while Jamie Ritchie also drops out.
The backline is as it was against Wales with Blair Kinghorn not yet fit to return, while Andy Christie makes the bench after a fine season at Saracens.
Scotland XV: 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 George Turner, 3 Zander Fagerson; 4 Grant Gilchrist, 5 Scott Cummings; 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge (co-capt.), 8 Jack Dempsey; 9 Ben White, 10 Finn Russell; 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 13 Huw Jones, 14 Kyle Rowe; 15 Harry Paterson.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Andy Christie; 21 George Horne, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Cameron Redpath.
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