Scotland vs France LIVE: Six Nations rugby score and latest updates as Jonathan Danty try seals bonus point
Follow live reaction after the favourites for the 2022 Six Nations stayed on course for a Grand Slam
France were at their flamboyant best as they scored six tries in thumping Scotland 36-17 at Murrayfield on Saturday to make it three wins out of three in the Six Nations this year.
Two tries in the opening 13 minutes served notice of their form and status as tournament favourites, as Paul Willemse and Yoram Moefana went over early.
There were four more tries from Gale Fickou, Jonathan Danty and Damien Penaud (2) in a devastating performance, with Melvyn Jaminet adding three conversions
Scotland offered resistance at stages but only went over the line twice through loose forward Rory Darge, making his first start for the home team, and Duhan van der Merwe. Finn Russell converted one of the tries and added a penalty while Stuart Hogg converted the other.
Can Scotland knock France off course again?
In each of the last two campaigns, Scotland have played spoilsport to French hopes, first derailing their momentum at Murrayfield two years ago before sealing the Six Nations crown for Wales with victory in Paris in the delayed denouement of last year’s competition.
What chance on a three-peat today? Certainly Scotland’s injuries do not help, Gregor Townsend’s pack shorn as it is of several likely starters. The hosts would also be fortunate to receive the sort of generosity that Mohamed Haouas provided with his foolish punch of Jamie Ritchie 24 months ago, or Brice Dulin’s decision to keep the ball infield last time these two met, curious interventions that proved key in enabling Scottish victories.
If they are to France have led at half-time in all but one of their last 30 games (that Murrayfield encounter being the sole exception) and are beginning to show the second half composure to carry through those hot starts, but Fabien Galthie’s side are certainly more brittle in the second 40 minutes. If Scotland can stay in it and Murrayfield begins to roar…
Player to Watch – Gael Fickou
Gael Fickou’s maturation from young tearaway to steady midfield hand has been as much of a key to this France side’s development as the young stars who more often take the headlines. Still only 27, Fickou is nearing 70 caps and is such a beautifully balanced player at either 12 or 13. He has taken on additional defensive responsibilities since Shaun Edwards’ arrival into the French set-up and only grown into the role.
There was some thought that it may be Fickou who would be moved to the wing to cover for the absent Gabin Villiere, reprising a stop-gap strategy that has to some extent worked in the past. But such is his importance to this French side that Fickou remains in the centres, presenting diverse threats outside of Jonathan Danty, and that will be key if the visitors are to unlock the Steve Tandy-drilled defence.
Player to Watch – Finn Russell
The former Scotland scrum-half Rory Lawson this week suggested that Scotland felt they might have just found a couple of chinks in the French armour thanks to a little bit of inside knowledge from Finn Russell. The Racing 92 fly-half takes on some familiar Top 14 foes with some apparent tricks up his sleeve.
The indications are that Scotland are prepared to play with some adventure. Russell has had an up-and-down tournament so far, seizing the moment against England but then struggling against Wales. It seems likely that the pack in front of him will be on the back foot so it may be a day that will require a bit of Russell conjuring if Scotland are to again knock France off track.
Player to Watch – Uini Atonio
There was a thought that Fabien Galthie may hand a recall to Mohamed Haouas for this game, with the tighthead remaining a favourite of the French head coach even after his right hand connected so decisively with the cheek of Jamie Ritchie in this fixture two years ago. Haouas is available for the first time this tournament having concluded his interactions with the French legal system over a number of break-ins in 2014 – the 27-year-old Montpellier prop has received a suspended sentence.
That he has not returned is down largely to two excellent performances from Uini Atonio and Demba Bamba in combination against Ireland. It is, of course, hard to miss a player of Atonio’s sheer mass but there is so much more to the prop’s game than simply size, with his scrummaging increasingly a refined force and his ability to get around the park always underrated.
He may not be quite the distributor or breakdown threat as front-row colleagues Julien Marchand and Cyril Baille, but it was Atonio’s carries that made significant dents in the build-up to the two French scores a fortnight ago.
Player to watch – Rory Darge
It would have been a massive afternoon for Rory Darge before Hamish Watson was ruled out, but without his running-mate the flanker making a first Scotland start takes on a role of even more importance. Darge has been outstanding for Glasgow this season but this represents a sizeable step-up, though he will relish an unexpected opportunity to start in his favoured seven shirt.
If Scotland are to have a chance they will have to slow French ball, something Darge is exceptionally proficient at, among many other qualities. His footwork through contact should trouble the visitors’ defence and with Watson out, Darge will have to produce the sort of high-class performance of which he is eminently capable. This could be the first glimpse of a potential star.
“Rory punches above his weight, just like Hamish,” Townsend said of Darge this week. “He is a unique player. His ability to break tackles, his ability to jackal, his work-rate and his unflappability, we first saw that when he came into the camp last year.”
Team News – France
There is just a single swap for France from the side that beat Ireland. Jonathan Danty is back from injury to again provide plenty of muscle, but Gabin Villiere is ruled out with a rather painful sounding sinus issue – the wing may be back for Round Four and Five.
That necessitates a backline reshuffle. Fabien Galthie does not fully trust any of the other wings in his squad and has in the past pushed Gael Fickou out to cover any wing absentees. However with France keen to keep their defensive captain in the midfield this year, it is Yoram Moefana who makes the move wing to compensate for the loss of Villiere. Moefana has played on the wing on occasion at Bordeaux.
Elsewhere, it’s a case of copy, paste, with the power-paced bench that made a real impact against Ireland again primed with six forwards.
France XV: Baille, Marchand, Atonio; Woki, Willemse; Cros, Jelonch, Alldritt; Dupont, Ntamack; Moefana, Danty, Fickou, Penaud; Jaminet
Substitutes: Mauvaka, Gros, Bamba, Taofifenua, Flament, Cretin; Lucu, Ramos.
Team News - Scotland
The two weeks since their defeat to Wales could hardly have been more unfriendly for Scotland,. Rory Sutherland and Jonny Gray are particularly notable absentees in the tight five, while Cameron Redpath’s rotten injury luck has continued – the centre will require surgery on what is reportedly a bulging disc in his neck.
To complicate matters further, Matt Fagerson has not quite proved his fitness after going off in the first half of the defeat to Wales. And then, on match eve, Hamish Watson tested positive to cause Gregor Townsend’s best laid plans to be further altered.
Rory Darge, on his first Six Nations start, shifts across to his preferred openside spot, with Nick Haining promoted from the bench to provide a different sort of blindside presence. Sam Skinner shifts a row forward with Magnus Bradbury filling the number eight shirt.
Behind the scrum it is as you were, with Sione Tuipulotu retained at 12. Among the substitutes, there is a pleasing return for another oft-injured centre in Mark Bennett, in a Scotland squad for the first time since 2018, while Oli Kebble, Jamie Hodgson and Nick Haining are also back amongst things. Andy Christie awaits a debut having been called-up after Watson’s positive test.
Scotland XV: Schoeman, McInally, Fagerson; Skinner, Gilchrist; Haining, Darge, Bradbury; Price, Russell; van der Merwe, Tuipulotu, Harris, Graham; Hogg
Substitutes: Turner, Kebble, Nel, Hodgson, Christie; White, Kinghorn, Bennett.
Scotland vs France: Who else is playing today?
Fans aren’t only being treated to a huge clash with Scotland vs France, they will also be able to dig into England vs Wales today.
The match at Twickenham kicks off at 4.45pm so supporters will be able to watch both matches.
All the team news is up and the coaches have spoken about the big match with whoever losing most likely out of the running to win this year. Both England and Wales have lost a match already with the former being defeated by Scotland and the latter losing to Ireland.
For all the information on the England match, click here:
Is England vs Wales on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch
Everything you need to know ahead of the Six Nations fixture
Scotland vs France: Watson out
Scotland will give France a good match in Murrayfield but they will be without one of their best ball carriers as Hamish Watson has tested positive.
Two backroom staff in the Scottish camp have also tested positive and they are all isolating in line with Scotland’s guidance.
It’s a huge loss for Scotland, Watson hasn’t missed a tackle in the tournament since 2019. That means he has made 163 tackles in a row which is a mad statistic! Nick Haining comes into the side and it will be a tough test for the player to fill his shoes but a good opportunity to prove himself.
We shall see how he gets on in under an hour’s time.
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