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.
Full-time: England 23-19 Wales
Thank you so much for joining me for a cracking match between England and Wales.
It was Marcus Smith’s boot that gave England a 12-0 lead at half-time but scores from Dombrandt, Tompkins and Hardy brought some excitement into the match.
Wales had one last roll of the dice when Lawes had a deliberate knock-on but Itoje turned it over with late drama at Twickenham. The Six Nations weekend isn’t over as Ireland take on Italy tomorrow but for now have a read of Harry Latham-Coyle’s report to digest that thriller.
Marcus Smith kicks England to victory over Wales in tense Six Nations clash
England 23-19 Wales: Ben Youngs comes on to break the all-time caps record for the men’s team during victory
Full-time: England 23-19 Wales
Ben Youngs has broken Jason Leonard’s men’s cap record after being subbed on for Harry Randall in the second half. He now has 115 caps under his belt.
But if he wants to break the all-time cap record, held by Rochelle Clark, he’ll have to play another 22 matches for England! And he’ll have to fight off Sarah Hunter as the Red Roses captain is closing in on the record herself with 130 to her name.
Full-time: England 23-19 Wales
One thing which will be worrying for England is the injury of Luke Cowan-Dickie. The hooker was subbed in the first half with a knee injury and he was in crutches in the post-match huddle.
The Exeter man, if he cannot play in the rest of the championship, will be replaced in the starting shirt by Jamie George. But will this open the door for Jamie Blamire?
We will have to wait and see. There’s another fallow week so it will be another long wait!
Full-time: England 23-19 Wales
It was a huge resilient effort for England to close out that game. Though Lawes did concede the penalty in the end, the England team of a few years ago may have blown the end of that game.
Wales can take huge positives from the loss though. Cuthbert is back to his best, Biggar continues to fill Alun Wyn Jones’ captaincy well and they have big ball carriers. If they were able to find Basham in the first half to give him a walk-in try who knows how the match would have ended.
It’s very similar to the earlier match when Stuart Hogg came close to scoring just before half-time. That would’ve given Scotland the lead before the break but instead France closed out a 36-17.
The championship can be won by England, Ireland and France but after today France will still have the favourites tag.
Full-time: England 23-19 Wales
The match ran over that much it has eaten up the interview time and so we haven’t heard from anyone from the Welsh camp unfortunately.
If I see any updates on social media I shall update you, so confused by that referee decision and I need someone to discuss it!
Full-time: England 23-19 Wales
I’m surprised Smith wasn’t asked about Lawes, I think the coaches will be and I’ll bring you all of that when we hear from them.
At any point of the game a deliberate knock-on would have seen him be shown yellow. But he stayed on for that last period.
The result means Wales won’t defend their title as two losses usually sees a team not lift the trophy. Can Wales do England or Ireland a favour and beat them next time out? If Wales scalp France the championship could be won by anyone.
Full-time: England 23-19 Wales
Player of the Match Marcus Smith told ITV: “It was a bit shaky towards the end. We know how proud the Welsh team are and the leaders spoke well. It was close but we got the job done.
“I thought the forward pack put us on the front foot, Rands [Harry Randall] played well.
“Luckily we built enough of a lead and we will look at the second half in the fallow week.”
Full-time: England 23-19 Wales
Wales were hammering us but Itoje does a fantastic job to turn the ball over! Youngs kicks the ball off and it is all over.
The first half was all Smith’s boot but it was the second half that set this match on fire. Dombrandt scored and then Tompkins and Hardy put Wales’ hopes up.
They just couldn’t get it over the line in the end. England can still win the Six Nations but France will have to lose a match in order to do so. Wales are unlikely get their hands on the trophy now.
84’ England 23-19 Wales
Wales are looking for the winner here, imagine if they are able to do this. It would be unbelievable.
The clock is in the red and they are going here, England fans are you getting nervous yet?
They keep battering on the door and England are doing well not to concede a penalty. Williams does so so well to stay on pitch but it looked like they spilt the ball but Lawes may have deliberately knocked this on.
It’s been judged as a knock on, Wales will go again but why is Lawes still on the field? Surely that should have been a yellow card.
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