That’s all from us – over and out!

Thank you for your company today.

That result sees Scotland remain third on the ladder, with the other two matches of the round still to be played.

We will look forward to Scotland’s next match, hosting Italy at Hive Stadium on Sunday 13 April.

That match will kick off at 3pm. We hope you will join us for that one.

That’s all from us for now, see you then.

Second half – in pictures

 

 

 

Full time debrief

A brilliant first half display from Scotland may have taken its toll in the second stanza as the French had near free reign.

The visitors can hold their heads high though, as for long stretches they challenged the hosts, rising to the challenge laid down by the French in the opening 20 minutes.

The 15,000 strong crowd made for an exceptional atmosphere today.

Stand outs today for Scotland were Jade Konkel, Leia Brebner-Holden, Lisa Thomson and Elis Martin, who impacted off the bench.

TRY SCOTLAND – Elis Martin

They go to the corner through Nelson, for one final drive at the line.

The lineout is once again good from Martin, and they drive. Forward, forward and towards the line.

And they do dot down! It’s Elis Martin who comes up with the plaudits, and scores Scotland’s second try of the match.

A well worked set piece there, and Scotland absolutely deserved that try. It’s consolation in the end, but super work from the replacement hooker.

Nelson lines up the conversion from wide left, but is denied by the upright. The referee blows the final whistle. (France 38 – 15 Scotland)

Final moments

Another good lineout and the forwards get rumbling.

Into the 22 they march, and it goes wide to the backs, but it’s knocked on inexplicably and France once again get out from their 22.

They boot it back to McGhie who returns up to the 22, and provides well for Mattinson. Penalty advantage for Scotland – I think for offside.

We go back for the penalty as the clock goes into the red.

Final chance for Scotland?

Penalty to Scotland. The French were warned about their early engagements, and the referee has stuck to her word.

Up to halfway we go, and the lineout from Elis Martin is great. The rolling maul is underway and Scotland have a penalty advantage.

They try a cross kick, but it’s straight down a French throat, so we go back for the penalty, which is thumped towards the French 22.

Five minutes remaining

Just five minutes left in this one, as Scotland win the scrum, but the next phase finds McGhie isolated on the left wing.

She’s punished for it, as the ref gives a penalty for holding on. France kick towards the 22 – another costly penalty for the Scots.

Rachel McLachlan is receiving treatment from the medical team.

Another change for the visitors

Brilliant work as the lineout goes to a French rolling maul, but it’s knocked on in the melee, and Scotland have a chance to get out from their 22.

Molly Poolman is coming back on to replace Elliann Clarke now.

France continue pushing till the end

They opt for a 22 dropout, and they go short sneakily and win it back.

Arbez goes for a clever chip over the top and tries to collect, but knocks on in doing so, giving the visitors a chance to get out of their half.

French captain Manae Feleu has been named Player of the Match.

Scotland pushing hard

A French box kick is brought back by McGhie, who makes huge metres going back, and Thomson kicks towards the corner.

It’s just tipped infield and hurriedly kick under pressure. It’s won by Scotland on the edge of the 22. Phases pile up for Scotland as they search desperately for a try to get them back on track.

Just as they look destined to go over, a kick from Thomson goes too deep and it’s gone dead.

TRY France – bonus point try

France really have their tails up now after scoring their third try of the afternoon.

Away they go again, creativity flowing. They go in search of a fourth through a clever cross kick, but it goes out. They were under penalty advantage though, as Lloyd was offside.

They kick towards the corner, and have a lineout about 15 metres out from the Scottish line. Uncontested, they win and go off the back, brought down just a metre out.

They have overloads all over the field but they go straight, then wide right to full back Bourgeois, who cuts back infield as simply as you like, to score France’s bonus point try.

She lines up her own conversion, and nails it. That’s a 28-point lead for the home side now, with about 12 minutes remaining. (France 38 – 10 Scotland)

In other news, Elis Martin is on for Lana Skeldon, Becky Boyd is coming on for her debut, replacing Adelle Ferrie. Boyd takes the 244 cap.

Evie Wills comes on for the first time in three years, she replaces Emma Orr.

TRY France

France are asserting their dominance now. From the restart they bash their way down the middle of the field, reaching right up to the outskirts of the 22.

Wide to the right they go, and a simply brilliant offload from winger Melissande Llorens sees Seraphine Okemba pick up and beat the lone Scottish defender to cross over in the right hand corner.

This time Bourgeois can’t convert. Caity Mattinson is coming on for Leia Brebner-Holden. (France 31 – 10 Scotland)

TRY France

It’s a big lineout drive from France, seeing them go all the way up to the 22, with SCotland players clinging off them.

Scrum half Bourdon Sansus goes for a snipe and reaches inside the 22. From the floor she pops the ball beautifully to Feleu, who has been everywhere today – she crosses over to score France’s second try.

From wide out on the left Bourgeois converts, extending the lead to 16 points. (France 26 – 10 Scotland)

Scotland ring in the changes

Leah Bartlett is now coming on for Anne Young, and Alex Stewart is coming on for Jade Konkel.

20 minutes to go, France on top

Konkel is receiving medical attention, so we have a natural break in play. The referee has just explained to the French that any more early engagements will result in a penalty to Scotland.

Konkel is okay to carry on and play resumes. It’s a huge French scrum but Scotland get away with it, Brebner-Holden picking up from the back quickly.

Nelson clears and it bounces away into touch around the 40m line.

Scotland keeping pace well

France’s restart goes straight out this time, giving Scotland a scrum on the halfway line.

Another early engagement by the hosts and Konkel again goes from the back quickly.

France get their hands on it and hook it away downfield. McGhie chases but the bounce catches her out, and while she tries to reel it in, she knocks on, on the Scottish 22.

Let off for Scotland

Off the back of the scrum they go, looking dangerous.

Through the first tackle they break, but – fortunately for Scotland – it’s a forward pass just as things were looking pretty serious there.

Scotland have the scrum inside their 22.

Scotland hit straight back

Scotland try a cute kick off and it works out – with France knocking on.

Phases count up for the visitors and they reach inside the 22 through McGhie. Bustling attack and cynical defending plays from France means a penalty right in front of the posts.

Nelson will line this one up – great work from the Scots in the past few minutes there. She slots it. (France 19 – 10 Scotland)

Drop goal France

The French lineout again is superb, and the rolling maul gets going.

Centre Montserrat Amedee nabs the ball and crashes towards the line, before she’s brought down and the next phase gets over the line but the referee can see no grounding and Scotland will have a goal line drop out.

Thomson knocks it back to around halfway, which is caught by scrum half Bourdon Sansus. She takes a moment to compose herself and bangs over a drop goal from about 40 metres out. Sensational. (France 19 – 7 Scotland)

France back on top

The lineout is lost though.

It’s hooked away down to Lloyd, who fumbles with the sun in her eyes. France now have the chance to make an impact from the halfway line.

The scrum’s again great from France and they win a penalty for the front row collapsing. Farther and farther down the field the French go.

Scotland’s turn to attack

It’s Scotland’s turn to attack now, through their rampaging forwards.

They reach the halfway line before going wide to Lloyd, who chips it forwards and catches the French fullback under pressure on the French 5m line.

The hosts scramble well though and manage to get it away to the 22 for a Scottish lineout.

Penalty France – Bourgeois nails it

Scotland are pinged for not rolling away just inside 40m out from their line, and they point to the posts.

This would kill the momentum Scotland worked so hard to carry on from the restart.

Bourgeois nails it – straight down the middle. (France 16 – 7 Scotland)

Scotland so nearly score again through Orr

A penalty goes the way of Scotland for a high shot on Rollie in her returning service from the clearing kick.

Nelson pops it downfield, and it just goes out, despite the best efforts of the French fullback.

The lineout is good and Skeldon goes off the back. It’s flung back to Thomson, who grubbers the ball towards the try line, with Orr chasing. The bounce of the ball just doesn’t sit though, and Orr can’t quite dot down, it’s knocked on.

France take the goal line drop out quickly and win it back, thumping it down field.

We’re back!

We’re back underway from the boot of Thomson, six points is the gap for Scotland to make up in this stanza – what can they do?

Thomson goes deep and it;s collected safely before being booted down to Rollie to return.

First half – in pictures

 

 

 

Half time debrief

After a flying start from the hosts, Scotland did exceedingly well to battle back and were well worth their try in the embers of the first stanza.

Konkel has made the most metres of anyone on the field (50+), and France’s handling error count of 8 – 5 will weigh heavily on them in the half time talk.

Scotland’s 77 tackles made, compared to France’s 66 will also be a talking point, as that was another 50 minute half of rugby.

If Scotland can keep up the momentum from the end of the first half, this will be a blockbuster finish. Here’s hoping they can…

Final throes

What a try that was from Orr – set up by Thomson after the French knock on initially.

Perseverance has paid off there for the visitors.

In the final minute, Scotland has a lineout and the resulting phase is knocked on, bringing play to a close for the first half.

TRY SCOTLAND! Emma Orr

Five minutes left in this half, and in fact the decision has been reversed – Scotland knocked on initially, so France will have the feed just outside their 22.

Off the back they go, but they’re cut down near the halfway line. It’s nocked on in midfield and it’s hacked forwards by Thomson and centre partner Emma Orr gives chase!

It’s bumbling around inside the 22 and Orr nudges it forwards again, it’s over the try line now and Orr collects to score Scotland’s first try!

Nelson adds the extras from right in front of the posts. (France 13 – 7 Scotland)

Scotland pushing hard, asking questions

Scotland’s scrambling defence has been ironclad so far, but it must be tiring.

Another French foray, but it’s won back after a chip over the top, which Rollie collects. It’s popped over by Scotland this time for Thomson to chase, and she collects it on the bounce.

Rhona Lloyd then breaks down the right wing and reaches the 22. Phase after phase they god, but they’re losing ground now.

Loose ball on the floor sees it turned over, but it’s knocked on in the process, giving Scotland another scrum.

It was France’s turn to defend staunchly there, and they did just that.

Scotland have chances

More aerial ping pong, which Scotland win this time, sending the hosts back to near their 22.

They force a French knock on too, so they will have a scrum about 10m into enemy territory. It’s an early engagement too, so Scotland’s short hand penalty is tapped quickly and Konkel reaches up to the 22.

Again though, she’s not supported and Scotland are penalised for hanging on in the ruck. France are let off once again.

France exerting pressure

The restart is good this time, and – after some aerial ping pong – it’s run back by the French full back. She’s caught in midfield holding on though, and Scotland kick to about 15 metres from the French tryline.

The lineout is pinched though and France exit the 22 with little fuss. Up the middle they go, before launching a kick down to Chloe Rollie. She tries a chip and chase, but it’s easily collected.

More ping pong, before France break through Feleu, but just as she’s going to ground inside the 22, she pops a pass, and it’s lost forward. Big let off for Scotland.

Elliann Clarke is coming back on from her HIA, meaning Poolman will go back off.

Penalty added for France

The scrum, once again, results in a French penalty – this time right in front of the posts. Scotland went straight down – I think it was hooker Lana Skeldon penalised.

They point to the posts, and Bourgeois pops it over with minimal fuss. (France 13 – 0 Scotland)

Intensity rising, Scotland defending well

A penalty for French scrum half Bourdon Sansus being offside gives Scotland a chance to escape. They kick up to halfway but the lineout move doesn’t go according to plan and Leia Brebner-Holden can’t hang on to the pop down from Malcolm.

The resulting scrum wins a penalty for France, which they kick towards the corner but it’s caught on the way back infield by Helen Nelson, and they clear.

As France bundle forward once again, on the edge of the Scotland 22, a clever pop pass almost goes to hand, but it’s lost forward, giving Scotland a chance to clear their lines.

Scotland defence standing strong

France win a penalty in midfield after they are judged to have hung on in the tackle.

They kick towards the 22 and rumble through the back of the lineout.

Side to side they go across the 22, but the Scotland defence stands strong.

In desperation for some creativity, a French pass goes loose and they almost come unstuck, but the ball is ushered out for a Scotland lineout on the edge of their 22.

HIA for Elliann Clarke – Poolman on for debut

Elliann Clarke has been called off for a head injury assessment, meaning the Molly Poolman will come on and be Scotland cap number 243.

A huge moment for Poolman – her family have been coming to La Rochelle since she was just six weeks old, and she considers it a home away from home.

Scotland chance, but penalty lets France off

A Scotland scrum from a dropped restart catch sees Konkel come off the back and reach inside the 22.

But the second phase backup isn’t there and Scotland are penalised for hanging on in the ruck. A gilt-edged chance to hit back has gone to waste there.

TRY France

Scotland’s restart has gone altogether too far, and it’s rolled dead.

It means a French scrum on the halfway line. Their scrum is good and they reach the 22 in their first phase.

Under penalty advantage, they rumble up the middle, in the shadow of the posts. And the French have their first try, through fly half Arbez.

Number 8 Teani Feleu did the initial damage, crunching play up to the 5m line. Then a quick flick from scrum half Pauline Bourdon Sansus into the hands of Arbez caught Scotland off guard and she skipped through a tackle to go under the posts.

Bourgeois adds the extras and all of a sudden France are 10 points clear. (France 10 – 0 Scotland)

France take the lead

Full back Morgane Bourgeois lines up the attempt at goal, from just on the right of the uprights.

She nails it! (France 3 – 0 Scotland)

France penalty – look at the posts

France find themselves on the edge of their 22, thanks to a good stab ahead from Thomson. TMO brings play back though, as they say it has gone out on the full, so we’re back to halfway for a French throw.

They’re making progress now, and Scotland are pinged for taking out the scrum half, about 5m out from their 22.

They have opted for the three this time.

Scotland with chances

It’s Scotland with the first chance to attack.

On the edge of the French 22, they win a penalty for playing the scrum half. They have the option to go for the posts, but opt instead to kick to the corner.

It came from a nice looping pass out to the left wing for Fran McGhie to latch onto and burst towards the 22.

The lineout, 10m out from the French line, is nicked and hoofed away by the hosts.

First sub for Scotland

In fact we will see Cunningham go off with what looks to be a leg injury. Tragic, just a minute into the match.

Adelle Ferrie will come on for her second Scotland cap.

First penalty to Scotland

First penalty of the game goes the way of Scotland – France going into the ruck off their feet in the midfield.

Hollie Cunningham, on for her second cap, is receiving medical attention after the melee in the ruck.

Kick off!

We’re underway here, through the boot of French fly half Carla Arbez.

She goes short and it’s brought down safely by captain Malcolm.

A few phases before it’s hooked down field by Lisa Thompson.

A moment’s applause

We’re having a moment’s applause for the loss of French rugby player, Nicolas Haddad before the anthems.

Here come the teams!

Led by Rachel Malcolm, here comes Scotland!

Rapturous applause greets the sides – anthems are up next.

As the stadium starts to fill up…

We are just over 10 minutes away from kick off!

How it stands

After dispatching Ireland in the opening round, the hosts will be looking to maintain pace with leaders England today.

While the hosts sit second, Scotland are right on their tails in third after completing a 24 – 21 victory over the Welsh in their first match.

This match will kick off the second round of the competition, with Wales v England played later on today, and Italy v Ireland played tomorrow afternoon.

Final preparations… loading

Scotland are locked in.

We’ll be live on BBC iPlayer

If you can’t catch today’s match in the flesh, you can certainly catch it on BBC iPlayer from about 12:50 onwards.

Fingers crossed Scotland can continue their strong start to this year’s Six Nations.

Weather report!

Well with just under half an hour to kick off, I’m pleased to report (from Scotland) that La Rochelle is basked in sunny conditions, 12 degrees, and blue skies currently.

Let’s hope that weather continues for the sold out crowd of 15,000.

A glimpse behind the curtain

Here’s how Marcel Deflandre Stadium looked just over an hour before kick off:

Coin toss news

The coin has been tossed by referee Lauren Jenner. France will kick off, with Scotland receiving first.

Scotland have arrived!

And they’re heading out to warm up…

Today’s match official appointments

Today’s match officials are representing three nations – Italy, USA, and South Africa.

Referee: Lauren Jenner (FIR)
AR1: Kat Roche (USAR)
AR2: Amelia Luciano (USAR)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

What’s changed for Scotland?

Off the back of last week’s fantastic victory against Wales at the Hive Stadium, the only alteration to the starting lineup sees Jade Konkel come in to play at number 8.

Evie Gallagher is unavailable for selection following a one-match suspension after receiving a red card against Wales.

The other changes include two potential debutants off the bench. Both forwards, Molly Poolman grabs the 18 shirt, and Becky Boyd takes the number 20.

If they do enter the fray, the first to come onto the pitch will be Scotland cap 243 and the second 244.

And how your Scotland team lines up!

How the French line up

Here’s how the home side lines up for today’s clash:

15. Morgane Bourgeois
14. Kelly Arbey
13. Marine Menager (vice-captain)
12. Montserrat Amedee
11. Melissande Llorens
10. Carla Arbez
9. Pauline Bourdon Sansus

1. Yllana Brosseau
2. Manon Bigot
3. Rose Bernadou
4. Manae Feleu (vice-captain)
5. Madoussou Fall
6. Charlotte Escudero
7. Seraphine Okemba
8. Teani Feleu

Replacements
16. Elisa Riffonneau
17. Ambre Mwayembe
18. Clara Joyeux
19. Kiara Zago
20. Axelle Berthoumieu
21. Lea Champon
22. Alexandra Chambon
23. Lina Queyroi

Hello and welcome!

Hello and welcome, one and all, to today’s live match centre as we prepare for Scotland’s second round of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations to get underway.

Today the Scots take on France away at Marcel Deflandre Stadium, La Rochelle.

With kick off just under an hour away, we will shortly bring you team news, match officials, coin toss – the works!

Stick with us for rolling updates on today’s match.