Hollie Cunningham, who impressed on debut last week, was crocked in one of the early rucks and the second row forward could play no further part, applauded off by the 15,000 crowd at La Rochelle’s Stade Marcel Deflandre to be replaced after merely a minute by Adelle Ferrie, herself a new cap in the win over Wales in round one.

Scotland had the first sniff of attacking position, winning a penalty when Leia Brebner-Holden was played by opposing scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus, but after Helen Nelson found touch, the line-out was spoiled and the opportunity missed.

When Scotland were pinged by referee Lauren Jenner for illegal involvement at a ruck, it was Morgane Bourgeois who stepped up to land a conventional penalty from around 25m for the game’s opening points (3-0, 9 mins).

France were beginning to turn the screw and made good ground when winger Kelly Arbey got on the end of a series of clever passes, and it ended in a try a few phases later when stand-off Carla Arbez dummied to ease through beneath the posts, Bourgeois adding the extras (10,0, 12 mins).

Jade Konkel made a telling dart from the base of a scrum as Scotland tried to counter, but a super jackal from the hosts relieved the pressure. Play stopped for a head injury assessment on tighthead prop Eliann Clarke, allowing Molly Poolman to take to the field for her Scotland debut – cap number 243.

France held the territorial advantage but stellar Scottish defence was keeping them at bay, forcing a knock-on by hooker Manon Bigot when the hosts looked set to strike once more.

However, a penalty ensued from a home scrum that was proving dominant and Bourgeois clipped another over from bang in front (13-0, 24 mins).

Scotland responded with a terrific Lisa Thomson jackal penalty as Nelson once more went to touch, but the line-out was again disrupted by a disciplined French pack, who went almost the length with a series of sublime offloads, only to be thwarted by an excellent Brebner-Holden cover tackle.

The visitors enjoyed their most sustained period of possession with five minutes left on the first-half clock, seeking a gap in French defences but to no avail as first Rhona Lloyd and then Fran McGhie were foiled.

But the breakthrough that was desperately needed came, and in what style. A France fumble near the halfway line was booted forward by Thomson, hared after by Emma Orr, who showed great composure to give the ball another nudge with her boot, pick up and go in under the sticks. Nelson converted to haul Scotland back into it (13-7, 37 mins).

Half-time: France 13-7 Scotland

Having got to within six points at half-time, Scotland almost produced another magical centre-inspired try when Thomson grubbered through, Orr chased and grasped to gather but the ball just evaded her clutches over the line.

France were rattled but another Bourgeois penalty, for not rolling away, extended their lead (16-7, 44 mins).

When Montserrat Amédée slipped through Scottish clutches, it looked for all the world that Teani Feleu would score, but yet again Scotland defended indefatigably to hold the ball up over the line.

There was little they could do moments later, though, as Bourdon Sansus landed a brilliant drop goal (19-7, 50 mins).

When McGhie burst through, Konkel was on hand to gain a few more yards as the visitors went in search of a riposte, and they redressed the balance when Nelson added three points after French transgression spoiled Scotland’s attacking platform (19-10, 55 mins).

France’s next scoring play was decisive in this see-saw affair, Bourdon Sansus’ quick break from a rolling maul supported by her number 8 Teani Felou, who galloped home past two flailing defenders to give the hosts their second try of the afternoon, with Bourgeois converting (26-10, 61 mins).

It was a stunning quickfire double when Séraphine Okemba went over in the right-hand corner, finishing off an outstanding counter after gathering Arbey’s delightful offload (31-10, 63 mins).

A devastating France then grabbed their bonus point try when Bourgeois went over from close range, converting her own score (38-10, 68 mins).

Becky Boyd replaced Ferrie for her own Scotland debut and with the game closed out, its denouement was less intense, although the attitude of the visitors didn’t diminish as they sought one final opportunity.

A last-minute penalty brought about an attacking line-out and the reward was reaped when Elis Martin went over from the resulting maul to offer some solace, and hope for future encounters with a polished France side. (38-15, 80 mins).

Full-time: France 38-15 Scotland

France: Morgane Bourgeois (Stade Bordelais), Kelly Arbey (Stade Toulousain), Marine Ménager (Montpellier), Montserrat Amédée (Stade Bordelais), Melissande Llorens (Blagnac SC), Carla Arbez (Stade Bordelais), Pauline Bourdon Sansus (Stade Toulousain); Yllana Brossaeu (Stade Bordelais), Manon Bigot (Blagnac SC), Rose Bernadou (Montpellier), Manaé Feleu (Grenoble) (captain), Madoussou Fall (Stade Bordelais), Charlotte Escudero (Stade Toulousain), Séraphine Okemba (Lyon), Teani Felou (Grenoble).

Replacements: Élisa Riffonneau (Grenoble), Ambre Mwayembe (Grenoble), Clara Joyeux (Blagnac SC), Kiara Zago (Stade Toulousain), Axelle Bertomieu (Blagnac SC), Léa Champon (Grenoble), Alexandra Chambon (Grenoble), Line Queyroi (Stade Toulousain).

Scotland: Chloe Rollie (Trailfinders Women), Rhona Lloyd (Les Lionnes de Bordelais), Emma Orr (Bristol Bears), Lisa Thomson (Trailfinders Women), Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers), Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning), Leia Brebner-Holden (Loughborough Lightning); Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning), Lana Skeldon, Elliann Clarke, Hollie Cunningham (all Bristol Bears), Sarah Bonar (Harlequins), Rachel Malcolm (captain) (unattached), Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier), Jade Konkel (Harlequins).

Replacements: Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning) (for Skeldon, 68 mins), Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers) (for Young, 60 mins), Molly Poolman (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC) (for Clarke, HIA, 16 mins, then 75 mins), Adelle Ferrie (Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars) (for Cunningham, 1 min), Becky Boyd (Loughborough Lightning) (for Ferrie, 68 mins), Alex Stewart Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars) (for Konkel, 60 mins) replacement, 73 mins), Caity Mattinson (Trailfinders Women) (for Brebner-Holden, 64 mins), Evie Wills (Leicester Tigers) (for Orr, 68 mins).

Referee: Lauren Jenner (FIR)
Assistant Referees:  Kat Roche (USAR) and Amelia Luciano (USAR)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
FPRO: Dan Jones (RFU)

Attendance: 15,000

Guinness Player of the Match: Manaé Feleu (France)