France v Scotland – Scottish Rugby

74'

Huge penalty for Scotland

France are poised perfectly inside the Scottish 22 but the initial bind is too early after Jamie Ritchie’s superb tackle. The home side just cannot get out of sight here, and the crowd are getting a tad frustrated.

78'

Last knockings in Paris

France have a line-out in the ideal attacking spot but Scotland, as they have done all day, fight tooth and nail to counter and earn their own scrum after holding up the French maul. It’s about 100m away from where they’d want to be, but it’s something.

80'

France win in Paris

Scotland are whistled for not releasing and finally the defensive dam bursts when Gael Fickou, Player of the Match, barges his way over for the bonus point victory. Ramos’ conversion is sound, and France win 32-21.

68'

TRY Scotland!

The cards have dealt a huge moment for Scotland in their search for victory! France cannot get to grips with the sheer power of the visitors’ scrum and the result is a third try conceded, with the scramble defence unable to operate at the same pace as the Scottish attack. Ali Price feeds Finn Russell, who for once only has eyes for the line himself, and glides over. He converts to boot, and it’s a four-point game at 25-21. Huge last ten championship minutes in Paris.

70'

Kinghorn and Skinner on for Scotland

In the chaos of this match, it must be noted that Blair Kinghorn and Sam Skinner have entered the fray, replacing Kyle Steyn and Richie Gray.

45'

Attacking line-out once more for Scotland

Rien ne change, as they may say in France.. The hosts give away a penalty for offside and Finn Russell finds a cracking touch. Scotland working through the phases, with a penalty advantage for a high tackle thrown in for good measure. Ascendancy for the men in blue..

57'

Ramos adds three to cushion

France build their lead to nine, as Thomas Ramos slots a simple penalty after Scotland are caught offside. Ali Price and Jack Dempsey on for Ben White and Matt Fagerson respectively.

62'

Scotland knocking but can’t get joy

Scotland hold the possession cards but just can’t sneak a way through. They try everything, from flat-track bullying runs to deft inside passes and cute offloads, but still the hosts hold firm. Russell’s grubber goes dead, giving France a chance to clear their lines.

55'

Heroic Scottish defence

A sea of blue shirts is all that separates Damian Penaud from scoring in the corner after a beautiful French attacking move. Penaud looks to be over the line but Scotland merge into one great cause, with Ben White and Huw Jones, aided by Stuart Hogg, averting the imminent danger.

65'

Front row make instant impact

The triple threat of Bhatti, Brown and Nel enjoy a telling introduction to proceedings, earning their side a scrum penalty as a collective opening act. Scotland can’t make use of it, so play comes back for another scrum, five metres from the hosts’ try line. Real chance, you sense..

42'

Scots begin second period brightly

France are guilty of an offside at an attacking Scottish ruck, and Finn Russell darts the ball into touch, as so often he did in the first half. The line-out play doesn’t quite come off, though, and a knock-on is forced to allow France a scrum on their 22m line.

64'

Front row freshened up

The cavalry arrives for Scotland, with Jamie Bhatti, Fraser Brown and WP Nel taking the place of Pierre Schoeman, George Turner and Zander Fagerson for the final quarter in Paris. Attacking 5m scrum as well..

35'

Scotland penalised for going off feet

Mercifully, players and viewers alike can take a moment to breathe after Matt Fagerson is adjudged to have entered a ruck illegally. Thomas Ramos takes his time to steel himself for the game’s first penalty goal attempt, which he duly converts to give France a 15-point lead at 22-7.

41'

Second half starts in Paris

We’re live again at the Stade de France, as Scotland seek to make inroads into a 15-point interval deficit.

47'

TRY Scotland!

Huw has Two for Les Bleus!

They were sniffing a try and it has arrived, with a familiar name on the scoresheet. Huw Jones is the one who breaks the gain line and then, with the forwards grunting their way in and around the line, the ball pops out to Sione Tuipulotu, who feeds his centre mate. Jones has work to do, wriggling and writhing before dotting down. 15 tries in just 34 caps for the prolific Scot, with Russell’s tidy conversion taking the score to 22-14. Very much game on!

19'

Try France

The fine margins of sport. Finn Russell has been purring and probing, but his double miss-pass is read with aplomb by Thomas Ramos, who hares away up the left touchline after gleefully grabbing the intended pass. Ramos tucks away the extras, and France lead 19-0.

40'

France lead by 15 at the break

A madcap half of rugby in Paris comes to an end. The headlines are plenty, but would include a red card for each team, four tries and relentless French defence.

Grant Gilchrist and Mohamed Haouas were each given their marching orders for a high tackle and head-butt respectively. The hosts grabbed tries through Romain Ntamack, Ethan Dumortier and Thomas Ramos, who added to the score by slotting seven points from the tee.

Scotland rallied to keep their championship bid alive, and kept in the hunt with Huw Jones’ lovely finish. All to play for, without doubt, but the visitors need to keep within touching distance as the second half progresses.

24'

Duhan denied at the death

Scotland are refusing to go away, as ever, and again go close. A mesmeric break by Russell punctures the home defence, and he feeds Sione Tuipulotu. From the next ruck, Pierre Schoeman and Jamie Ritchie display slick hands to find Duhan van der Merwe, but the big winger is barged into touch in the nick of time. Another penalty to the visitors, though, and they go to the well yet again..

26'

TRY Scotland!

Hold onto your hats! Scotland do get their well-deserved breakthrough! The line-out is solid, and Russell has all the time in the world to provide Huw Jones, cutting a delicious line, to pierce his way to the line for his 14th international try. Conversion is clipped over, and we have signs of life in Paris at 19-7.

12'

Red for France

More drama at the Stade! Mohamed Haouas, who was famously sent off for punching Jamie Ritchie in 2020, has butted his head onto Ben White, a transgression for which there is only one result. Both sides will play the rest of this with 14 players. Astonishing start in Paris. Scotland kick to touch from the penalty and are on the hunt for points..

15'

Heat-seeker from Finn

An absolute worldie from Finn Russell, whose centimetre-perfect 50:22 bid wins Scotland an attacking line-out in the France 22. Another platform is set, and they almost wriggle their way through, but Russell for once can’t magic up an offload. Penalty for coming in at the side though, and Scotland again go rumbling from the line-out..

17'

Close from Zander!

It’s such a good effort from Zander Fagerson, who does his best Duhan van der Merwe impression in reaching for the line, but the prop just sees the ball escape his clutches. Goal-line drop-out for France. Incident at every turn in Paris.

9'

Second French try

France are rampant now. Quicker than Scotland can gather their thoughts after the red card, the hosts enjoy a fortuitous turnover, from which point the ball gets shipped out to Ntamack, who puts wing Ethan Dumortier in for the easiest of tries. Ramos’ conversion misses; 12-0 France.

10'

Jonny Gray on for Watson

Hamish Watson, making his first appearance in dark blue since the All Blacks Test in November, is the unfortunate victim of a rejigging of personnel, with Jonny Gray coming on in his stead to plug the second row gap.

14'

Hosts respond well

The line-out isn’t straight and France, from the resulting scrum, win a penalty for Scotland standing up at the set piece. Relative calm in an engrossing battle.

1'

Game on at sizzling Stade

Scotland kick-off at a cacophonous Stade de France, as the third weekend of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations concludes with an Auld Alliance tussle in Paris. Scotland unbeaten, France the reigning champions. Stuart Hogg literally gets the ball rolling in Paris, his kick-off landing in the arms of France flanker Anthony Jelonch. The hosts clear for the opening line-out. Strap in, everyone..

5'

Try France

It’s irresistible from the hosts. Multiple, belligerent phase play opens up pockets in the Scotland defence and the numbers just can’t compete, Romain Ntamack squirming over from close range with a penalty advantage for offside waiting. Thomas Ramos converts and France are 7 to the good early doors.

14:45

Away form positivity for Scots

Previous wins on French soil have been few and far between, with victories in 1995 and 1999 evidence of how tall an order the feat is. Scotland have, however, reason for optimism, with six wins from their past eight championship games away from BT Murrayfield.

2'

First penalty for France

Some crunching tackles in the opening exchanges from both teams, the passage ending with Duhan van Der Merwe penalised for holding on. France kick to touch for a line-out on the Scottish 22.

6'

Red card for Grant Gilchrist

More trouble for Scotland, as referee Nika Amashukeli asks to have a look at a potential high tackle by Grant Gilchrist on Anthony Jelonch. No mitigation agreed, and Scotland’s second row is given a red card for his actions. Scotland look utterly perplexed by the decision, but Amashukeli is adamant in he and his team’s call.