Sorry Scotland unable to match the French
THE worst of two bad teams in a game to forget. It was that embarrassing for Scotland. Gregor Townsend’s team hardly laid a glove on France and even allowed them a bonus-point try with the last play of the game.
This, don’t forget, against a French side in disarray with a player revolt in camp, some real inexperience in the squad and a lack of confidence after two opening Six Nations defeats. And yet they were still allowed to stroll to victory.
France got away with butchering chance after chance, with the TMO chalking off three of their touchdowns for various offences. They also handed Scotland a man advantage in the first half when Yoann Huget was yellow carded for taking Greig Laidlaw out off the ball.
France took the lead for real after 13 minutes with a score that brought back memories of their swashbuckling days of old, young Romain Ntamack going over in the corner and the home side led 10-3 at half time.
Two minutes after the break the French increased their lead when giant centre Mathieu Bastareaud caught his own chip and Huget went over in the corner.
With six minutes left the French forwards rumbled forward, leaving Gregory Alldritt to touch down.
Replacement scrum-half Alli Price gave the longsuffering visiting fans something to shout about three minutes from time when he went over for a late try from a rare Scotland breakaway.
But Alldritt’s second try of the game in the final minute earned the home side a bonus point. It was a result that leaves Ireland fifth in the table.
FRANCE: Ramos (Medard 70min); Penaud, Bastareaud, Fickou, Huget; Ntamack, Dupont (Serin 70); Poirot (Falgoux 70), Guirado (Chat 70), Bamba (Aldegheri 70), Vahaamahina, Lambey (Willemse 65), Lauret, Iturria, Picamoles (Alldritt 70). Replacements (not used): Belleau. sin Bin: Huget (28min). scotland: Kinghorn; Seymour, Grigg, Johnson, Maitland (G Graham 65); P Horne (Hastings 44), Laidlaw (Price 65); Dell (Allan 65), McInally (Brown 65), Berghan (Fagerson 65), Gilchrist, Gray (Toolis 55), Bradbury, Ritchie, Strauss (D Graham 65). Referee: N Berry (Australia).