HOW THE SCOTS PLAYED
STUART HOGG (7 out of 10) – Full of running, he drop-kicked the conversion of Van der Merwe’s late try to try to keep the game going. DACRY GRAHAM (6) – Hungry for work as always but just couldn’t force his way into the game. CHRIS HARRIS (6) – A superb try-saving tackle on Jaminet in the first half but blotted his copybook butchering a scoring pass to Hogg. Didn’t emerge for the second half after failing an HIA.
SIONE TUIPULOTU (5) – Largely anonymous, only bursting into life when the game was gone. DUHAN VAN DER MERWE (7) – The big wing broke his try drought and could have had a second but for a poor pass. He made some huge breaks here.
FINN RUSSELL (6) – Still kicking far more than he used to, or is perhaps comfortable with. Another lackadaisical clearance was charged down.
ALI PRICE (6) – Slow service and got his attempted tackle on Fickou entirely wrong. But did make what used to be one of his trademark breaks.
PIERRE SCHOEMAN (7) – Showed up well in the loose, now our firstchoice loosehead.
STUART MCINALLY (6) – Part of a scrum that did well against a French pack that was 50 kilos heavier.
ZANDER FAGERSON (6) – Solid enough but gives away too many penalties.
SAM SKINNER (6) – Took a dull one in the first half when Jaminet made a hash of a mid-air challenge. GRANT GILCHRIST (5) – An opportunity with Gray and Cummings crocked but not really stating his case.
NICK HAINING (4) – Parachuted into the starting XV at the last minute – and it showed.
RORY DARGE (9) – Great game. Turnovers, tackles and a first Test try. Hamish who?
MAGNUS BRADBURY (6) – Still eager for work at the final whistle. REPLACEMENTS – Mark Bennett looked dangerous with ball in hand. Blair Kinghorn got 20 minutes as Townsend wanted to see what he’d do at 10 against topclass opposition while Saracen’s Andy Christie made his debut.