By Nick Powell, Online Editor
France……………………..32
Tries: Ntamack 4, Dumortier 8, Ramos 19, Fickou 80
Conversions: Ramos 5, 20,
Penalties: Ramos 36, 58, 80+2
Scotland………………..21
Tries: Jones 26, 47; Russell 68
Conversions: Russell 26, 48, 69
Player of the Match Gael Fickou's late score sealed victory for France against Scotland, whose grand slam hopes were ended and title ambitions severely damaged despite a spirited display in Paris.
In a frantic start at the Stade de France, the hosts ran up a 19-0 lead in the first quarter with a red card for each side having come in the opening ten minutes as Adam Gilchrist and Mohamed Haouas both received their marching orders for high-tackles.
Romain Ntamack, Ethan Dumortier and Thomas Ramos had scored for France, and though Huw Jones' pair of tries brought Scotland back into the contest, Ramos' two penalties kept the visitors at arms length.
Finn Russell's try with 12 minutes remaining brought Scotland within a score for the first time in an hour of rugby, but Fickou's last-gasp score sealed the bonus-point win for France and took one away from Scotland.
Although Sean Edwards has seen stronger defensive performances from sides he has coached, he appeared jubilant and relieved as France bounced backed from defeat to Ireland.
He said: “Gael Fickou is a world-class player, he's in really hot form at the moment, and he's one of the best centres in the world.
“[Scotland] dominated territory and possession, they seemed to be attacking in our 22 for a lot of the game but that's what you expect from a top-class team. We were very, very happy to pull away, get the bonus point and better for us, Scotland didn't get a bonus point.
“Playing against 14 at first is an advantage. It was quickly levelled up. It didn't really affect both teams' game plans that much.
“Our kicking game was a big improvement from last week, when we played seven-a-side rugby in our own half. We were a lot more disciplined in our kicking game and that definitely helped us.
“We'll have a beer, because it's been a tough couple of weeks. Losing was an unusual thing to feel and not a very pleasant one, but then we'll be planning for Twickenham. We've not won there, apparently, since 2005, so that's a big challenge for us.”
Not since they found themselves 21-0 down inside seven minutes against Italy 15 years ago have Scotland made a worse start to a Six Nations contest, and it looked as if things were going to get ugly after Dumortier went over for France's second as the visitors coughed up the ball in their own 22.
That had come after powerful phase play set up Ntamack nicely for their first, before Grant Gilchrist was sent off a high tackle on Anthony Jelonch with the first challenge from the kick-off.
Scotland came roaring back, and a head collision only a few yards from the French between Haouas and White led to the former also getting an early bath and the visitors began to dominate.
It was soon to get worse, however, as Russell threw a long pass that was picked off by Ramos, who ran in France's third before knocking over a conversion that gave them a 19-point in less than 20 minutes.
Eventually Scotland's dominance was rewarded, as Russell redeemed himself with a neat pass to send through Jones, who returned the gap to where it was previously, but Ramos' penalty kept France at least three scores clear at half-time.
Jones' second try shortly after half-time was what Scotland, and the game, needed and it came after a smart offload from Sione Tuipulotu, who he is forming an increasingly solid centre partnership alongside.
France hit back again off the tee from the boot of Ramos, but Scotland continued to control the game and as they brought on their front row replacements, began to dominate at the scrum.
It gave them the platform for their third try as Russell crossed with 12 minutes on the clock, and the fired up Scottish side looked as if they could yet pull off an extraordinary comeback and win in France for the second time in two vists.
But they were unable to break out of their own half as they attempted to launch one final attack, and a spell of French territorial and possessional dominance paid dividends for them in the dying embers of the game as Fickou clinched a crucial bonus point victory.
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