Right that’s round one done. We finish with a match that was absorbing rather than enthralling. Gallic flair was out the window today; instead it was all about brute power epitomised by the likes of Dusautoir, Le Roux, Bastareaud and Spedding. Scotland coped well and indeed scored the game’s only try. This is a very young Scotland side though. Given that no one was expecting them to pull up many trees in this Six Nations, nights like this will do them a lot of good.
Be sure to join me next week for the second round of matches. Until then, g’night!
Full-time: France 15-8 Scotland
80 min The clock goes red... out it goes from Lopez and that’s it!
79 min One last chance for the draw then? Russell looks to launch a counter attack from Parra’s high kick, taken just inside his own half. It goes left to Visser, who takes it on on, but the Edinburgh winger’s pass misses Bennett and goes to touch.
Penalty (Lopez 79) France 15-8 Scotland
I reckon that’s probably that.
77 min Scotland get quick lineout ball and quickly go wide. Bennett holds on too long though and then his offload goes to ground. Spedding hacks ahead and Horne, going back to clean up, holds on. Penalty France, slightly to the left, 35m out.
76 min Breathless stuff! Dusautoir spills the ball in attack and Russell chips ahead and chases himself. It bounces up awkwardly over his head and Huget looks to launch the counter attack. France go into contact between their own 10m line and halfway, they hold on and Russell puts the penalty into touch 25m out on the right.
75 min Very slow progress from France. Lopez goes back and launches a high ball towards Visser, who knocks on while challenging for it with Huget. Scrum red (ugh) 5m infield on the right, about 15m into the Scottish half.
73 min Scrum to Scotland then, 5m from their own line. Johnnie Beattie returns from the sin-bin and Russell’s clearance doesn’t find touch.
72 min Oh what a chance for France! They turn Scotland over in midfield and Lopez fires out a wide pass. It bounces and Visser comes up for the interception, with the try line begging. It sits up to Huget who streams away, heading for the Scottish line 40m in front of him. Bennett flies back and manages to catch the winger, whose offload on the line goes forward!
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70 min Another good maul from Scotland but then Russell is absolutely smashed by Le Roux in midfield. Bennett then looks to kick ahead but it hits Lopez’s shins. Scotland scramble and work it left, along their own 10m line. They lose the ball, but then France knock on in the tight.
69 min So a first throw under pressure for replacement hooker Fraser Brown. He finds his man and Scotland win a penalty at the maul. Peter Horne comes on for Alex Dunbar, who looked in some pain.
68 min Bastareaud blitzes through the Scottish forwards once again. He’s eventually stopped about 12m inside the Scotland half, whence Parra pokes a nice grubber kick to within 10m of the Scotland line on the left.
67 min Scotland get it through the hands again and Bennett straightens before going left to Hogg. For the third time today though, Hogg puts his kick ahead out on the full.
66 min Scotland spill the ball in midfield and France fling it wide to Thomas in acres of space! He accelerates up into the Scotland half and passes left to Lopez, but Dunbar comes across to make an outstanding tackle!
65 min A raft of changes here by Scotland. Hamilton for Richie Gray, Cross for Dickinson, Reid for Murray.
64 min France go with the rolling maul once again. Five metres out, under the sticks... and they hold on! Penalty Scotland!
63 min France go to the corner again. They win the ball, but then Finn Russell rips it from Taofifenua on the line! Hogg clears to touch just inside his own 22.
62 min Another penalty to France kicked to touch on the 22 on the left. They win it and they smash the Scotland pack in the maul, driving them up to within 5m. Parra goes himself but spills the ball. We’ll go back for a penalty though and Beattie is sent to the sin bin for dragging down the maul.
Blair Cowan, concussion check done, returns. Taofifenua, who is also enormous, is on for Pape.
60 min Atonio goes up to the 22 and offloads inside to Le Roux, but the flanker knocks on and Scotland get it away.
59 min “Don’t say anything mean about Atonio,” advises my girlfriend. Good advice, Liz. Scotland turn it over in midfield but Parra’s pass is poor. Fofana goes back and cleans up and France get it through the hands. Thomas makes ground, using his pace down the left to beat Fife.
58 min Nope, he hits the post from the 22, 15m in from the right.
57 min He’s not a bad prop by the looks of things. He wins a penalty here off of Euan Murray, who dropped to his knees. This should be 15-8.
56 min Crikey. Uini Atonio is 6’5” tall and weighs 24st 5lbs. He’s a prop, in case you were wondering.
55 min Rob Harley is coming back on for Scotland as Cowan goes off for a concussion check. Parra is on for Kockott too and the 24st Atonio replaces Slimani. He’s adding his weight to a maul now as France win the line-out. It splinters and first Kayser then Pape carry it on. Ah but then Maestri spills it. Scotland look to run it and Russell loses the ball, but they were still playing advantage.
54 min Now another line-out is overthrown by Ford. Kayser secures the ball and then [Scotland player] comes in from the wrong side at the ruck. From just inside his own half, Lopez kicks to touch inside the 22 on the right.
53 min Very calm stuff from France and Lopez gets a good kick away, up to his own 10m line. Strokosch comes on for Rob Harley at blindside.
52 min Much better kick now from Hogg in the stand-off position. A grubber deep into the corner on the Scotland right. France win the line-out though.
51 min Russell’s attempted grubber bounces off Bastareaud and Richie Gray goes back to field it. The big lock goes on a decent canter down the right from well inside his own half, gaining about 15m before he’s stopped.
Penalty (Lopez 50) France 12-8 Scotland
Lopez, from 30m out just to the left, knocks it through the posts. Fife’s stupidity rightly punished with three points.
49 min Oh this isn’t good either. Lopez cross-kicks and Dougie Fife catches but runs into touch. Then, in his anger, Fife throws the ball into the stands and gives away a simple penalty for Lopez.
48 min A poor line-out though from Ford as his rare bad throw is pinched. France clear and then Hogg kicks out on the full from midway inside his own half. A poor minute that for the Scots.
Here’s Scotland’s try by the way. You don’t normally get this in MBMs, do you?
47 min The scrum is once again a mess and the pitch is chopping up badly. Euan Murray gets the pats on the back this time as he earns a penalty.
46 min France go through the phases but it goes loose on the floor and Scotland win the ball back. It goes nowhere and we’ll have the scrum.
45 min Slowly rumbling forward, France.
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44 min The veteran Pape wins the line-out. Inside it goes to Bastareaud, who carries up to the 22 but he loses it on the floor. Russell clears and Lopez takes the quick throw. It’s worked left to Thomas in space, but his kick ahead is deflected into touch by Russell.
43 min Ross Ford takes it into contact with Chouly and holds on. Penalty France and Spedding launches the kick into touch, 25m out on the left.
42 min Jonny Gray steals the line-out, but his brother Richie is turned over by the magnificent Dusautoir outside the France 22. Lopez sends up a high kick and Hogg slides and takes very nicely just inside the France half.
41 min Finn Russell, who had a mixed first 40 minutes, restarts the game. It’s been alright, not great but tight and watchable. In fact Ben Arous has replaced Alexandre Menini, not Slimani. Hogg gets tackled into touch 15m inside the French half.
France have made a change. Eddy Ben Arous is on, I think for Rabah Slimani. You can sing the latter’s name to a Manic Street Preacher’s tune, you know.
@DanLucas86 I see you've finally succumbed to the penalty as key event. Thanks for that, I can keep up to date at work.
— thechuckchinaski (@ChuckChinaski) February 7, 2015
Yep. I realised that’s the easiest way to keep the score at the top of the page.
Half-time emails dept:
First, John Davies: “Isn’t it good to see Scotland competitive again? (I’m from twenty miles south of the border so I’m allowed to be slightly patronising. ) Five teams could actually win this Six Nations. I just worry about any injuries as there is so little depth compared to teams like England, as shown last night. “
I don’t know, I can’t see Scotland winning it for the exact reason you give: lack of depth. I reckon this one’s between England and the favourites, Ireland.
What does Simon McMahon think? “Very encouraging half from Scotland, but I suspect I’ll be crying into my beer (and Scotch) later.”
I fear you’re right. I like this Scotland team a lot though.
Half-time: France 9-8 Scotland
Laidlaw’s touchline conversion hits the far post. Scotland go in behind but that was an excellent try to buoy them at the end of a first half France just about edged. The composure they showed after Bennett’s break was the epitome of what Cotter has brought to this team.
Try! (Fife 40) France 9-8 Scotland
Scotland recycle well and, with the French defence stretched, Russell sends out a good wide pass right. It’s shipped on, surprisingly well by Euan Murray with the final pass, and Fife dives over in the corner!
39 min Nice work from Hogg as he comes into the line again, goes left to Visser and then, after the Dutch-born winger carries it on, gets it back from him. Hogg is dragged down but Scotland recycle. It goes twice along the line and then Bennett breaks the line! He gets it left to Hogg but he’s dragged down short...
Penalty (Lopez 38) France 9-3 Scotland
I say out on the right. Fractionally to the right. Anyhow, it’s a good kick from Lopez.
36 min For a moment it looks like there might be a soupcon of space for Beattie, but he spills it in the tackle and France have possession on the Scottish 10m line. France go through the phases, Scotland go offside and it’s another penalty to France, 45m out and on the right.
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34 min Scotland’s line-out goes well under pressure in their own 22. Indeed they win a penalty from it for an infringement in the maul.
33 min France win their own line out on the Scotland 22. The forwards carry it on and Kockott then fires it back to Lopez. He’s closed down and loops around, exchanges passes with Bastareaud and then narrowly throws his offload over Huget’s fingertips.
32 min The ball goes loose at the lineout but falls kindly for Kockott who speeds down the right touchline. He kicks ahead at the same time as being tackled by Visser, no penalty. Visser gets back and passes to Hogg, back into the 22 and the 15 puts it out on the full!
30 min Dunbar intercepts a pass in midfield and the break is on! He’s aware of Hogg in support wide on the left and kicks ahead for his full-back, but Thomas scrambles back in defence. Scotland get too enthusiastic at the breakdown though and Bennett goes off his feet conceding a penalty.
29 min Great work on the floor by Bastareaud as he strips Dunbar of the ball on the floor just outside the France 22. France clear upfield and the ball is sent into touch by Scotland on their own 10m line.
28 min Oh what a waste. Scotland go through the phases and have it centrally. The ball goes back to Russell in the pocket very early and he shanks a simple drop-goal wide.
27 min Scotland take it back up into French territory and Hogg steps brilliantly from the 22! Coming up into the line he jinks from a standing start and gets to within 5m but can’t get the offload away for Visser!
25 min He fires it well wide.
24 min Scotland win a penalty on the halfway line when Pape goes off his feet. Hogg will have a crack from 50m, dead centre.
23 min Line-out secured, Kockott back to Lopez and he shows off his ambidextrous side with a left-footed clearance.
22 min Apparently it’s a hip injury that’s afflicting Seymour. Anyway, Scotland win the line-out and Bennett, the outside centre, goes on an arcing run and is tackled into touch on the French 22.
20 min Thomas comes in off his wing and offloads beautifully inside for Fofana. He’s tackled inside the 22 but it goes loose. In fact it went loose off a French boot from an off-side position so Scotland get the chance to clear. Which they do.
19 min Scotland win the lineout and take it into the maul. Laidlaw clears up to halfway.
18 min Kockott’s high ball is dropped by Beattie and France work it through the hands left. Dusautoir takes it into the ruck and now they go the other way through the backs. Back left to Lopez and he teases a diagonal kick from the dead centre of the park for Thomas to take and it just evades the winger, into touch 10m out.
Penalty (Lopez 17) France 6-3 Scotland
It’s right in front, it’s 22m out and it’s an easy kick for Lopez.
For Scotland, Seymour can no longer continue and Dougie Fife takes his place.
15 min Scotland put width on the ball and Dunbar stabs a grubber kick through. It’s not a good one though, straight at Lopez on the French right and he passes inside for Spedding to launch the counter. France work their way upfield now and Bastareaud crashes over the gainline. Spedding takes it on, they’re into the 22 –Christ he’s a monster, is Spedding – and Scotland go off their feet at a ruck.
Penalty (Laidlaw 14) France 3-3 Scotland
Level the scores are.
13 min France’s front row comes up, Scotland get the penalty and Laidlaw, 15m in from the left and 22m out, should level the scores here.
11 min The scrum (see minute eight) is completed and Spedding steps up into the line to kick to Hogg. Laidlaw returns the kick and though Lopez calls the mark, he’s turned over and Scotland earn the scrum on the France 22! Great work by Jonny Gray that.
9 min Seymour is up and hobbling about on the wing. Our Scotch correspondent Simon McMahon emails: “Evening Dan. You’re right about the French colours not being right. If I wanted to see Reds v. Blues I’d be watching a football match from Liverpool. Scotland should win for that reason alone. I’m not confident though. But whatever happens, I predict with some certainty that tonight I’ll be very, very drunk.”
Yep I went with “Scotch” for a reason.
8 min Quick lineout ball for Scotland and they go through the phases around the French 10m line. Seymour is down having treatment when Russell makes a half-break. He’s scragged by Maestri and then a couple of phases later, Johnnie Beattie knocks on.
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7 min Neither side looks inclined to actually find touch as we go through a passage of kicking. Finally Spedding puts it out midway between his own 10m line and halfway on the left.
6 min France win the lineout comfortably and drive upfield. It goes right and Spedding drives through the tackles up over the 10m line. Back left it goes and backwards France go as they work through the phases. Kockott tries a kick over the top into space, but it bounces kindly for Seymour who kicks back to Spedding.
5 min Scott Spedding, the South Africa-born full-back, clears up over halfway.
4 min Scotland recycle and Russell chips perfectly from halfway into touch on the Scotland right, dead on the French 22. This one Maestri takes. Richie Gray comes into the ruck at the side and that’s another penalty against the elder brother.
3 min Finn Russell, on Six Nations debut, restarts. Kockott clears and Beattie takes it up to halfway.
Penalty (Lopez 2) France 3-0 Scotland
Up steps Lopez, chosen as kicker ahead of Kockott and curls it in off the far post.
1 min Here we go! Camille Lopez kicks off, left to right. Scotland gather it in the 22 and Laidlaw sends his box-kick into touch on the Scottish right. Johnny Gray gets up and steals the lineout too, but Cowan smothers the ball on the ground and Nigel Owens says penalty France, 30m out and around 10m in from the left-hand touchline.
But my colleague Alan Smith is unimpressed.
One thing learned from the Six Nations this weekend: all five anthems and that made up Irish song have been absolutely butchered
— Alan Smith (@alansmith90) February 7, 2015
These are definitely my two favourite anthems.
“Looking forward to this,” is Robin Hazlehurst. “Scotland seemed pretty exciting in the autumn. I haven’t finished writing out my version of ‘Australia’ for you yet (see yesterday’s MBM), but it’s just possible that my version is not exactly the same as the Manics’ version. It’s a thing I like to call improvisation, imagination and breaking away from the Gameplan. Warren Gatland might like to try it one time.”
Parp. I look forward to having a look at this, Robin.
France, incidentally, will be playing in red tonight. I don’t like this.
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Well that didn’t work. For some reason the system isn’t allowing me to embed the Twilight Sad video I want.
Ah there it is.
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Who’s your favourite then?
v
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Teddy Thomas’s forearms. These are the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen. He looks like he could give The Mountain from Game of Thrones a run for his money.
@DanLucas86 Scotland will bring as much intensity as France that is what Vern has instilled & what was missing who knows how France will do
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) February 7, 2015
Cotter is without a doubt Scotland’s biggest asset here. He turned Clermont into a mighty, mighty team and thanks to his time there knows a lot about France.
The hosts are an exciting prospect too, don’t forget. Teddy Thomas returns after being dropped for the Argentina game after missing a team meeting. Then in Huget, Fofana, Lopez and Kockott you have as exciting a backline as any in the northern hemisphere. They’re even more unsettled than England though and time is running out before the World Cup for them to find their feet.
Paris looks cold. Freezing, in fact. The complete opposite of when I was last there, in scorching heat last spring. Ahh Paris, je t’aime. Anyway, you would imagine that’ll suit Scotland just nicely as will the choppy pitch at the Stade de France.
Preamble
Evening folks. Enjoying the Six Nations so far? Good, me too. I think, I don’t know, the Ireland game hasn’t even happened yet. I’m writing this in the past. Anyway.
In no time at all we’ve reached the conclusion of round one. We had a surprise in Cardiff, no surprises in Rome (I assume) so what of Paris? France have been pretty rubbish lately, showing only glimpses of potential: the win over Australia and a routine demolition of Fiji bookended by a whitewash tour down under and a home defeat to Argentina. Under Philippe Saint-Andre, France have never finished even in the top half of the Six Nations table.
Scotland on the other hand are essentially Glasgow today. 11 of today’s squad come from the in-form Warriors including four of the back five. Combine their form with the improvement shown under new coach Vern Cotter and you reckon this might be Scotland’s best chance of beating France for just the second time since 2000.
Kick-off is at 5pm GMT. That’s 6pm if you happen to be in Paris, you jammy so-and-so.
France v Scotland - line-ups
France : 15-Scott Spedding, 14-Yoann Huget, 13-Mathieu Bastareaud, 12-Wesley Fofana, 11-Teddy Thomas, 10-Camille Lopez, 9-Rory Kockott; 1-Alexandre Menini, 2-Guilhem Guirado, 3- Rabah Slimani, 4-Pascal Pape, 5-Yoann Maestri, 6-Thierry Dusautoir (capt), 7-Bernard Le Roux, 8-Damien Chouly
Replacements: 16-Benjamin Kayser, 17-Uini Atonio, 18-Eddy Ben Arous, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Loann Goujon, 21-Morgan Parra, 22-Remi Tales, 23-Remi Lamerat
Scotland : 15-Stuart Hogg , 14-Tommy Seymour, 13-Mark Bennett, 12-Alex Dunbar, 11-Tim Visser, 10-Finn Russell, 9-Greig Laidlaw; 1-Alasdair Dickinson, 2-Ross Ford, 3-Euan Murray, 4-Richie Gray, 5-Jonny Gray, 6-Rob Harley, 7-Blair Cowan, 8-Johnnie Beattie
Replacements: 16-Fraser Brown, 17-Gordon Reid, 18-Geoff Cross, 19-Jim Hamilton, 20-Alasdair Strokosch, 21-Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22-Peter Horne, 23-Dougie Fife
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) and Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TV: George Ayoub (Australia)
Hello. Kick off is at 5pm (GMT) and Dan will be here with all the build-up half an hour before that.
