Scotland 50-40 France: Scotland scores seven tries in a historic performance to shake up the Six Nations.
Scotland positioned themselves as contenders for their inaugural Six Nations title with an impressive seven-try 50-40 triumph over France at Murrayfield.
Les Bleus entered Edinburgh aware that a bonus-point victory against Gregor Townsend’s squad would secure them a second consecutive championship and set them up for their first Grand Slam since 2022.
However, it was the dynamic Scots who delivered one of their finest performances to overwhelm Fabien Galthie’s side.
Wingers Darcy Graham and Kyle Steyn each scored twice, while Pierre Schoeman, Ben White, and substitute Tom Jordan also touched down.
The only setback for the Scots, who at one point led 47-14, was conceding four tries to the French in the final thirty minutes, allowing the visitors to return to Paris with a try bonus point.
The French remain at the top of the standings based on points difference ahead of their clash with England in Paris next Saturday night, but the second-placed Scots will travel to Ireland with an opportunity to make history if Steve Borthwick’s team can assist them.
Scotland began strongly when Graham received a pass from Finn Russell and darted through a gap to score on the right in the fifth minute. Russell successfully converted.
This try marked Graham’s 36th at Test level, placing him ahead of Edinburgh teammate Duhan van der Merwe in the national team’s all-time scoring rankings.
It was the first occasion this championship that France found themselves trailing on the scoreboard. After enduring additional Scottish pressure, Les Bleus equalized in the 18th minute.
Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu had the ball taken from him by Antoine Dupont, and the French moved it to the left where Matthieu Jalibert set up the dangerous Louis Bielle-Biarrey to score. Thomas Ramos converted.
Things appeared concerning for the hosts when the visitors took the lead with their second try in just four minutes, as Bielle-Biarrey’s grubber kick allowed fellow wing Theo Attissogbe to score, with Ramos again adding the conversion.
However, Scotland halted the momentum and fought back when George Turner passed the ball to Steyn, who executed a lovely inside line to the left corner. Russell missed the conversion attempt.
The Scots regained their confidence, and after a sustained period of pressure near the French line, Schoeman powered over on the right. The home crowd had further reason to celebrate as Jalibert received a yellow card for going offside, with the French penalized for repeated infringements. Russell successfully converted.
While Jalibert was in the sin-bin, the Scots could not extend their five-point lead, but they scored again just moments after the French stand-off returned to the field, with White scoring from a classic scrum-half snipe, converted by Russell.
The dominant hosts strengthened their position in the 51st minute when France captain Dupont, pressured by White, threw the ball directly to Steyn, who raced clear on the left.
Graham then broke free for his second try just before the hour mark, with French replacement Lenni Nouchi receiving a yellow card for jumping offside. This time, the Scots capitalized on their numerical advantage as substitute Jordan crashed over the line just inside the post in the 64th minute.
At that moment, Scotland was poised to take the top spot in the table, but just as they seemed to be heading towards a favorable outcome, things became a bit disorganized for Townsend’s men.
France scored four tries in the closing moments—through Dupont, Ramos (twice), and Pierre Louis Barassi—to secure a crucial bonus point and maintain their lead ahead of an exciting Super Saturday showdown for the title involving Les Bleus, Scotland, and Ireland.
