Scotland were left frustrated by narrow defeat in Paris for the fourth time in succession as a succession of injuries helped France to edge home at the Stade de France.
The Scots scored two tries to one but lost two captains to injury in the first half, including crucially Greig Laidlaw who limped off after 25 minutes. John Barclay took over as captain but followed Laidlaw off the pitch with a head injury before half-time.
A second half try by replacement Tim Swinson, playing in the back row, to add to the first-half score from Stuart Hogg gave the Scots the lead midway through the second half. But although they dominated the breakdown area, the scrums were a struggle all afternoon, giving the French a foundation and plenty scoring opportunities for stand-off Camille Lopez.
It’s the fourth time in a row Scotland have gone to the Stade de France and lost by a converted try or less, three in the Six Nations and once in the World Cup warm-up. But there was little question the French deserved the win even if they used precious little invention to achieve it.
It was frantic rather than finesse from the off with France turning Scotland over at the first breakdown, but penalised for holding on at the second, something that was to bring relief for the Scots throughout.
Vakatawa nearly got away down the right for France but Maitland countered and the home side were fortunate that Huw Jones couldn’t quite hold the intercept on a telegraphed Lopez pass.
The French stand-off kicked his side into the lead with a penalty after Josh Strauss offended on the deck, but the Scots came back with a super try in 17 minutes.
Both Laidlaw and Finn Russell sniped effectively in a measured build-up of phases before Jones took static ball, showed good footwork and a perfectly timed off-load to allow Hogg to scoot in at the corner.
Laidlaw’s conversion it the crossbar and the Scots didn’t defend the restart well, eventually conceding and obstruction penalty which allowed Lopez to restore France’s lead.
Laidlaw’s injury shortly afterwards brought on Ali Price whose first action was to get into a scrap with Lopez and have a penalty reversed, but the stand-off hit the post with his attempt.
However France maintained field position and put the squeeze on Scotland with Lopez directing operations at speed. Gael Fickou nearly got away down the right but after the ball swung from one side of the field to the other, when it returned the centre was able to duck under a tackle and get the try.
Lopez’ conversion from the touchline gave France a decent cushion, but the Scotland won the restart deep in French territory and forced a penalty which Russell, taking over kicking duties, landed comfortably.
But then Scotland lost their second captain in the half when John Barclay went off after 36 minutes, just before another holding on penalty gave Russell the chance to peg France back to a two-point lead with a 40-metre kick.
The Scots maybe missed a bit of their two skippers’ game management skills as they unwisely tried to run the ball out of their own 22 with just a minute left before the break and gave up possession, but a knock-on by France got them safely in at half-time.
A third injury blow came on the first play of the second half with John Hardie going off after a clash of heads , Swinson taking his place.
And barely had the Glasgow lock come on than he was running under the posts for Scotland’s second try, his first in international rugby. Russell started it with an off load off the deck to Tommy Seymour, who scampered down the touchline and kicked ahead behind Scott Spedding.
The bounce evaded the full back and landed back in the Scotland wing’s hands, and Swinson was all alone in support as he took the pass to gallop over, although Russell topped the easy conversion under the bar.
Back came France with Remi Lamerat making ground through the middle, and the Scots barely held before giving up a penalty Lopez kicked to level the scores at 16-16.
Both Spedding and Hogg missed ambitious attempts at penalties from on or near halfway as the game became tense, and then Scotland withstood a mighty surge by France which looked certain to produce a try.
The home side turned down kicks at goal to try and ramp up the pressure at scrum and with lineout drive, but the Scots somehow hung on and Remi Lamerat knocked on as he stretched to score, although the TMO’s decision to not allow the try looked questionable to say the least.
But by this time Scotland’s possession had dried up almost entirely, and they were unable to get any foothold in French territory.
Instead, with cruel irony given what had happened throughout the game, it was Richie Gray caught holding on after the tackle and Lopez landed the penalty with nine minutes left to finally break the deadlock.
A knock on in Scotland’s next attack brought another scrum penalty, another lineout drive and a final penalty for Lopez to secure France’s first win in five games.
Att 82,000
France: S Spedding; N Nakaitaci, R Lamerat, G Fickou, V Vakatawa; C Lopez, B Serin; C Baille, G Guirado (capt), U Atonio; S Vahaamahina, Y Maestri; L Goujon, K Gourdon, L Picamoles.
Replacements: C Tolofua for Baille 72, R Slimani for Guirado 48, J le Devedec for Maestri 60, D Chouly for Goujon 62, M Machenaud for Serin 56, Y Huget for Nakatawa 53.
Scotland: S Hogg; S Maitland, H Jones, A Dunbar, T Seymour; F Russell, G Laidlaw (capt); A Dell, F Brown, Z Fagerson; R Gray, J Gray; J Barclay, H Watson, J Strauss.
Replacements: R Ford for Brown 66, G Reid for Dell 45, S Berghan for Fagerson 60, T Swinson for Hardie 42, J Hardie for Barclay 36, A Price for Laidlaw 25, D Weir for Russell 75.
Ref: J Peyper (SARU)
