Scotland's full-back Stuart Hogg passes the ball through the Six Nations rugby union event match between France and Scotland on March 26 2021, on t
Scotland’s full-back Stuart Hogg passes the ball through the Six Nations rugby union event match between France and Scotland on March 26 2021, on the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outdoors Paris. (Picture by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Picture by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT | AFP | Getty Photos
Wales had been topped Six Nations champions after Scotland claimed a shocking 27-23 win over France.
France wanted to attain 4 tries and win by at the very least 21 factors to win their first championship in 11 years however they by no means got here shut, with Scotland persevering with to threaten an upset regardless of the dismissal of Finn Russell with 9 minutes remaining.
With the clock purple and France main by three factors, Brice Dulin opted to maintain the ball in play however then conceded a penalty, and Scottish stress ultimately instructed as Duhan van der Merwe crossed for his second attempt of the sport within the 84th minute.
It’s Scotland’s first win in Paris since 1999.
Dulin, Damian Penaud and Swan Rebbadj crossed for the hosts however they by no means appeared like build up the top of steam wanted to ship a double blow to Wales after dramatically denying Wayne Pivac’s facet the Grand Slam six days earlier.
It was one other uncommon away win for the Scots following triumphs in Wales and England up to now six months.
Scotland had been fast to place stress on and France confirmed the kind of ambition they would wish once they took a fast throw and tried to play their approach out of bother after Russell had kicked the ball into contact two meters from their attempt line.
The house facet quickly exerted some stress however all they needed to present for it was Romain Ntamack’s ninth-minute penalty.
Scotland quickly gained the ascendancy and twice elected to kick two penalties into contact contained in the French 22. Hooker George Turner was held up simply wanting the road every time as he charged from the again of the lineout maul, however Van der
Merwe pressured himself over the second time within the 15th minute.
There have been suspicions of double motion however referee Wayne Barnes gave the attempt with out opting to take a re-evaluation.
Russell added the 2 factors and produced one other good lengthy kick which held up a metre wanting the attempt line. The Scots descended upon their opponents and Jamie Ritchie pressured the penalty from Dulin, which Russell kicked over to place Scotland seven factors up.
France’s gamers stroll off the pitch collect after successful the Six Nations rugby union event match between France and Scotland on March 26 2021, on the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outdoors Paris. (Picture by MARTIN BUREAU / AFP) (Picture by MARTIN BUREAU/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
MARTIN BUREAU | AFP | Getty Photos
One other big kick into contact from Stuart Hogg put France on the again foot however the hosts diminished the deficit when Ntamack kicked a long-range penalty following a scrum infringement.
The house facet bought on high across the half-hour mark and Scotland gave away a sequence of penalties in entrance of the submit.
The stress instructed when Van der Merwe offered himself too early following a protracted throw out broad from Antoine Dupont. Penaud handed inside for Dulin to cross within the 36th minute and Ntamack brilliantly transformed.
Hogg paid the worth for conceding Scotland’s 11th first-half penalty within the remaining minute however Nick Haining stole the five-meter lineout throw to maintain France’s half-time lead at three.
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Scotland restricted France’s scoring to 5 factors throughout Hogg’s spell within the sin bin, when Penaud collected Virimi Vakatawa’s offload, lobbed the ball over Ali Worth and touched down within the nook.
Scotland regained management after the numbers had been evened up. Russell kicked a close-range penalty and Sam Johnson was stopped 5 meters from the road after bursting ahead following one other profitable lineout.
It was France’s flip to ship a sequence of penalties and David Cherry scooped up a free ball following a lineout earlier than nipping by way of a spot and over. Russell transformed to place Scotland again in entrance.
Rebbadj went over 5 minutes later however Ntamack missed the conversion and Scotland handed up an excellent probability to kick themselves degree in favor of kicking into contact, however Cherry’s lineout was stolen.
Gregor Townsend’s facet had been nonetheless piling on the stress when Russell was despatched off within the 71st minute after catching Dulin close to the throat together with his elbow as he tried to fend off the full-back.
Any hopes of one other beautiful end from France had been undone inside two minutes when Baptiste Serin was yellow-carded and Scotland once more opted to push for the attempt as a substitute of going over the posts.
The stress was relentless and Scotland lastly bought over once they discovered winger Van der Merwe on the left. Adam Hastings added the factors to spherical off a dramatic championship.