With just seconds left in Saint-Denis and France have the ball by a slender four points. Prudence would invite you to run out of time, but Les Bleus isn’t worth a win. The defeat in Dublin forces us to look for the bonus point that the fourth attempt grants: maximum risk. Gaël Fickou, a veteran who can always be relied on, scores in the goal area to re-engage his side in the fight for the Six Nations and cede the comeback to Scotland, who had just won their first two games for the first time in 24 years , in an honorable defeat.
France took over the role of favorites with an impressive start. Romain Ntamack, who plays in the opening position at the World Championships, needed it. Following the advance of his forward, he stretched out the accordion in search of the crack. The 10 found them for rehearsals in just five minutes. Thus began the Macedonia of drama for the Scots, who a minute later saw their striker Grant Gilchrist ejected for shouldering Jelonch’s head. Not having time to process the paper, Ntamack assisted Dumortier and made it 12-0.
The table was set for a French feast, but Mohammed Haouas took the tablecloth with him. In an awkward move, he headbutted Ben White, who fell back as he tried to release the ball. Nika Amashukeli, the main referee, didn’t see enough danger for the red card, but his assistants convinced him. It’s Haouas’ second red card against Scotland; that of 2021 cost France the tournament and the Grand Slam. Still, Scotland fell further into debt in a 14-a-side 14 format and nearly tried twice – Zander Fagerson missed the oval on the pole and Ritchie ruined Van den Merwe’s dominance with a poor pass – and conceded an interception on Thomas Ramos for 19 – 0
What followed was an incomplete performance for Scotland, who never stopped believing in the Huw Jones-initiated comeback in a state of grace after finally breaking through the final French curtain. The first Caledonian Test failed to close the deficit at half-time (22-7) but Jones repeated after the first ten minutes of the second half which saw Scotland enjoy 80% possession. The formula to turn the tide was Fin Russell’s foot, ever ready for mischief even in the most compromised realms. His team set up base camp in the rival Nobility Zone and the third trial arrived, the work of Russell himself. The match was in a handkerchief (25-21).
France saved a watered-down afternoon with their defensive solvency. Antoine Dupont, his great creator, signed a couple of surgical tackles so his team would pay no doubts about the definition of Dumortier, who had the test shot but didn’t dare dive and saw the Scots turn him. He did not forgive Fickou, whose essay changes the classification. Until then, Scotland added the defensive bonus point if they lost seven or fewer points. In one breath, the center took a point from his rival and pocketed another in his locker. Both join England in a three-way tie with 10 points in second place, five behind Ireland, the only one to have won their games.
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