FRA
No.Name
15Thomas Ramos, FB
14Damian Penaud, W
13Mathieu Bastareaud, C
12Gael Fickou, C
11Yoann Huget, W
T
10Romain Ntamack, FH
T
9Antoine Dupont, SH
1Jefferson Poirot, P
2Guilhem Guirado, H
3Demba Bamba, P
4Felix Lambey, L
5Sebastien Vahaamahina, L
6Wenceslas Lauret, FL
7Arthur Iturria, FL
8Louis Picamoles, N8
Replacements
16Camille Chat, R
17Etienne Falgoux, R
18Dorian Aldegheri, R
19Paul Willemse, R
20Gregory Alldritt, R
T
2
21Baptiste Serin, R
22Anthony Belleau, R
23Maxime Medard, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Stade de France
2:15 PM, February 23, 2019
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

82'Well, with such a late finish in France we barely have any time to sign off before the second match of the day -- and what a cracker it is too. It's Wales vs. England in Cardiff, with the Six Nations' two remaining unbeaten teams going head to head. Join us now for full build up ahead of kick off at 4:45 p.m. GMT.
81'
And it's Baptiste Serin who adds gloss to the win with an extra two points.
81'
TRY
There is it! Fair play, France. Fair play. They've been blasted for two weeks following their performance against England and did well to earn the win against Scotland, but with the clock in the red the French came again and earned a bonus-point win. It was Alldritt who drove over for the try.
81'

No try

For the third time this match, France are denied a try. France have a scrum on the 5.

81'Alldritt and France think they've grounded the ball following the lineout. The TMO is being consulted.
81'France win a penalty and kick for the corner. They have a lineout on the 5-meter line.
81'But the move breaks down and France turn the ball over. Somehow France miss touch with their clearing kick... they're pressing for a bonus-point try!!!
81'Scotland are still going. 20 phases now.
81'+827-10 End of second half
81'+827-10 Conversion - Baptiste Serin , France
81'+725-10 Try - Gregory Alldritt , France
80'Scotland have the ball but the clock is in the red and the Scots require 10 more points... Still, they press for another score.
78'
TRY
Wow, a late flurry of action brings another try -- and Scotland's first of the game. Peter Horne sees a huge gap in the French line and breaks forwards before passing inside to Ali Price for the simplest of scores. Adam Hastings converts.
78'20-10 Conversion - Adam Hastings , Scotland
78'20-8 Try - Ali Price , Scotland
76'Substitute on - Anthony Belleau , France
76'Player substituted - Romain Ntamack , France
75'
TRY
France seal the game with their third try of the match. From the scrum France drive forward and it's Gregory Alldritt who gets over the line.
75'20-3 Try - Gregory Alldritt , France
73'France pin Scotland into their own 5 metre line following a deep kick before Scotland spill the ball behind their own tryline. France are appealing that they grounded the ball before Scotland did, but the TMO disagrees and awards France a 5-metre scrum.
71'Scotland look to be going nowhere with possession on the halfway line, before a sudden break from Kinghorn opens up some space. Kinghorn makes 20 metres before he is tackled. The fullback had options on his outside but went back inside into the French tackles.
70'Player substituted - Guilhem Guirado , France
70'Substitute on - Camille Chat , France
70'Player substituted - Thomas Ramos , France
70'Substitute on - Maxime Medard , France
70'Player substituted - Jefferson Poirot , France
70'Substitute on - Etienne Falgoux , France
70'Player substituted - Demba Bamba , France
70'Substitute on - Dorian Aldegheri , France
70'Player substituted - Louis Picamoles , France
70'Substitute on - Gregory Alldritt , France
70'Substitute on - Baptiste Serin , France
70'Player substituted - Antoine Dupont , France
69'Scotland are up to 10 metres before a huge hit from Huget on Grigg forces the turnover as Scotland looked to work it wide. The clock is stopped following some scuffles between French and Scottish players.
67'Scotland have a scrum in their half as the clock ticks further towards 80 minutes. They win the penalty and Price looks to take it quickly.
65'Just the six substitutes for Scotland...
65'Player substituted - Josh Strauss , Scotland
65'Substitute on - Gary Graham , Scotland
65'Player substituted - Sean Maitland , Scotland
65'Substitute on - Darcy Graham , Scotland
65'Substitute on - Ali Price , Scotland
65'Player substituted - Greig Laidlaw , Scotland
65'Substitute on - Fraser Brown , Scotland
65'Player substituted - Stuart McInally , Scotland
65'Player substituted - Simon Berghan , Scotland
65'Substitute on - Zander Fagerson , Scotland
65'Substitute on - Alex Allan , Scotland
65'Player substituted - Allan Dell , Scotland
65'Substitute on - Paul Willemse , France
65'Player substituted - Felix Lambey , France
63'France are piled on Scotland's 5-meter line, but can't find a way through! France work up 13 phases before they look to exploit the space on the right. The ball is played to Fickou but a brilliant tackle from Nick Grigg stops him in his tracks and the move breaks down.
60'Play is frantically stretched as we enter the final 20. France did well to clear after Hastings booted the ball deep into their half before Hastings then had to defend at the other end following another clever kick from Ntamack. France then work it left to Huget, who works an opening before Scotland are forced to concede the penalty. France kick to touch on the 5 metre line.
55'Scotland almost break with Sean Maitland after a clever set piece. The winger had surged through as Scotland worked it left but Fickou got back to force Maitland into an error. He had Seymour on his right but his pass was just behind him and the play breaks down.
55'Player substituted - Jonny Gray , Scotland
55'Substitute on - Ben Toolis , Scotland
53'Player substituted - Sam Johnson , Scotland
53'Substitute on - Pete Horne , Scotland
52'A loose pass from Hastings almost puts Scotland under all sorts of pressure, but they sweep up before Huget gets the chance to drive into space. Ntamack then searches for Penaud on the right wing with a clever, curling kick into space but Kinghorn is there to clear.
50'That's better from Scotland, who build through Gilchrist, Bradbury and Strauss before they play wide to Kinghorn on the left. The play breaks down following a Scottish knock-on but they had created some space there on the left wing.
49'Kinghorn clears into the France half and Tommy Seymour does well to win some territory by tackling Huget inside the French 22.
48'But still France come forward, Ntamack booms a kick wide right to Penaud, who leaps and beats two defenders to collect. France then come left but Scotland force the turnover after Bastareaud spills.
44'France are back on the attack -- they have not given Scotland a chance to breathe this half -- and have a lineout deep inside the Scotland half. Substitute Adam Hastings does well to intercept and Scotland relieve the danger. The Scots will need some magic from him if they are to respond.
44'Player substituted - Pete Horne , Scotland
44'Substitute on - Adam Hastings , Scotland
41'
TRY
That's how you start a half! Excellent from the French, full of powerful running, smart offloads, and a brilliant kick and chase by Mathieu Bastareaud -- which you are going to have to watch to believe later on. Yoann Huget finishes the flowing move in the left corner. Ramos misses the conversion from a difficult angle.
41'

France's second half woes

France have scored just three second-half points so far this Six Nations while they have conceded 38 in the defeats to Wales and England. I'm sure Scotland will know that more than anyone. The teams are out and Kinghorn gets us underway.

41'France lead but Scotland will be encouraged that they are still in the game. The French made a bright start and the home side have crossed the tryline three times, with two disallowed. Scotland will take heart by their response but will be frustrated with the way they failed to make the most of France having 14 men following Huget's yellow card.
41'15-3 Try - Yoann Huget , France
41'+110-3 End of first half
40'10-3 Start of second half
39'France restart play with a scrum and have the ball inside the Scotland half with a couple of minutes to play, but play breaks down following a knock-on from lock Sebastien Vahaamahina. That should be it for the half.
37'Substitute on - Guilhem Guirado , France
37'Player substituted - Camille Chat , France
36'Guirado and Huget are back on.
36'But the French then concede a needless penalty for offside and Kinghorn kicks into touch. France then win the ball back from the lineout and are able to clear.
35'France have looked just as threatening during this 10-minute spell. They will be back up to 15 players when Huget returns to the field in a couple of minutes.
32' Missed penalty! Further woe for France after Ramos horribly skews a kick at goal from right in front of the posts.
31' No try! France clear and force the turnover following a high kick into the Scotland half. An outrageous kick into space by Romain Ntamack plays in Fickou who crosses for the score, but the try is disallowed for a knock-on earlier in the move. That's the second disallowed try for France this half.
29'Scotland will know they will have to strike before half-time, but the French defend well and force the penalty with the Scots on their 5-metre line.
28'
This will give Scotland plenty of encouragement. Yoann Huget heads to the bin following another French penalty in the ruck, and Kinghorn booms the ball into French territory. Guirado is also off due to injury.
28'Substitute on - Camille Chat , France
28'Player substituted - Guilhem Guirado , France
28'Yellow card - Yoann Huget , France
26'
That's more like it from Laidlaw. This has been an encouraging 10 minutes for the away side after a strong start from France.
26'10-3 Penalty goal - Greig Laidlaw , Scotland
25'Play restarts with a scrum, which Scotland win before France concede the penalty. Laidlaw will go for the posts.
23'The game is halted after a huge hit on France captain Guirado, one of a number of big tackles in this game so far.
22'

Missed penalty

A miss from Greig Laidlaw? That's a collector's item... The scrum-half's kick from just left of the posts strikes the upright and bounces out. France clear but Scotland are back in possession and are building again into the French 22.

21'That's nice from Peter Horne, who steps clear of French pressure and breaks forward. Scotland look to build and Ritchie flings a pass wide before they come back infield. Guirado then gets a huge hit on Horne before France eventually concede a penalty. Laidlaw will kick at goal.
20'Scotland win a penalty on the halfway line and Kinghorn kicks deep into touch inside the France half.
18'
France come forward again after another turnover. Gael Fickou immediately kicks into space and Maitland has to scamper back to deny Huget getting on the end of it, but the Scots then concede a penalty in front of their posts. Ramos converts a simple penalty.
18'10-0 Penalty goal - Thomas Ramos , France
15'It's a deserved lead for the home side. Scotland have been unable to build any territory inside the first 15.
15'7-0 Conversion - Thomas Ramos , France
13'
TRY
Oh that's a brilliant try! It comes from excellent play from Thomas Ramos, who receives a deep kick before beating three or four men on the right flank. He hands it off to Penaud and France work it wide to Romain Ntamack who crosses the line for his first international try. Ramos kicks the conversion.
13'5-0 Try - Romain Ntamack , France
12'France looked threatening but Scotland stand strong. Forwards Lambey, Guirado and Lauret were getting the ball in hand and were driving towards the line, but the Scots win the penalty and are able to clear.
11'Laidlaw goes up and under following the French lineout and France win a penalty for a call on Jamie Ritchie. Ntamack kicks into touch and France have a lineout in promising position.
8'The try has been disallowed. As Bastareaud was stopped in front of the line, it appears there was a knock-on from a French player inside the ruck. It's marginal, and very unlucky, but the score remains 0-0. Scotland win the scrum on the 5 metre line and Kinghorn clears from deep.
7'France come forward and score the try! It was Ramos who got the move going with a chip and chase that pressured Kinghorn. Lambey and Bastareaud drive towards the line before it's worked wide to Damian Penaud who crosses out on the right flank for the score. But this is being checked...
5'Scotland drive forward through Bradbury and Strauss but the Scots lose possession after the 11th phase. France burst forward through Huget...
4'Scotland work it right from the lineout and the away side look to build from inside their half. Laidlaw hooks forward and France's Thomas Ramos receives well, before Allan Dell turns the ball over for the Scots.
3'Scotland do well to win the lineout and drive forward. The Scots then win a penalty which Kinghorn again clears into touch down the left.
2'France and Dupont start to build into Scotland's half. Dupont chips forward with a clever kick into space down Scotland's left flank. Kinghorn guides the ball out and Scotland have a lineout deep in their half.
1'Maitland received the ball and got a huge hit from Damian Penaud, before France concede an early penalty. Kinghorn boots into touch and France turn the ball over from the lineout.
1' And we're off! 19-year-old Romain Ntamack gets us going with a kick downfield which is received deep by Sean Maitland. Australian Nic Berry is today's referee.
1'The teams are out and it's a wonderfully sunny afternoon in at the Stade de France in Paris. The home crowd are in good spirits and it's a full house.
1'Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell are keeping busy this afternoon, despite being unable to play. Hogg is on TV punditry duty for the BBC while Russell takes a place on the bench and says he has been tasked with helping Townsend and his team in analysing the game. Interesting.
1' Fantasy Rugby: Players to watch

Quick! You've only got until kick off to make any changes to your Fantasy Rugby Team!

Here are a couple of players who could make a difference and score some points this afternoon.

For France, look no further than No. 8 Louis Picamoles who, with 16 points overall, is one of the top-scoring forwards in the game.

For Scotland, Blair Kinghorn benefits from Stuart Hogg's injury and gets a shot at his favoured position of No. 15. He scored a hat-trick against Italy on opening weekend and has an impressive strike rate for the Scots. Back him to get to the line.

1'

Josh Strauss' passport nightmare

Josh Strauss starts for the Scots, but it's fair to say his build up to the game hasn't been ideal.

The No. 8 lost his South African passport just days before the team travelled to Paris, and it was too late to get a replacement.

The situation was swiftly resolved, however, meaning Strauss is available to start, to the relief of Townsend given the number of players already missing from the squad.

Drinks will be on Strauss if the Scots come away with a win, you would imagine...

1'

Parra, Lopez dropped from France team

France coach Jacques Brunel has responded to his side's 44-8 defeat to England two weeks ago by dropping Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez from their matchday squad. Romain Ntamack is one of four changes to the XV and starts at fly-half. Antoine Dupont is at scrum-half and with Thomas Romas starting at full-back, Yoann Huget shifts to the wing and Gael Fickou takes the inside centre spot. Wenceslas Lauret comes into the pack at blind side. How will the team respond?

1'

Scotland forced into four changes

Gregor Townsend has been forced into a reshuffle since the defeat to Ireland two weeks ago. The Scots were dealt a blow when star fly-half Finn Russell was concussed playing for French club side Racing 92 last weekend, while Stuart Hogg is out due to a shoulder injury picked up in the Ireland defeat. Hogg and Russell join centre Huw Jones and flanker Ryan Wilson, who are both nursing knee injuries, on the sidelines, leaving resources stretched.

Peter Horne gets the nod at No. 10 in place of Russell, Blair Kinghorn comes in for Hogg at full-back, Nick Grigg wins his seventh cap at centre while Magnus Bradbury starts in the back-row.

1'

Good afternoon and welcome to ESPN's live commentary of the Six Nations clash between France and Scotland.

The Scots last won in Paris in 1999 but will fancy their chances this afternoon against a dysfunctional France team, who spectacularly collapsed against Wales on the opening weekend before they were thrashed by England two weeks ago.

The away side have been ravaged by injuries, however, and are missing Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, Huw Jones and Ryan Wilson, to name a few, from the XV that beat Italy on the opening weekend.

We'll bring you all the team news and build up before kick off at 2:15 p.m. GMT.

1'0-0 Start of first half

Six Nations Championship 2019 News