Scotland v France Six Nations Rugby

Murrayfield, scene of autumnal

triumphs, cast today at a theatre of

redemption for a Scotland team

dismembered last week. Take heart

with these words, victory is always

possible for the person who refuses

to stop fighting.

to stop fighting.

Scotland is far

more optimistic than I have seen

them for a long time.

The players

are full of confidence, there is an

expectation.

The players they have

got and the form they are in...

We

cannot wait to put what we have done

in training onto the field.

The six

Nations once again.

And it is a try

for Wales. What a start for the home

side.

Who will believe what they are

doing is the right thing?

Is there a

way back for Scotland?

Penalty to

Wales. Half-time seems a long time

ago. They did not have any variety,

they did not have a plan B.

Wales

are going towards victory here.

You

cannot lose the physical battles

like they did today all over the

field.

The free scoring Scots have

been neutered.

That is trying number

four.

We did not play the way we are

capable of.

Scotland can take one

small thing from this match.

It was

a sobering experience.

I said to the

players I think we will better them.

They were complacent in their own

defeat.

We did Pooley and we are

working out why that was the case.

A

week is a long time in rugby, before

the opening match is both the side

harboured ambitions of being

championship contenders and now it

is about making the most of what is

left, putting together a winning run

and hoping England and Ireland

falter. And for Scotland it is about

telling the sporting public that the

nation does not go away. That live

shot will do wonders for the

Scottish tourist board. Edinburgh is

sparkling on a golden but freezing

Sunday afternoon. As the camera

keeps panning from right-to-left

from the castle all the way across

this magnificent city we find

ourselves there, at Murrayfield

where, on a day like today, this is

the most magnificent stadium.

Keeping the faith for Scotland is

Andy Nichol. Olivier Marteel EA is

here with us, one of the great

French players of all time. Andy,

Scotland, over the last week or so,

what is the general consensus?

A

huge disappointment in the

performance and everybody wants to

see this team come out here today

and play with the aggression and

physicality and tactical awareness

they did not show last week and show

everyone this is a good team that

had a bad day last week.

From a

French perspective, OK they lost to

Ireland in dramatic circumstances,

but were the French public

encouraged by the French

performance?

Yes, they were happy

about the attitude of the team. Of

course we were disappointed to lose

in the last minute against Ireland,

but Ireland deserved to win. They

have started to build a new spirit

and a new attitude, built by Jacques

Brunel, and they will show it as we

can.

It is the first time you have

been here as a spectator, what are

your impressions of this?

I imagine

if you are Scot playing here, and it

would be fantastic. If this was

taking place one week after they

played Australia, everybody would be

looking forward to it and thinking

Scotland were going to win. Scotland

are still a good team. Just because

they had a bad state last week does

not mean that they will play badly

this weekend. Rarely do they play

badly twice in a row. I expect them

to come back this weekend.

There

were two games yesterday. In one

match it was raining tries and in

the other match it was just raining.

There was a TMO decision that will

be talked about for years to come.

And it is Henshaw again. Can anyone

get him? Henshaw on the line. He

felt something. Has he done

something to his arm? A penalty to

Italy, quickly taken. The pass was

given away and it is a race. Can he

go himself? He will score again.

Anthony Watson followed up well.

Owen Farrell puts boot to it and

Johnny May is going to the race.

Johnny May is going to the race. Try

awarded, Johnny May of Leicester.

That was just after two and a half

minutes. It has gone along. An

inside pass and a second try for

Johnny May.

He knows there is an advantage.

REFEREE: We want to know if it is a

tried, yes or no?

tried, yes or no?

What does this

come off? It looks like it was off

his knees so far. The ball is in

goal. Who gets to it first?

goal. Who gets to it first? He could

have beaten Anthony Watson to it.

REFEREE: The ball has come off any

of the Welsh player but it has not

been clearly grounded. Therefore it

is a scrum five metres back.

So no

try?

I can't hear you clearly.

No

try. I go back to the penalty?

Correct. I still cannot understand

why that is not a try. I think in

the wording there was something

about not being clear on the ground.

You can see he has got his hand on

the ball and he gets there first and

grounds it. It is a big moment in

the game, particularly in front of

82,002 get the decision wrong. We

will be looking for clarification

afterwards.

It was a tough game,

full credit to Wales, they played

really well. I am sure they will

claim they were unlucky and maybe

they were, but there is a team up

there who makes the decisions.

Was

it a try or no try?

I do not make

the decisions.

The TMO made that. It

was down to pressure. How big a

turning point do you think it was?

We do not know. It was not a try, so

why speculate?

The momentum seem to

be with Wales at that moment in time

and it could have been a very

different score. You guys know more

than us. I would not suggest that,

but tight games can turn on these

margins, can't they?

We have a team

up there to make those decisions. He

has got all the time in the world to

make the decision and he makes it.

An impasse between Sonia McLauchlan

and Eddie Jones. This is how the

table looks at the end of the second

weekend. England and Ireland have

two victories. We are having

difficulty getting hold of a

graphic.

Tried or no try? It was a try and I

think he got it wrong. We have seen

the evidence that he got there

first. It was a huge core and the

TMO was brought in to get those

decisions right and that is what was

disappointing.

Sam?

I feel for the

Welsh boys, I completely agree with

Warren Gatland.

Livio?

Warren Gatland.

Livio?

It was a

difficult decision, but they

deserved to win as well, the Welsh.

You think by and large England were

the better side?

They showed a bit

more firepower in the first half and

Wales came back in the second-half.

Had Wales got that tried, they still

would have been trailing. Be

brutally honest perhaps they just

edged Wales in that game.

What about

the opportunities got Williams had

to score?

I recognised him coming

through a few years ago. The amount

of ground he covers. He is on the

right-hand side the screen. He has

an incredible workrate.

an incredible workrate. Because he

was in the second half, it was more

significant perhaps than in the

first-half.

It was wet with the

rain, so he almost went to low and

Sam Underhill did that as well. That

was a huge part of the game as well

because there was real momentum

there. I thought Wales with Gareth

Anscombe at ten brought their

attacking game and they were

finishing stronger. Probably England

deserved it.

When you score a match

when there is 30 points between the

sides, you are never sure if one

team played well or one team played

badly. Let's get a view on this Paul

O'Connell.

He is with Lee McKenzie. It was

interesting because it was against

Italy but it was a commanding

performance by Ireland. What pleased

you most about that?

It was a very

clinical performance. Ireland were

really organised and they opened

them up with some very clever

playing and classic Jo Smith plays.

Then there was creativity as well.

The turnover ball and some fantastic

tries. They conceded 19 points which

they will be disappointed with, but

Italy has very good players as well.

An excellent performance overall.

The big thing is Andrew Porter, the

young tight head, adding some

strength to the squad. Jordan

Larimer is well getting some game

time. It was a really good outing

for Ireland. Robbie Henshaw is

really important and the injuries

will be a worry. But overall it was

great to see.

Ireland have the

talisman of Johnny Sexton and Finn

Russell will be under the spotlight

today and you have been looking at

him closely.

He is a fantastic

player and I played against him at

the end of my career. He is good at

picking slow, old forwards out in

the defensive line. He sees the game

a bit quicker than everyone else. He

got some criticism during the week

because he was enjoying himself. He

is a player who needs to be relaxed,

said there is nothing wrong with

smiling and being relaxed. You need

to lead the team a bit better than

he does. Johnny Sexton and Owen

Farrell pick and choose their

moments brilliantly for Ireland and

England. I think Finn Russell was

trying to pull out a magic play

every time the other day. He is

amazing and he needs to let it

happen at the right time and do the

right thing for him and his team.

This turnover was one of many and it

led to the final Welsh try. I think

it will be a big learning experience

for him at the weekend. I expect a

much better performance from him

today.

He is quite like the young

Gregor Townsend. Gregor was quite

mercurial at the start of his

career.

You want someone who wants

to play and certainly the way

Scotland play, he is ideal for them.

But he just needs to pick and choose

his moments a bit better. Sometimes

when the defence are on the top it

is part of rugby, and you probably

need to go kicking. There are

moments when you can have a crack

and there is no better time when you

are on top in the six Nations. It is

about choosing your moments.

We have

now located the table!

It is fair to say that the loser of

this match here today at Murrayfield

can kiss goodbye to any hopes of

being champions. If most of the away

fans travel more in hope than

expectation, not the French because

this is a very happy hunting ground

for them. Although the conversation

today will have centred on why the

game last weekend could not have

ended differently.

ended differently. France, an old

coach.

coach. Simple, old-fashioned and

worryingly frequent knee injuries.

As for the rugby, little more than

this, a one-man source of pent-up

opportunities.

You were not onside

when you played that ball.

And a

one-man machine. France is never out

of touch. But was this another knee

injury? After 70 pretty forgettable

minutes of rugby in the ring,

suddenly and memorable finale. A

conversion, a penalty and a final 40

phase build-up. Everything leading

to this. I Johnny Sexton special.

Two small point the difference. But

what a difference.

They were talking about the French

Number ten, having mentioned Finn

Russell and Johnny Sexton and

wearing the number ten

jersey is Lionel Beauxis. Is this

inspired or desperate?

I think it is

more desperate. The best number ten

's are foreigners. It is difficult

for us to find. I think it is a

mistake for Jacques Brunel giving it

to Lionel Beauxis. He is a good

player, maybe he can do something to

help the French team. At the moment

we are not looking forward to the

future, we are just looking to win.

It is a today selection and not a

tomorrow's election. Last week,

France against Ireland, and this is

a real stat for the rugby nerd. The

most tackles ever made in a single

six Nations match last week by

France against Ireland. The top five

of those tackles are all against

Arlen. I don't know what you read

into that. Does that mean that the

French defence last weekend was

outstanding or that Ireland could

not break it down?

I would be saying

why did they make that many tackles?

Is it because France could not turn

the ball over in defence? Did they

not keep it in attack? You need to

look a little bit deeper than the

initial statistics.

Clearly France

can tackle. How do Scotland get away

from them?

France were very good

around the rock and their forwards

are very aggressive and they defend

quite tight and they come off the

line very fast.

I don't think Scotland will want to

take on France in these exchanges.

On this occasion Ireland do not have

enough numbers to go wide. Outside

in that channel there was a lot of

space and they did not follow up

that defence. Ireland went pretty

narrow and not wide. This means they

can regenerate their whole backline.

Ireland have got numbers to go wide

on this occasion. They go wide and

expose the channel. This is what

Scotland are good at.

Scotland are good at.

Scotland will

have to get the ball in that space

as he has identified very well.

This

is the loudest PA system at any

international ground. Is this part

of the Scottish tactic?

We need to

try everything.

The Scottish fans

who went down to Cardiff last

weekend had a long and dispiriting

journey back home. Worth it

performances in the autumn against

the all Blacks an illusion? Today

will not be easy because Scotland

have only beaten France twice in the

six Nations. There is a sense of

expectation here at Murrayfield that

we have not enjoyed for a while.

And

they score! Extraordinary. Surely

they must score? And they do.

Scottish pandemonium. There will be

no French grand slam.

France in

recent times have dominated this

fixture.

fixture.

A try for Scotland! And

Duncan Taylor reaches for the line.

What a try from Duncan Taylor. And

France hit back.

France hit back. What a finish! A

win for Scotland.

Apart from a couple of Scottish

calamities here at Murrayfield in

2004 and in Paris a year after that,

this fixture is hugely entertaining.

Gregor Townsend is with Lee.

After that tough weekend in Cardiff

last weekend, the players are using

phrases like redeem themselves and

right the wrongs. How much pressure

is on the Scotland side today?

We

probably do not focus on the

pressure. We are focusing on the

French speed, what they do at set

pieces, but we demand a lot of

ourselves and last week was no good

enough. We have a chance to what we

are good at and what we can do very

well and what we are about.

What was

it like at the camp this week?

Very

good. The first half of the week is

finding out why certain things

happened and what we would do

differently. The second half of the

week is building up and producing

our best performance.

The French

team will pose different questions

and Wales. What is the biggest

threat from them today?

They are

physical team, so the set team is

where they pride themselves in that

area. The scrum, the line-out ball.

In the last few games they have

defended very well and they compete

very hard. Having picked a kicking

stand-off, maybe they are looking

for their defence to play a bigger

role. We have to make sure that we

are accurate and we work hard and

take our chances.

Six changes to the

side, Greg Laidlaw stars.

What do

you expect? He is an excellent

player and he is back in form and in

full fitness. His role at number

nine is important and it will ensure

we get quick ball away. But also

what he does is his experience and

his leadership will help us a lot.

Thank you very much. In Cardiff last

week the first question I asked you

was, it is already a big call

picking Ali Price at scrum-half and

he said it was an obvious thing to

do. Is this a big call?

Ali Price

has been almost his own

personification of Greg Laidlaw's

tactics and how he wants to play. I

felt last week he struggled on the

tactics. Greg Laidlaw has been

brought in for his leadership and

his game management and the ability

at times to control Finn Russell.

Let him play, because that is what

Scotland want him to do, but control

him and play him in the right areas

and just have that calm voice around

him. Last week Cornell du Preez, Ali

Price and Finn Russell, Huw Jones,

they have changed three out of four,

so to control Finn Russell and with

Greg Laidlaw it will allow him to

play his game and let the others be

almost the tactical awareness, the

game management. Almost to put the

handbrake on him at times and then

take it off as well. You want Finn

Russell to play his natural game.

Peter Horne is equally important.

Either side of that he can allow

Finn Russell to play his game and

let these guys control what is

happening around him.

Do you think

the French will target Finn Russell

today? Are they hoping he will have

an erratic game again?

I think

France is more focused on what they

want to do and Jacques Brunel is

looking for the confidence. He wants

them to be clear with the set piece,

the line-out. Maybe they will be

waiting for the turnover to

counterattack and score. At the

moment France is not able to play

like we like to see them play. But

it will be step-by-step.

We have to

be patient. Turnovers are very key

and the Scottish back row showed

changes from last week. What do you

read into this?

Scotland struggled a

little bit at line-out against

Wales.

You want to have a success rate of

90% plus. Brian Wilson is a very

good line-out option. He is a very

good leader in the Scottish team and

he is aggressive as well.

It is all

about the passion and getting the

emotion right. He carried the ball

very well in the last five minutes

last week. I think he has been

brought in to spice up the pack. He

has got the right attitude to be the

leader upfront to take this pack

forward.

A quick thought about the

French front row.

French front row. Tell us about

Guirado.

I think he is one of the

world's best hookers. I thought he

was brilliant last week and he is a

real go to man for France.

How much

is today about the mind given what

happened last week for Scotland?

The

start is very much about the mind

because the physical then has to

take over. I want Scotland to come

firing out of the blocks from the

changing room and play with that

real attitude and passion in the

first ten minutes and take France on

physically. They cannot do that the

whole game because France are big

side, but then allowed their natural

game to evolve.

It is a beautiful

day, can we see some running rugby

from France today?

I don't think so.

I don't think we are able to play

that kind of game. I don't think

they want to go too fast. They have

some new players, it is a new coach.

Many things have happened over the

last few months for France. I think

we have to wait before we see a new

French team.

New coach, new French

team, two sides waiting in the

tunnel as you can see. Final word

from you, Sam. What kind of a game

might this be? Can Scotland afford

to throw caution to the wind?

It is

perfect whether to do that. I hope

Scotland stick to what they can do

over the last few months, just play

rugby.

rugby. I am going to go with home

advantage today and Scotland will

win.

Scotland loved playing at

Murrayfield, the atmosphere is great

and they have had a good record here

recently. Let's hope they get their

campaign back on track.

Some great

pictures in this stadium on a

glorious afternoon and there is a

huge French contingent. You can hear

them in Murrayfield, there is a

beautiful, blue sky. Polo,

Glaisdale, crisp, numbing, it may

not be South Korea, but we need a

match that is heart-warming and

heart stirring because it really is

a bit party. But here we go with the

third instalment of the second round

of the six Nations in 2018. Paul

O'Connell, Chris Pattinson and

Andrew Cotter are your commentators.

# Allons enfants de la Patrie

Le jour de gloire est arrive

# Contre nous de la tyrannie,

L'etendard sanglant est leve

# L'etendard sanglant est leve

# Entendez-vous dans les campagnes

Mugir ces feroces soldats

# Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras

Egorger nos fils, nos compagnes

# Aux armes, citoyens

Formez vos bataillons

# Marchons, marchons

# Qu'un sang impur

Abreuve nos sillons #.

CHEERING

Ladies and gentlemen, led by a lone

piper, please remain standing for

the national anthem of Scotland.

# O flower of Scotland

# When will we see your like again

# That fought and died for

# Your wee bit hill and glen

# And stood against him

# Proud Edward's army

# And sent him homeward

# Tae think again

# Those days are passed now

# And in the past they must remain

# But we can still rise now

# And be the nation again

# That stood against him

# Proud Edward's army

# And sent him homeward

# Tae think again. #

The sound of Murrayfield for the

first time in this championship and

where last week much was expected of

Scotland this week agreed deal is

demanded and these are the players

who tried to deliver. Simon Berghan

returns from a ban maybe not the

strongest scrummager but he brings

bulk and ball carrying. Greater size

in the second row with Grant

Gilchrist in Fort Ben Toolis. The

main change that scrum-half in the

backs, Greig Laidlaw is different to

Ali Price, still no Alex Dunbar in

midfield, Huw Jones moves back to

outside centre, Sean Maitland is in

for Byron McGuigan. Not so many

changes for France, Kevin Gordon is

out so number eight is Marco

Tauleigne. A powerful front five.

The front row will expect to make

their presence felt. Two changes in

the backs, Geoffrey Doumayrou comes

in at centre and the biggest talking

point, the return after six years of

Lionel Beauxis at fly half. On the

bench, for Scotland Dave Denton

returns to bring energy to the back

row and Blair Kinghorn could make

his debut. Louis Picamoles is back

on the bench for France. The

conditions are near-perfect if

somewhat chilly. The stage is set, a

lot of French supporters in who have

been making themselves heard but it

is a home match for the Scottish

point of view and a welcome home

match. There is Lionel Beauxis. A

very different type of game they are

expected to play with him, he will

try to take and control, Chris.

He

will look to kick and kick

contestables to get this big forward

pack into the game. John Lacey will

have his work cut out.

The final

game of the second weekend underway,

the message has been clear from

Scotland, they will try to play a

creative, high paced game. Fewer

errors and a bit more direction.

Hamish Watson was one of the ball

carriers last week but you can hear

the French fans and immediately wide

from Scotland but Maitland has no

way round Teddy Thomas.

way round Teddy Thomas. Jonny Gray a

blend -- upended.

blend -- upended. Taken well by

Palis but Huw Jones gets to him. An

opportunity and immediately Vakatawa

will try to punch holes in the

Scottish defence. Guirado goes out

why to Teddy Thomas and good hands

to Lamerat and he just get it back

to Thomas. Machenaud again.

to Thomas. Machenaud again. Good

defensive work by McInally but

smuggled back and hit at pace and

good work by Doumayrou. The La

Rochelle centre taking his chance

well in the opening moments. Some

power from Camara. The turnover was

good but lost and France get an

opportunity once more.

Contest on the floor. France have it

once more. Machenaud to Yacouba

Camara, the Montpellier flanker. The

French fans making noise again.

Palis trying to find a way past

Laidlaw. Into the Scottish half come

les Bleus.

The pass eventually comes to Teddy

Thomas and he slips past Finn

Russell and the is there again and

he is doing it once more! Teddy

Thomas! Deja vu at Murrayfield!

Teddy Thomas as he did in Paris,

does here again at Edinburgh and

what a start for him and France.

Incredible start the ball was in

play for two and a half minute an

enormous identical try from last

week from Teddy Thomas. His

confidence must be high, he shrugged

off Finn Russell and turned on the

afterburners. A fantastic try and he

seems to be in good form.

seems to be in good form.

As Paul

says, two and a half minutes and not

ticked at all by the French. A bit

scrappy at times, Thomas had it all

to do but he got on the outside of

Russell and he could have passed it

but he decided to take on Hogg and

had the power and strength to get

over for his seventh try. So

electric with ball in hand. We all

thought the French would kick but

they have come to play.

We have

heard from the French camp, letting

messages slip out, it'll be a game

with Beauxis, one game plan and then

another.

It looked like he was

trying to take but John Barclay got

at him and stopped him but the rest

of the Scottish team had to react to

that and shut it off.

Conversion

attempt for Maxime Machenaud.

Accompanied by the Marseillaise from

the stands. Scotland gave away an

early try in Cardiff last week and

have done so again here at

Murrayfield and what a finish.

It

was a good finish but it was one on

one tackles missed.

The bounce pass

is often the best in rugby!

It puts

the defence on their heels.

Scotland

will look for a response but France

already looking lively.

Machenaud sends up the box-kick.

Wenceslas Lauret chasing for France

but taken well enough. Barclay feeds

Ryan Wilson.

Simon Berghan, brought in for some

ball carrying. Hamish Watson,

deceptively strong. Russell once

more to Jonny Gray. Gordon Reid and

Wilson lend a hand. Russell again.

Hugh Jones spills in the contact,

French ball again. French scrum.

Big

first scrum Fort Simon Berghan. He

has not played in six weeks after

his suspension over Christmas. This

is a part of the game that was weak

for Scotland certainly towards the

end of the game last week against

Wales. A big moment for the Scottish

scrum. It France sent weakness here,

they could go after them all day.

Looking at the front rows, Slimani

is one of the best scrummagers in

the world come up against Gordon

Reid and Guirado is a good

scrummager as well, and Jefferson

Poirot against Berghan but an injury

at the moment.

That was the bounce

pass. It puts the defence on their

heels, Thomas is first to react and

he is so quick also get outside Pete

Horne and his team-mates would have

been frustrated if he did not make

it but he had all the confidence,

his second try in two weeks and that

is what it means, scoring within two

minutes. Scotland wanted and needed

a good start after last weekend but

Teddy Thomas and France got it.

It

takes the sting out of the home

crowd when you travelling team, if

you can silence the spectators. The

first scrum and as Paul said, it is

a big moment because France should

have the upper in this department.

Machenaud not happy and John Lacey

will let them do it again.

I need

your height up.

He is a tall pop,

Simon Berghan. Scrummaging is not

his forte but he is getting better.

Richard Cockerill as talk about that

at Edinburgh. He is coming back from

a six-week ban and up against

Jefferson Poirot.

Penalty to France is the result of

the first scrum. Back slaps all

round.

Very hard to see from here.

John Lacey was saying that Gordon

Reid went down to his knees early

will stop it is hard to tell but it

is still an important moment. This

is one place where forwards can

influence territory. If you give

away penalties in the scrum or in

the ruck, you can get 40 or 50 yards

down the field and you now have the

French running at the Scottish.

Guirado and sent back beautifully

and a chance for Remi Lamerat to

carry for a moment and then

Jefferson Poirot. France with a

direct approach here.

direct approach here. Machenaud take

the loop around and the kick is half

charged down. Scotland secure

possession and will try to get some

go forward. Berghan setting it back.

Gray and Gilchrist and Watson and a

penalty to France. Scotland yielding

possession again. A familiar tale

for those who watched last week.

I

think it was sealing off.

A good

poached by the French. It is amazing

to see them take the line-out of the

top and into the middle of the

field, putting their forwards around

the ball.

It was Wenceslas Lauret

who got in first and over the ball.

Strong.

Rabah Slimani is not looking

at all good at the moment.

What does John Lacey mean by

transferring weight? Slimani is key.

Is he setting his stall out early on

because the first scrum was a

penalty to underline his position?

It is a very hard part of the game

to referee. I know John Lacey, he

used to play for Munster and he

lives very near me and he does a lot

of work refereeing the scrum and he

referees the Munster training for

the scrum and Irish training.

Machenaud with his second kick at

goal. Ideal start for France, ten

points within ten minutes here at

Murrayfield. Scotland looking to put

right the wrongs of last week but so

far it is all France.

The penalties,

the one from the scrum that allowed

France to get field position and

then Scotland turn it over and got

penalised again and two minutes

later it is 10-0 already.

Up it goes from Maxime Machenaud.

Yacouba Camara almost got to it but

a little knock forward so Scotland

will have the scrum.

These aerial

battles are so important, we saw

them yesterday at Twickenham. A lot

of teams using the box-kick with the

wind chasing and you need a solid

full-back orc winker under the high

ball is -- or winger.

It can hold up

in that channel by the East stand,

almost blows the ball back infield.

And Tamara is so good in the air and

athletic -- Camara.

The scrum under

scrutiny, Nigel Owens on the

touchline. Scotland holding firm but

away it comes through Wilson and now

with Russell and out wide and a

chance for Scotland. Chasing that is

Tommy Seymour and Teddy Thomas plays

a bit of football and he whacks it

into the West stand, try scorer and

last man covering for France.

Excellent kick by Stuart Hogg, it

was perfectly weighted to make

France put it out. Scotland bought

five metres out and it is a real try

scoring opportunity.

It was good

from Scotland to apply the pressure

because the scrum had skewed the

wrong way. That was the space that

Sam Warburton was on about.

Space on

the edge to attack France. The

line-out did not go well against

Wales. Gilchrist is the line-out

call and now the whole of

Murrayfield calls for a drive but

not going anywhere at the moment.

Laidlaw points and Scotland make

their way to the line but the ball

is still back at source. Everybody

lost for a moment. Back at the feet

of Gordon Reid. He carries himself

with Barclay and Berghan. Scotland

had to come again. The French event

in the starting blocks. Jonny Gray.

-- French defence. Through comes

Iturria and a good counter ruck by

France but it is now Hogg with some

space to run and tried to step

through the heavy traffic.

Jonny Gray bounces off one man,

Machenaud felt that Gilchrist and

Russell gives the past and it is

Maitland for the try! Scotland

working well and Maitland finishes

it and Scotland hit back at

Murrayfield.

Fantastic carry from

Jonny Gray, he gets outside the

defender, off-loads to Gilchrist. He

puts Finn Russell away who puts

Maitland in. Fantastic try and very

sensible from Scotland, to get into

the corner, the five metre Drive,

they don't score from the drive but

hang on to the ball and that was the

important thing.

That was the big

carry from Jonny Gray, the pass from

Gilchrist allowed space to be

attacked on the outside and Russell

delivered it. That was Machenaud,

the smallest man on the field, a

tough number nine but the second row

and Scotland get it free on the edge

of the patient build-up after the

initial line-out drive that was well

defended by the French but Sean

Maitland keeps his width and scores

in the left corner.

And for Byron

McGuigan who had a hamstring injury,

Maitland has now scored a few tries

for Scotland, this is his seventh

and right in the corner. A tough

kick and the man taking the kicks

today is Greig Laidlaw.

He has done very well indeed. It

looked a bit tired as it reached

halfway but it made it and from that

angle it is a wonderful conversion.

It is, it is a strong wind in the

far corner. Gilchrist shifting it

on. They were expecting the second

row to carry but another look at the

conversion which just made it over.

Extra two points for Scotland.

conversion which just made it over.

Extra two points for Scotland.

Lionel Beauxis with length on the

Extra two points for Scotland.

Lionel Beauxis with length on the

restart but that kick is charged

down, it is a big in-goal area. The

ball is dead. Hogg was ready to send

that the length of the pitch but a

good charge down.

Both kickers have

been caught. Lahmert charged it in

the shins, it must have been low

from Stuart Hogg.

The restart from Russell. He gives

it some height and a bit of

distance. Geoffrey Palis gathers it

in. Beauxis finds Sebastien

Vahaamahina. The mountain on the

move.

Lamerat tries to slip it to Thomas,

John Lacey said it went backwards.

Lamerat was able to salvage it.

Machenaud onto Remi Lamerat again.

He keeps his hands free, thinking

about the off-load.

Teddy Thomas is at it again come

almost. It was Barclay and Berghan

who got to him as Vahaamahina goes

into Gilchrist. That goes out

sideways and Scotland have a chance

to counter. Hogg had to check and

take the pass and quickly taken down

by Doumayrou.

Barclay into Lamerat. Simon Berghan

feeding Gilchrist. He goes into

Arthur Iturria. Scotland creeping

forward. McInally and Watson, well

met by Guirado. Russell with a low

kick and Palis has time. That is a

good-looking kick as well, just

stays infield for Stuart Hogg. He

sends it high. Vakatawa take it

well, powerful winker. He decides to

feed it on but the pass from Marco

Tauleigne is beyond Teddy, but an

opportunity still for Lamerat --

Teddy Thomas. A great charge by

Iturria, it goes to Scottish hands

though. Quick thinking by Machenaud

in defence. Russell with the long

pass to Barclay and Hogg now with a

little step to delay and he feeds

Jones who is taken down by Vakatawa.

Still on the Scottish side.

Russell, that was half touched and

goes to French hands and forward

comes Geoffrey Palis. A message

--

Stuart Hogg decides to take and

there is huge space back there and

Vakatawa seems in no hurry. All the

players tiring. Vakatawa prize

defines speed but was taken down

well. -- tries to find. It is a

wrestle on the ground but France

still have possession. Machenaud

taking a quiet moment to himself. He

gives it on and Poirot with a little

rumble.

Some players are hands on knees, it

has been a tiring passage of play

and the French fans are trying to

lift their team. Russell coming

forward and take that well.

Attention from Beauxis. Laidlaw to

Berghan.

A bit of thunder from him over the

ten metre line. McInally is what

they can buy Slimani and Camara.

This will test the fitness of both

teams. Palis deals with that and

steps around Jonny Gray.

steps around Jonny Gray. France is

trying to add some direction through

Tauleigne. It goes to Beauxis. Once

again, it is Russell Fielding. A

little hitch kick but Teddy Thomas

gets to him. Penalty to Scotland.

Everybody can finally rehydrate and

gather and take stock.

Similar

penalty to the two John Barclay gave

away just after half-time last week

where the French number four Iturria

put his hands onto the floor before

he got to the ball but very long

periods of play and I think that

might suit Scotland. I think they

are fitter. France made 253 tackles

last week in the Irish game which

was a Six Nations record so there

will be a few tired bodies and I

think those long period will suit

Scotland and picked out a few tired

French forwards eventually.

Line-out

to Scotland. McInally goes to

Gilchrist again and did well to take

that. Horne reaching for that one.

Penalty France.

It was Doumayrou who

got over the ball in the outside

channel and that is what France

want, they give you the space on the

outside. Sean Maitland got

possession behind the Scottish line

as John Lacey has a couple of words

with John Barclay who is trying to

clear up what happened.

France put massive pressure on the

breakdown. Scotland already

conceding three penalties.

Beauxis finds touch.

This was the

tackle by Vakatawa and Doumayrou was

over it straightaway in a really

stronger position. Barclay and I

think it is Finn Russell cannot

clear him out.

That penalty came in the first

phase, similar to last week with

Scotland when they had good first

phase possession.

Already ten

tackles missed by Scotland, just two

by France but their line-out is

stolen and Berghan goes up. Hamish

Watson again, one of the smallest

forwards but one of the strongest as

well. A wrecking ball. Russell over

the head of Vakatawa and out on the

full and a groan from the crowd.

Nobody is more frustrated than Finn

Russell himself.

It was the right

option but the execution let him

down. There was space. Scotland were

moving backwards, but similar to the

penalty before that, conceding

possession and one or two phases

after winning it back. It is

difficult to put pressure on the

opposition.

Plenty of his future

Racing 92 team-mate in the French

team, Russell heading there this

summer.

Vakatawa tries to go past Huw Jones,

make and tried to strip him but

still with France.

Machenaud is being told to use it.

There is a healthy debate he is

having with John Lacey. He

eventually does use it.

Beauxis just drops his head into the

knees of Jonny Gray and a little

spill forward and Scotland will have

the scrum.

the scrum.

Beauxis has taken a lot

of contacts, I think Scotland are

trying to fly up on his outside to

force him back in and most of the

kicking is coming from Machenaud and

Palis.

Jacques Brunel knows Beauxis,

he played under him at Bordeaux, big

sis. They could about Trinh-Duc,

Jules Plisson, but Beauxis got the

shot today.

The French first phase

looks quite good but after that they

have not been so good and that is

where Scotland can pressure them.

They have not had a lot of time with

the coach. The first phase is quite

easy but after more time with the

code, that might help.

Not many

scrums sober in the game. Scotland

ball but they have felt the pressure

in the last one. -- not many scrums

so far in the game. That it was well

placed and Palis is under the cosh

and Maitland and Hogg tried to hold

him up and move him towards touch.

Palis has done well with a bit of

help.

Rolling forward, Wenceslas Lauret

and picked up by YouGov camera.

Beauxis and Tauleigne and France

coming again. Slimani, good

handling, Guirado bounces into

Berghan. France into the Scottish

half again. Good play to Marco

Tauleigne. Rabah Slimani. Ambitious

pass to Guirado but the captain does

well.

Yacouba Camara again, wrestled down

by Jonny Gray. Beauxis gives it deep

to Lamerat and to Doumayrou add on

to Teddy Thomas again. The chip and

chase and three French men chasing

it and Laidlaw and it bounces for

Teddy Thomas! Try number two for

France! Teddy Thomas once again.

It

was great work across by Greig

Laidlaw to cover the chip but just a

horrible bounce of the rugby ball

did it and it is all going to Teddy

Thomas's way. I thought Scotland had

that cupboard and is not the first

time we saw it. Last time against

Wales, when teams go wide against

them they seem to struggle.

YouTube

the camera set up the first one and

he was prominent. The ball is moved

to the outside again. France are in

total control because there was

space to attack and Stuart Hogg as

to come up and it is a foot race

between Greig Laidlaw and Thomas and

it is the cruellest bounce, the lack

of bounce that does Laidlaw. This

man is the X factor so far this

afternoon and it was the same last

week with his counterattack try

against Ireland. He got fortunate

there but the execution of the chip

at full pace and his effort to get

on the end of it gets the second

try.

Great to see some French

off-loading as well from their

forwards, playing some old-style

French rugby which we thought we

would never see again. Some exciting

play from them and confidence is

high now.

Machenaud once again, a

little bit breezy out there. His

most straightforward kick so far.

And Machenaud is on target once more

and the try of Teddy Thomas is worth

seven points and France are leading

by ten.

It is his eighth try, and he

is getting space on the outside

channel. Those are the most

difficult tackles to make when he is

out there but he is taking advantage

of the space with his fast footwork

and skill level.

Marco Tauleigne takes that well and

carries it in.

Machenaud sending it high in front

of the East stand again.

The turnover is good, says John

Lacey. Once again possession lost by

Scotland.

Camara pushes Stuart Hogg out of the

way and picks and goes himself.

Turnover this time and a penalty for

Scotland.

A lot of poaching going

on. I think the ball carrier needs

to work on the floor a bit more, a

little twist and turn and place the

ball longer and make the poacher go

off his feet.

And then overambition

from the penalty.

We saw this last

week from Finn Russell. As a forward

you get so excited about this

opportunity, you think you're going

to be walking down into a drive six

or seven metres down and it is so

deflating when you see it go dead

like that.

That was the wind you

were talking about. He was too

ambitious, you can only get the

line-out on the fibre line but the

wind comes off that stand and blows

it back in but he knows that and

should be making sure.

It ends in a

scrum to France back on their ten

metre line.

It is a good view.

These are the

angles that are so interesting.

angles that are so interesting. The

loose head for France up against

Berghan. Slimani up against a read.

The crowd says it goes forward.

We

keep saying it, but that is not what

we expected from France at all. A

scrum deep in their own half where

you would imagine there would be a

contestable kick. Good ambition,

good execution.

This is where the

play has been happening. Pretty even

in that. Scotland get a chance to

come again.

Maitland tries to get something

going from a standstill.

Simon Berghan has been useful in the

loose so far.

loose so far. The chance that

Laidlaw could not quite take. And

then he was held back a little bit

as he tried to gather at the second

attempt, but France send it long

anyway. Stuart Hall around the

outside and he gives it to Hamish

Watson. Scotland are far enough into

the 22.

It was a good hit by Doumayrou one

Gilchrist. And through the gap goes

Huw Jones under the post! Try for

Scotland and Huw Jones does it

again. He finishes, but the whole

team was involved.

A wonderful

off-load at the back door and he

carried it really well and he stayed

on the left-hand side and cut a

clean, superb angle off Greg Laidlaw

to score under the post.

We saw in

the middle of the line of Scotland

tried to go as quickly as they

could. They tried to take quick

tempo line-outs. The ball carrying

of the Scottish forwards has been

excellent. Watson and Gilchrist,

carrying bought at the French and

generating quick ball as well.

Huw

Jones has eight tries in 13 caps.

The easiest of convergence brings

Scotland to within three points.

One

of the things that is making it a

great game to watch is both teams

struggled to defend when the

opposition go wide with the ball.

That is what we love as viewers. We

saw it with Robbie Henshaw yesterday

as well. But you are right, both

teams want to play today, the

conditions are good and with quick

possession it is great to see.

It is

the slowest wander back to halfway

for France to restart the game.

Scotland have more of a sense of

urgency.

That is the way Gregor Townsend

wants them to play. He wants them to

play with pace. It suits playing

against the French team as well.

They struggle when they are off the

pace and you take them through

phases.

The initial tackle was OK,

but the second body was not there in

order to slow the ball down.

The

last French line-out was pinched,

but this one was taken down simply.

This good malt may well end in a

penalty, but it is a good drive.

Taking it out of touch is Scotland's

early friend at the moment. And a

penalty to Scotland.

A big moment

for Scotland. Gregor Townsend said

he was expecting a good set piece

from France in the maul. The

Scottish drove them towards the

touchline and a big tackle drove

them back and got the penalty. That

is psychologically a big moment in

any game. When you expect something

like that and you deal with it as

well as the Scots did, it is a big

moment.

This was in the build-up to

the tribe. The town overcame and

France kicked away their advantage

and eventually Huw Jones got his

score.

Scotland getting on the front foot

again.

Scottish advantage, a penalty

coming. Just try a shot to nothing

here perhaps. And it was nothing,

but back they come for the Scottish

penalty and a chance perhaps to

knock it into the corner again.

You

cannot kick the ball forward out of

rock. You can it back. Finn Russell

has to get this right. These are the

moments where he cannot get excited.

The ball going into the 22.

If you

were a cautious man, this would go

in on the 22 and that is where he

has gone for it. Teddy Thomas with

some acrobatics.

It was a cracking

effort. Did he have his goalkeeping

gloves on? It was a bit wobbly from

Finn Russell, but it is the outcome

that Scotland were looking for.

With

the noise inside Murrayfield he is

struggling to be heard. Gilchrist

has taken over the line calling

today.

Hamish Watson in the scrum-half

position. A good challenge and

instead it was taken by Iturria.

France with an opportunity to clear

in the final minutes of this

entertaining first half.

Scotland will have the line-out

again. Good line-out defence from

France. We saw problems from

Scotland's last week against Wales

in the line-out and they are

repeating it here again today.

Gilchrist was making it clear that

it is not always the hooker's fault.

They had to reach across to take

that, but it works well for

Scotland.

The French defence is good. Maitland

goes into the French 22. France will

earn the penalty, the ball not

coming back. Horne complains, but it

was good work by Tauleigne.

Machenaud looks as if he has hurt

his shoulder. He had the tackle

around his legs. He was in a good

position.

I think the ball carriers

could do more work on the ground,

twist and turn and make the poacher

go off his feet and over his centre

of gravity.

Looking at the tries so

far. Teddy Thomas very early in the

game. Poor defence perhaps, but try

similar to the one he got in Paris.

Those tackles are the most difficult

to make because there is so much

space. That was Scotland's first

tried by Maitland. That bounce was

unfortunate for Greg Laidlaw. And

this is Huw Jones. It was delayed

pass from Greg Laidlaw. That was

after another long phase play.

France are three points ahead, but

it has been a cracking first half.

Machenaud has been treated. Teddy

Thomas, what a talent he is.

And the touch is found and a couple

of minutes remaining in the first

half. The defence coaches look as if

they are not enjoying it, but it has

been entertaining from that point of

view. Gregor Townsend will have a

few things to talk about at

half-time.

Camara took it down for France.

Advantage to France, a penalty comes

and arrives and an opportunity to

France to finish the first half with

a score.

a score.

He is having words with the

French hooker and captain, Guirado.

It was five plus one in that case.

It is tough when you lose these big

moments. They are into their own 22

now and the pressure is on.

That was

a good kick as well. YouTube cam has

had a very good opening first half.

He is a crucial man in the line-out

as well.

The sound of Murrayfield

turns French as well.

Jones will be brought back for a

penalty to France.

penalty to France.

Jonny Gray just

bounced off the French jumper in the

air.

air. A penalty as well because the

infringement was in the line-out.

Maxine Machenaud comes forward and

says he will take the kick and

France will try and end with three

points. A sensible decision.

Yes,

there is a swirling wind. That was a

clear penalty. You could argue he

was contesting for the ball, but you

cannot make contact in the air at

all. This is a big kick for

Machenaud.

A minute ago it was possession for

them in the French 22.

The wind will

be coming into his face.

The last

touch of the first half to Maxine

Machenaud.

Or his kicks have been good so far

in the first half. It stretches the

lead to six points. Two tries apiece

in this very entertaining first

half. 20-14 to France.

Hugely entertaining first half of

rugby. Does about good enough to

make you forget how cold it is and

how important that try from Huw

Jones is, his eighth in the 13 caps.

Although obviously there was a

penalty from Machenaud in the last

play of the match and France have a

6-point lead.

It strikes you as being a fairly

level match, much more entertaining

from the French perspective.

And Olivier Magne, you did not

expect them to play like that.

They

got confidence with a very early try

at the beginning of the match. It

was a very good first half for

France.

Having conceded a try very

early, are you consoled that there

is almost parity at half-time?

Scotland rode the ebbs and flows

out. It was not a good start. Some

of the things we saw last week came

out here. The inaccuracy with the

picking. But they produced good

rugby. It is a tight game, it is

entertaining and I think the second

half will be more of the same.

Sound. I thought France at the

beginning looked physical. They have

a threat from out wide with Teddy

Thomas and he looks a threat. But

for the first 30 minutes the ball

was in play for so long. That will

have an effect on the less physical

team in the second half.

Scotland

need to keep the tempo like the game

had in the first 20 minutes.

Thomas'

try here was the first time that the

ball was out of play. It was two

minutes and 23 seconds before he

tried his score here and it was

almost an exact replica.

almost an exact replica.

That came

out of many phases. When he picked

the ball up there, you thought there

was no chance that he would score at

that try. Finn Russell is on him. He

goes past Finn Russell. We know how

quick he is. But Teddy Thomas just

to get the angle. It was an

opportune try really.

Scotland were

not that bad, they just missed

tackles. Normally if they were

structurally all over the place, you

would have concerned. But you go

into the second half and you say,

you cannot afford to do that missed

tackle at international level.

When

France have players like that why do

they not use them more?

they not use them more?

We went

through a very difficult series of

defeats. You can lose confidence

very fast. It is very slow to get it

back. Of course we have to choose

the player to play like we want them

to play and to play for the

international level. That is the way

we have to play if we want to exist

in the top four of international

teams. But I agree with Sam. Are we

able to play like that in the second

half? To maintain the tempo and

physically to be like that all

through the match?

That is a good

question. It is interesting what you

say about confidence. France have

not won a match in their last seven

internationals and they are

desperate to win a game. Greg

Maitland's try was key to get

Scotland back in the match.

In many

ways this is what Scotland is all

about. This was a much better setup

than in Cardiff last week. Tommy

Seymour in that wide channel created

fantastic field position. Watch

Jonny Gray here. That was a

mismatch. That is Machenaud and he

goes in there physically and pushes

him out of the way. That allowed the

passage of play to go to Gilchrist.

It is a two on one and a simple try

and it was very good play for

Scotland.

John Barclay in the middle

of the week said how they needed to

win their set pieces. They have a

solid enough scrum where they

eventually got a line-out. They won

the line-out and it led to this and

that is why set pieces are so

important, they give you a platform

to launch your attack.

This is a

final look at the Maitland tried. It

is worth talking about the way the

French are playing. With Beauxis

playing his first international for

France for six years and 26

combinations have been tried in the

intervening period. We expected him

to get the ball and boot the leather

off it. He has not done that today.

He has not. International rugby has

changed so much. He is controlling

everything. He looks a bit tired.

But he attacks the line and he gets

the Scottish defence going back.

This went through a couple of phases

and he is still calling and talking

and controlling it. Then watch this

long past. This sets up the try out

wide. Structurally Scotland's

defence is good. Greg Laidlaw is in

the right position. But the rugby

ball can sometimes just bounce like

that. Beauxis set that up by

dairying his play. He is a class act

even though he has been out of the

international game for six years.

He

is good with his head, not only with

his kick. But the start was very

important because France started to

play with their hands and they got

the confidence by playing this way.

That is maybe why Beauxis did not

kick a lot. Maybe the second half

will be different and tactically

Beauxis needs to restore that to the

game. I am not sure we are able to

follow this rhythm all throughout

the match.

Huw Jones has an amazing

try scoring record. I am not sure

where the gap appeared, but he took

the chance brilliantly.

Beauxis is

out opposition. You want a two or

three forwards outside of that rock.

You do not want the number ten to be

the first guy out of that rut. Finn

Russell caught the ball and he threw

it straightaway to Stuart Hall. Get

Stuart Hogg running at the defensive

line. They made a lot of yards and

then Huw Jones saw the gap. He saw

Beauxis out opposition and he ran at

his blind spot.

Well done, Scotland.

That is just instinct, having that

sixth sense where the gap is. We

have seen players over the years to

have that ability. Huw Jones looks

so much more comfortable in the

number 13 shirt than he did in the

12 shirt last week in Cardiff.

Half-time report on Finn Russell.

Mixed. I think he has changed his

game too much. He has tried to kick

more in this first half and

sometimes quite badly. It is finding

that balance. Just getting the

variety. Some of his kicks are bit

aimless. And then sometimes he is

looking for a little grubbers and

that was aimless. He is trying to

mix up the game which is one of the

things he had to do, but it is the

execution again. His kicking is

good, but it has to be accurate.

This is what we saw last week. This

is criminal. Our hard earned

penalty. But then the tactics and

the change in selection with Peter

Horne. He has got a left footed

kick. It does not all have to go on

Finn Russell's shoulders. I would

say it has been mixed so far, but in

attack he has got Scotland going

which is good.

Finn Russell was torn

limb from limb by Clive Woodward

about his performance last week. How

much can that get to a player and

how much will he have been conscious

of that today?

Personally if it was

me I do not read anything that is

going on outside of my camp. You

want to hear about things directly

through friends and team-mates. I

think players when they are playing

for an international test match it

is water off a duck's back. You are

only worrying about your job and the

opposition. He will be aware of the

comets, but I do not think he will

have read anything into it.

What do

you make of that first half

performance?

From a neutral

perspective, this game has been

brilliant. The weather has been

great and both teams want to play.

It is turning out to be a great

game.

We will talk more about this

in a second, but we are two fifths

of the way through the women's six

Nations.

# Welcome to your life.

# You will always sleep

# You will find you being on your

best behaviour, turn your back on

mother nature

# Everybody wants to rule the world.

Here is all the extra rugby

programmes that you can watch on the

BBC, radio, iPads, whatever you want

to do over the next few days.

There is the week of next week.

Scotland and England are back here

in a fortnight's time. How much do

Scotland want to win this match to

set the England

set the England match up as a

firecracker. And then there is this.

Guys, guys.

Guys, guys. Let's get some milk.

You

have the softest hands.

have the softest hands. You know

what? I take my

what? I take my coffee black.

France

have a 6-point lead at half-time in

the game at Murrayfield between

France and Scotland. We are

delighted to welcome for the first

time today Olivier Magne to our

punditry panel to relive the golden

days of Olivier Magne. I say golden

because that is partly the colour of

your hair in those days. These were

the great days when France used to

run all the time.

About the hair, it

was a bet I lost with my club. This

trike is a great try because it came

far from our side and many players

touched the ball. It is the way we

liked to play. We gave a lot of

happiness to the people who were

watching us play. That is why right

now when you finish your career, all

the people think about this and they

thank you for everything you did

with your French team.

What was that

celebration about?

It was about some

people who had said I was not the

Olivier Magne of years ago. So it

was to prove to them that I was

still there and ready to play for

the French team.

We had a couple of

tries like that today, which was

fantastic. There are elements of the

old France today. Can they keep that

going for the second half?

I hope

so. But they have to maintain the

rhythm like that. It is clearly a

battle of ten.

battle of ten. Between Finn Russell

and Beauxis, who will win the match?

France has a good chance and it will

be very close.

If this match opens

up in a big way in the last quarter

and if the French team does tire,

which people think they will do, is

this the day for Stuart Hogg and the

other players at the back to win

this match for Scotland?

Yes, and it

could be that Ali Price comes off

the bench to make a difference. It

has been a good 40 minutes from

Scotland as a reaction to the last

80 minutes in Cardiff. Now they are

about to go out and make this next

40 minutes about winning, that is

what it is all about now.

I think

France would look at this and say

they need to score the first points.

They will be more than a trite

ahead. Scotland will say they have

to get on the

COMMENTATOR: Baptiste Serin it on to

replace Maxime Machenaud. Serin a

very experienced scrum-half.

Machenaud was the kicker as well for

France. We will see what they do in

that department but Serin has played

a couple of times against Scotland

before.

before. Gilchrist hands that onto

Gordon Reid and Berghan, the two

props working hard.

Scotland with the first chance to

attack.

McInally straight into Vahaamahina.

The switch from Russell to Gray.

Ryan Wilson doing plenty of hard

work in the carrying department. So

is Berghan. He is a big man to stop.

France being told to leave it.

Wenceslas Lauret was the culprit.

Jonny Gray, Scotland just pondering

for a moment. Again, the French fans

inside Murrayfield making some noise

as Hamish Watson goes into Camara.

Hurled back by Vahaamahina. Scotland

battering away around the ten metre

line. Horne, around Slimani and

Iturria. Camara was the end of the

journey. Grant Gilchrist punching a

side Serin. He laid it back for his

second row partner, Jonny Gray, and

now Scotland have some momentum but

good work, I was going to say good

work by France but then the penalty

is given to Scotland. It was

Baptiste Serin.

Camara was locked on

on the poacher but the reason was

because Serin had stopped the

Scottish cleaners from getting into

the ruck and I think it was a bit

lucky for Scotland. Good ball from

the top of the line-out but very

ponderous for eight or nine phases.

Grant Gilchrist has carried really

well. I don't know if he was picked

for his ball carrying but he has

done well will stop he is an

aggressive ball-carrier and he will

run honest, hard lines all day.

Ben

Toolis is a bit more dynamic and

explosive, they both play for

Edinburgh, but Gilchrist. He is a

thickset lock and he has carried

well.

Heavier man, he was named as

captain for Vern Cotter and then

broke his arm and had a series of

injuries but he has played well

today. Greig Laidlaw with the shot

at goal.

He is a man who seldom misses and

Scotland within three minutes of the

second half beginning, have made a

good start.

Something we have seen

from the French before, if they can

hold onto the ball -- if you can

hold onto the ball, they will give

away penalties. That is an important

three points to start the second

half for Scotland. We saw them

conceding six point straight after

half-time last week and almost put

the game beyond their reach.

Much

more deliberate move back to the

halfway line to restart for France

and Beauxis send it long. Ryan

Wilson gathers and goes straight

into Guirado, good strength. Laidlaw

gives it to Berghan. He has had a

good game around the park. So has

Hamish Watson. The ball is lost but

stripped back illegally. Scotland

with the penalty and France with a

couple of errors, Slimani

complaining to no avail and a chance

for Scotland to move up the field.

It is exactly what we spoke about, I

don't think any of that was

spectacular from Scotland and I

don't think France were under

pressure...

It is just a missed

touch, good work by Beauxis to keep

it in but Finn Russell has done it

again. They will have to come from a

lot deeper now. Stuart Hogg try to

use his pace but there was some

illegal blocking of French

defenders. Hogg is frustrated but it

was quite clear, the crossing, and

France with a penalty.

I think it

was Ryan Wilson engaged in a

contact. If he had not made any

contact, he eventually pushed the

French defender, Hogg would have

been cables of you talk about error

compounding error, muscle missing

touch and suddenly France have a

shot at goal.

They have been the own

worst enemies. Indiscipline by

France and France give them a way

out. They compound it. The missed

touch and this silly penalty,

probably a bit unlucky, France

probably make a bit of a meal of it.

But you cannot put yourself in the

position to give those away.

It is a

ticking scrum-half in Baptiste Serin

who has replaced Maxi Machenaud and

he is taking this tick --

kicking scrum-half.

That is a fine strike from Baptiste

Serin. The wind is blowing around

Murrayfield but it does not put him

off. Perfect kicking record so far

today and a penalty apiece in the

second half and France have their

lead back to six points.

lead back to six points.

It was a

pretty harsh penalty but the error

from Finn Russell initially.

Farming

Nina had to do well there. He

stretched and got it back and

Wenceslas Lauret has it. Penalty

from one side to the other and

Scotland have the chance to hit

back. -- Vahaamahina had to do well.

That is something Rajitha been asked

to look out for, tackling players

beyond the ball -- referees have

been asked to look out for.

Both

teams are determined to help the

opposition as much as they can! It

is the kind of place you just don't

need to give away a penalty. France

were always going to kick to exit

and clear their lines.

It is almost

three metres passed the ball,

wrapping the arms. Stuart McInally

has been cleared at the ready, no

need to follow through.

He just

needed to let him go, three metres

beyond and he was still wrestling

with him and the referees are very

sharp on that now.

Laidlaw looking

to make it four out of four.

Again it is good and Scotland move

to 20 points. So little in this

game.

game. There was try scoring from

both sides in the first half but in

the second it is a couple of