Six Nations 2012: Scotland v France - as it happened

Preamble: Scotland are the whipping boys, the new Italy, one hand already on the wooden spoon. Or so everything suggests: the side have scored just one try against the original Five Nations sides in their last 11 matches at Murrayfield. They've beaten France just once (in 2006) in the professional era, and one of their best players – Euan Murray – declines to play on Sundays for religious reasons. They're going to get hammered by the French, of course. But last time out, they were magnificent against Wales – or at least for a half they were. Until a mad 15 minutes at the start of the second half, the game was anyone's and Wales knew it. They were worried. There's so much physical oomph in that Scottish side – arguably the only thing coach Andy Robinson has added to the squad – that perhaps the caber-tossing strength of Graeme Morrison and Sean Lamont in the centre can pulverise the French. Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Stuart Hogg looks an exciting prospect. He'll become the first teenager since 1971 to start for Scotland and, with his jinking and jiving ability, could add some needed flair. Possibly, possibly there's an upset in the air today. Or, possibly Scotland could make it the third year in a row that they lose three straight matches in their three opening games. And then there's France – without sounding too Brian Moore about it: they are France. Murrayfield was once a ground on which they did all sorts of horrible things (admittedly in the pre-professional days) and they come into this match having only faced Italy, thanks to the postponed game against Ireland. It could mean they're fresh – or it could mean they're not match fit yet. Meanwhile, they have lost their last two six away games in the Six Nations (to Italy and England). Their backs are small and skillful: potentially something for Scotland to get their teeth into? We'll see. Incidentally, some news on referee Wayne Barnes: I was at university with the young man and can exclusively reveal that his rugby club nickname was Worzel. I can't remember why. Something hilarious, I'd wager. I could also reveal something else altogether more exclusive about him, but would risk being sued by two separate parties, so will perhaps keep that to myself. Teams Scotland: 15-Stuart Hogg, 14-Rory Lamont, 13-Sean Lamont, 12-Graeme Morrison, 11-Lee Jones, 10-Greig Laidlaw, 9-Mike Blair; 1-Allan Jacobsen, 2-Ross Ford (captain), 3-Geoff Cross, 4-Richie Gray, 5-Jim Hamilton, 6-John Barclay, 7-Ross Rennie, 8-David Denton. Replacements: 16-Scott Lawson, 17-Ed Kalman, 18-Alastair Kellock, 19-Richie Vernon, 20-Chris Cusiter, 21-Duncan Weir, 22-Nick De Luca. France: 15-Maxime Medard, 14-Vincent Clerc, 13-Aurelien Rougerie, 12-Wesley Fofana, 11-Julien Malzieu, 10-François Trinh-Duc, 9-Morgan Parra;1-Jean-Baptiste Poux, 2-Dimitri Szarzewski, 3-Nicolas Mas, 4-Pascal Pape, 5-Yoann Maestri, 6-Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 7-Imanol Harinordoquy, 8-Louis Picamoles. Replacements: 16-William Servat, 17-Vincent Debaty, 18-Lionel Nallet, 19-Julien Bonnaire, 20-Julien Dupuy, 21-Lionel Beauxis, 22-Maxime Mermoz. Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) Touch judges: [Friend of the Welsh] Alain Rolland, Simon McDowell (Ireland) TMO: Geoff Warren (England) 2.40pm: Scotland coach Andy Robinson has made four changes since the Wales game. It's exactly the sort of thing he used to do when coaching England: after a loss, he'd make radical changes rather than tweaks. Given how well Scotland played in the first half against Wales, was that necessary? 2.43pm: Here's Andy Robinson himself. Some edited highlights from his pre-match interview: "Keeping the ball in play will be a key part of this. We put both Wales and England under pressure when we kept the ball. In saying that, we've got to be very good defensively. We're trying to build an offloading game." "It's a great day for him. He's got great composure and he's a great addition to the squad. It's a very special game for him and it's about the other 14 players working hard to give him a platform to play." 2.46pm: Exciting though Hogg is - and, looking at the way he runs, there's something a little French about him - Trinh-Duc would be mad not to test that composure Andy Robinson was talking about. He'll no doubt hoof a couple of high balls at him just to let him know he's in this game. 2.47pm: Thomas Castaignède on Scotland: "This Scottish side, it is like a woman you want to be friends with but you don't want to marry her" 2.50pm: Some edited pre-match comments from France coach Philippe Saint-Andre: "Of course we take [the Scots] seriously. We respect this team a lot. We need to be well organised and have good discipline but play with flair when we have the ball. The forwards of Scotland are much more heavy than the forwards of France. It is very important for us to start well." Clickety clack: Here come the teams, trotting onto the pitch. 2.55pm: There's a piper and two drummers up on the roof of Murrayfield, there are columns of flames on the pitch and Princess Anne is in the stands looking quizzical. Must be a rugby match on, then. Some anthems next. 2.57pm: Da-da-da-der-der-der-der-deeer-du-duh goes the French one. Scree-wee-screee-weeee-screeeeee-screeeeeeeeee goes the Scottish one, as played on the bagpipes. Kick-off: Worzel puts his whistle to his lips, peeps hard on it, and we're off. Laidlaw drop kicks high and France claim. Para kicks high and Scotland build on the halfway line. 1 min: Worzel blows for a penalty to Scotland, six or seven metres into the French half and near the touchline. This will be some ask for Laidlaw to kick - but he's taking it on. 3 min: He gets the direction right but can't get the distance. Rougerie catches the ball in front of the posts and flails a wild kick into touch. Scotland have the throw in on the French 22, so that's not worked out too badly for them. They win the lineout and rumble forwards, deep into the French 22. 5 min: Scotland recycle, then recycle again, still in the French 22. Denton makes a charge from the back of the ruck but is knocked down by Mas. The last few minutes have been a series of rucks and mauls - 11 phases in all - until Scotland finally fling the ball wide. The French drive them back over the 22 until Scotland take it forward in the pack again. Eventually it goes to 14 phases ... and then France turn it over. French scrum. 7 min: A teeth-grindingly slow scrum ensues, which France win. But a big Scottish tackle wins the ball back. Again Scotland attack on the French 22. Laidlaw tries a cheeky chip, but to no avail. The ball stays in the pack, and is very slow to come out. Scotland need to get the ball out faster, they've often got men over but are failing to make use of them. TRY! Scotland 7-0 France (Hogg, 8 min): A loose pass goes open and, in dealing with it, Laidlaw is forced to go blind. It throws the French defence off the scent and they're all caught on the backfoot. The fly-half pops up a simple pass to the full-back who goes over from 5 metres. Hogg scores on his home debut. Laidlaw then kicks the extra points. 11 min: Depending on your point of view, that was some very patient/very slow build up play by the Scots. Still, it worked. The tactic seems to be to slow the ball down and rely on their power. Meanwhile France have kicked off and, after a couple of phases, Dusautoir knocks on and Scotland have a scrum in the middle of their own half. 13 min: After some aborted scrums, France go in early so Wayne Barnes awards a free-kick to Scotland. They go quickly, kick and then watch as France kick it back and into touch. Barclay takes a good catch and Scotland take their time to get the ball out again. 15 min: Penalty to Scotland after a France player fails to release a Scottish man in the tackle. Blair takes it very quickly and launches himself up the pitch. A brilliant run, with no support, that sees Scotland carry the ball into the French 22 again. But then Dusautoir puts in a massive hit on Cross - who had no reason to be there in the first place. French penalty, which they clear into touch. 16 min: Scotland may have won that lineout against the head but they then lose the ball, and concede a penalty on the half way line. France kick for touch and territory. French lineout deep in the Scottish 22. 17 min: The French backs come flying at Scotland from the lineout. They're within 15 metres of the Scottish line ... but Denton rips the ball from Harinordoquy. Blair hoofs it into touch. But, my word, the French backs are like rapiers when they attack. Bit of a scare for the Scots. 18 min: Some argy bargy in a ruck gives Scotland a penalty on their 22. The French pack are beginning to get tetchy about the way the Scottish forwards are slowing play down. 20 min: Scotland, for once, lose a lineout. France go on a charge up the pitch. In contrast to the Scots, they're recycling the ball at speed, quickly getting it out to their backs so they can run. It's a game of opposite approaches so far. Scotland do turn it over, kick and after a bit of to and fro, the home side have a put-in for the scrum bang in the centre of the pitch. 24 min: Scotland are awarded a free-kick for France not going down straight in the scrum. Again, they try to go quickly, but the ref calls them back. Still, they run the second one too and pass and drive their way to France's 22. Eventually, Blair tries to find Jones running through ... but the ball goes loose and France break. Medard runs almost the length of the pitch. He passes to Clerc, who chips forward before being bundled into touch. Lamont clears up and almost attempts a run of his own back up the field. This is breathless, Sevens-style stuff. 25 min: Hogg, a little dizzily, hoofs the ball out on the full but Scotland disrupt the French lineout and charge forward to the French 22 again. The hooker Ford is at the centre of the break and he can't find a back to offload to. Instead, he earns a very kickable penalty 22 metres out. PENALTY Scotland 10-0 France (Laidlaw, 25min): The fly-half makes no mistake and Scotland have built a good first-half lead. 27 min: A Scottish hand on the ball in a ruck gives France a penalty on the centre-spot. Rather than kick for goal, Medard hoofs for touch, which he finds on the Scottish 22. TRY! Scotland 10-5 France (Fofana, 28 min: France win the lineout and set up shop in the centre of the pitch, 10 metres out. Trinh-Duc dips his shoulder, darts through the line and then France recycle quickly. They pass wide and the centre nips through the Scottish defence to touch down. CONVERSION! Scotland 10-7 France (Parra, 29min): No mistake from Parra. Solid kick. France look very dangerous if they're allowed to play the ball quickly. Scotland's tactic of slowing the play down looks to be the right one - if they can keep it up. 30 min: Rory Lamont and Picamoles have both gone down in a heap after both trying to claim the restart. The French No8 will probably be OK, but the Scottish winger looks in trouble. His game may be over. 30 min: Rory Lamont is still down. There's a little golf buggy on the pitch waiting to collect what remains of him. 30 min: Oh dear, that doesn't look good. He's been carted off, oxygen mask clamped to his face as he goes. Nick De Luca replaces him, meanwhile Blair has also surprised everyone by sneaking off too. He's replaced by Cusiter. 31 min: Finally, a scrum happens as it ought to - mostly it's been a shambles today (largely the fault of the French). Scotland pass the ball wide but they aren't getting over the gain line. Then, from nowhere, Hogg bursts through, brushing Rougerie to one side. He's eventually tackled by Medard and is bundled into touch 15 metres from the French tryline. 34 min: Scotland win the lineout against the head - they've been great today (and, in fact, all tournament). However the home side keep possession for a series of phases but can't go forwards. In fact they're driven out of the French 22 and can only get back in on phase 10. Phase 11 sees them get driven back out. Finally Barclay is penalised for failing to stay on his feet. French penalty, from which they can clear. 35 min: France miss touch. Hogg claims and kicks long and high. Medard marks it. He kicks long and Denton is under it. He catches it but has a foot on the line, so Scotland have the put in. That was a bit lucky. 37 min: Blair went off with a dead leg, incidentally. He's getting treatment now. Meanwhile, Scotland have another lineout, from which France knock on. Fro the ensuing Scottish scrum, Wayne Barnes awards France a penalty as Cross goes down. Parra will kick for goal from here. PENALTY! Scotland 10-10 France (Parra, 38 min): Parra, from 35 metres out, and just to the left strikes the ball cleanly through the uprights against the backdrop of a chorus of Scottish boos. Scores level. 40 min+1: France run it back at Scotland from the kick-off, the backs can really fly when they want to. A combination of running and forward's grunt brings the French to the Scottish 22. They do so knowing they have an advantage after a clumsy high tackle from prop Jacobsen on Pape. Parra will now have another kick at goal from almost exactly the same spot he struck that last penalty. Half-time: But he misses! The sides go in after an energetic and excellent first half with the scores level. Primal Scream's Rocks blares from the PA and the teams trot off for a talking to in the dressing rooms. Half-time thoughts: France were overwhelmed for the first 15/20 minutes but, as it continued, it became clear the French backs were far more capable of doing something with the ball than the Scots. Sill the Scottish can be very pleased with their work over 40 minutes. They've had the lion's share of the possession but they've just got find a little more invention, More importantly, they've got to play for the whole of the second half, unlike they did against Wales. 3.57pm: Hard not to feel that France are going to murder Scotland in the second half. With Rory Lamont and Blair off the pitch, there's a little less spark in the Scottish side. Meanwhile, France were beginning to wake up at the end of the first half. Could well take advantage of the lack of Scottish speed. 4.00pm: Hogg, incidentally, is Scotland's 11th youngest ever try scorer having run that one in. He's also only the second man to score a try for Scotland at Murrayfield in living memory against one of the Five Nations' sides. Or at least it feels that way. We're off again: France kick off and Lamont claims on the Scottish 22. They run it, surprisingly. But a knock-on by Hogg - who was given an impossible pass - hands France the scrum. 42 min: Picamoles picks up from No8 after very quick ball in the scrum. But David Rennie strips the ball from the man he offloads to. But the Scottish clearance is poor and Medard runs the ball back at them. Hogg eventually lays a hand to the ball and finds touch on the 10 metre line. 45 min: France against send fast ball from the back of their rucks. The ball is pinging about the backs until, finally, Scotland manage to slow the ball down in a ruck. France set up camp on the Scottish 22 and they continue to ruck and maul knowing they have the advantage when Jacobsen player comes off his feet. Parra chips for the corner for a runner to claim. It bobbles out and so Barnes calls the play back for a penalty to France in the centre of the pitch. PENALTY! Scotland 10-13 France (Parra, 38 min): The scrum-half swings a boot and sends the ball sailing between the posts. 47 min: Scotland kick off, Parra catches and Gray simply picks him up and carries him into touch. The Frenchman is quite annoyed about it. 48 min: Cross rampages forward like an angry tortoise. Then he drops the ball forwards on the French 22. Shame. 48 min: Mas, meanwhile, has gone down having caught a boot to the head. Duncan Weir comes on for Greig Laidlaw who also looks a little unsteady on his feet. French scrum from that knock-on. 50 min: Slow ball, this time, from France. Trinh-Duc eventually kicks high from his 22. He doesn't find touch and Hogg launches himself skywards to claim a brilliant take. Scotland peel forwards but get bundled into touch. French lineout. 51 min: Scotland win the lineout against the head (more or less) and attack. But not for long. Fofana gets involved and has Scotland scurrying from attack to defence. France than kick for touch and the ball bounces over Jones' head and across the line. France take the chance to change their front row: Debaty and Servat are on, Poux and Szarzewski off. 53 min: Some kicking follows. Some bad kicking. Finally, Denton makes an extraordinary take from a Scottish lineout - he's miles in the air, leaning back and at a tricky angle. His reward is to watch a Scottish knock-on in the centre, then to see his number get hoisted on the touchline. He's replaced by Richie Vernon. Odd one, that. 54 min: The Scottish pack is beginning to buckle. From a scrum, Cross pops up early and France have a penalty. They hoof for touch. TRY! Scotland 17-13 France (Lee Jones, 55min): Hogg aims a kick up the middle of the pitch, somewhat aimlessly. France run it back somewhat aimlessly. Nick De Luca wins the ball back and Scotland run it blind. There's virtually no French defenders there and Vernon heads for the line. Unselfishly, he offloads to Jones a few metres out and he goes over for a debut try. Weir strikes the conversion. TRy! Scotland 17-20 France (Medard, 60min): Cusiter breaks through the French lines now as Scotland set up a series of attacks. That try has breathed life into Scotland ... or at least it did. France turn the ball over and attack themselves. They burst through on the short side and, just as with the Scottish try, there are no defenders. Malzieu breaks a tackle then passes inside to Medard who touches down under the posts. Parra slots over from in front of the posts. 61 min: This game has opened up suddenly. From nowhere, Hogg slid through the French defence. He bursts to the France 22 and, looking around for support, realises he's caught everyone by surprise. He lacks support but Scotland keep the ball. They keep on attacking and, with the advantage from an offside in their pocket, they charge for the line. But, hang on, the ref then blows for a Scottish knock-on, having appeared to have earlier signalled a Scottish penalty. He'd also missed an earlier high tackle on Weir which could have given Scotland a kickable penalty. 63 min: Cross comes off for Kalman, Beauxis comes on for Medard. Beauxis will go to fly-half and Trinh-Duc will go to full back. Meanwhile, the creaking Scotland pack lose the scrum comprehensively, conceding a penalty as they go. Beauxis kicks a whipping clearance up the pitch. 65 min: Scotland spread the ball wide across the pitch and Lee Jones and Hogg combine to nearly burst through. The pair of them look like really enticing prospects. Then Scotland go back to a central position. A French foot appears to disrupt the Scottish scrum-half but, to howls from the Scottish crowd, the ref waves play on. Scotland maintain possession but can't break through the French lines. who just absorb the pressure. On the 16th phase, the French pounce and explode. But Malzieu's attempted chip goes awry and into touch on the full. Had it not, Hogg was out of position and there was a clear run in to the try line. 66 min: Nallet is on for Maestri in the French second row as The Automatic's Monster blares from the PA. Is there any need for that? The Automatic, I mean, not Nallet. DROP GOAL! Scotland 17-23 France (Beauxis, 68 min): Scotland lose the ball in the middle of the park. France immediately come to life, switching the ball here and there and sniping at the Scottish defence. Next they drive through the middle before flipping the ball back out of the ruck and running at Scotland from all angles. Eventually, they build a solid platform and, in the middle of the pitch, pass back to Beauxis in the hole. He slots his drop-kick over perfectly. 71 min: Scott Lawson comes on for Ford at hooker, Hamilton has gone off too but I missed who replaced him. Apologies. Lawson's introduction to the Scottish front row does not bring immediate dividends. The pack hits too early and Barnes awards a free-kick. They ask for the scrum to be retaken and then run it quickly from 8. A ridiculous overhead pass from Dusautoir, though, gives up possession to Scotland. But the home side are making so many mistakes now. They knock the ball on and it's a French scrum. Scotland are losing any momentum they gain with these mistakes. 74 min: Beauxis aims a kick for touch but it looks like it was half charged down. Hogg claims in his own 22 and charges forward but France win the ball back in the ruck. They eventually run it along the left-hand touchline. There are then a series of rucks, France keeping possession with their forwards, slowly and authoritatively advancing up the pitch. Beauxis slips into the whole for another drop kick but the pass is too high and he has to scramble around Scottish tacklers. He fails to give up the ball, though, when he's knocked to the ground and Scotland clear from the penalty. 75 min: Scotland scramble forward, but knock-on on the touchline. Dupuy replaces Parra, and a minute later a streaker wrapped in a French flag charges onto the pitch, to wild boos from the Scottish crowd. 77 min: The scrum goes down again - but this time it's France's fault. They try to take the free-kick quickly but, in their desperation to get another try, the ball gets knocked on. 78 min: The Killers' Mr Brightside gets an airing on the PA as Harinordoquy gets some treatment. Finally, play resumes. France march their scrum up the pitch, the Scottish one dissolves in front of them. France have a kickable penalty in the middle of the pitch, just inside the Scottish half. 78 min: But he thumps it wide. That was a little poor from the Frenchman. 80 min: TV have given the man of the match award to Rennie, and the Scottish flanker is a worthy recipient. But it could equally have been given to Hogg, who has been excellent today. On the pitch, Jones hares up the touchline but is bundled out as the clock ticks over the 80. PEEP PEEP: France win the lineout and hoof into touch. That's it! Full-time: An excellent performance by Scotland - brave again. Hogg was great, Jones looked exciting and Scotland scored two tries in a match for the first time since 1744 (ish). They perhaps lack that little bit of creativity, and weren't much helped by Blair having to go off. France didn't look quite on their game today, but their backs were so fast and menacing nevertheless. Looks like this Six Nations will come down to the Wales v France match but, still, this was a cracking game of rugby. Thanks for reading, bye!