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The French team snatched victory against a catchy Scottish XV (32-21), this Sunday February 26 at the Stade de France at the end of the third day of the 2023 Six Nations Tournament. Thanks to a last minute try from Gaël Fickou, the Blues pocket an improved success and remain alive in the tournament. They will face England at Twickenham on March 11.
A match to continue to believe in it. two weeks later their defeat against a flamboyant Irish teamthe Blues had to get their heads back in this Six Nations Tournament by facing Scotland, still undefeated, for the 100e times in their history. The Tricolores were keen to show that they had learned from their mistakes during the previous shock and that they were going to quickly correct their offensive mistakes.
From the first minutes of the match, the Blues put pressure on the Scots in a lively Stade de France. This demonstration of French power quickly broke the opposing defense, after a good phase of play concluded by Romain Ntamack (5e) and transformed by Thomas Ramos (7-0). Overwhelmed, the XV du Chardon was then reduced to 14 players from the 7e minute, following the expulsion of Grant Gilchrist for a shoulder blow in the face of Anthony Jelonch. Taking advantage of this hard blow on the Scottish side, Ethan Dumortier drove home the point by scoring at the end of the line (8e12-0).
Author of a whim on Benjamin White (13e), Frenchman Mohammed Haouas was also sent back to the locker room shortly afterwards. But the XV of France did not panic and gave the Scots another try thanks to Thomas Ramos, who intercepted an opposing ball on the wing before heading alone towards the posts (19e). He took charge of the transformation without shaking (19-0).
The Scots then had their first highlight of the match by occupying the French camp more, but their attempts came up against the good defense of the XV of France. Huw Jones finally found the flaw in the blue wall (26e), before his try was converted by Finn Russell (19-7). The French could have increased the score further at the very end of the first period, but Charles Ollivon’s try (40e+1) was canceled, the referee having whistled for half-time a few seconds earlier. With three tries scored in the first period (22-7), the Blues mastered their subject against the Scots who suffered but also showed some response.
A Scotland with character
Dominated in the score but eye-catching in the game, Scotland made a solid comeback on the lawn by quickly scoring a second try thanks to Huw Jones (48e), easily transformed (22-14). The Scots then put the Blues in great difficulty by multiplying the attempts in their last meters. Less serene, the XV of France had more difficulty being sharp and containing an opponent who has hardly let him breathe since the recovery.
Finn Russell then rewarded the sensational efforts of his team by delivering his team to three tries everywhere (68e) and only four points behind the French after transformation (25-21). Jostled, Fabien Galthié’s players had to keep their meager lead at all costs in order to stay alive in the tournament and confiscated the ball in the last minutes. The impressive defense of the Scots against the multiple French assaults could have ended the match with this score, but Gaël Fickou delivered his teammates by sneaking into the Scottish defense after regulation time (80e) to register the fourth French try and bring back the offensive bonus to the Blues (32-21).
This success allows the XV of France to relaunch in the general classification and to return to the level of Scotland (2e with 10 points) and England (3e with 10 dots). The Scots suffered their first loss of the tournament and saw their Grand Slam dreams shattered. They will face Ireland, the only team still undefeated and big favorite of this edition, during a shock at home on March 12 which could benefit the French team. The Blues will meet England at Twickenham on the next day.