Rarely has the phrase “a game of two halves” seemed more appropriate. France were so good for 40 minutes, it was difficult to say if Scotland had been that bad.
Fabien Galthié’s largely second-choice XV scored three tries through a classic blend of precision, speed and power. After half-time, a pulsating recovery saw Scotland claw back an 18-point deficit, and ultimately demonstrate the killer instinct that has so often eluded them.
Gregor Townsend’s men passed the ball with speed and vision, even making light of a second-half red card for Zander Fagerson, the first player to be sent off via the new Bunker review system. The prop’s World Cup availability is now in doubt and worryingly for Townsend his first-choice scrum-half, Ben White, was left nursing a bandaged ankle after an over-eager tackle by one of France debutants, Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
But that is all for the weeks to come. Taken in isolation, this was one of Scotland’s finest victories.
“We believed we could still win the game,” Townsend told Amazon Prime Video of the discussions that took place at half-time. The player-of-the-match, Blair Kinghorn, revealed it was a “stern word” from Townsend that galvanised the hosts.
The opening France try was preceded by a long exchange of tactical kicking but such was the brilliance of the score that followed, the previous monotony was soon forgotten.
Émilien Gailleton, another debutant, surged into space on the right, offloading for Bielle-Biarrey. Once the defensive line was broken, it was a question of who would score: the answer was Baptiste Couilloud, fed by his half-back partner, Matthieu Jalibert. The converted try took France ahead after a penalty by Finn Russell, captaining his country for the first time, gave the hosts an early lead.
The prodigiously talented Bielle-Biarrey then blazed through on 25 minutes and Cameron Woki powered over for a third at the end of the half. An 18-point gap illustrated the apparent gulf in class and Scotland’s World Cup pool, featuring South Africa and Ireland, was looking all the more intimidating.
Scotland needed a lift and the silken skills of Russell provided it: the captain prodded a beautifully weighted diagonal kick for Darcy Graham to chase and touch down. Prospects of a Scottish recovery suddenly looked healthy: at least until Fagerson was shown a yellow card for a clumsy, dangerous clear-out on Pierre Bourgarit. The referee, Ben O’Keefe, stipulated Fagerson’s yellow card would be reviewed: it was no surprise to see it upgraded to a red.
Scotland prospered while Fagerson awaited his fate, however: Pierre Schoeman barged over for a try and when Russell converted, they were within touching distance on the scoreboard. When Kinghorn raced over in the corner Murrayfield was truly buzzing, only for the try to be disallowed for a knock-on.
The dynamic replacement hooker, Dave Cherry, crashed over after a cohesive forward shove and Russell added a penalty to take Scotland four clear.
France were not done, and they probed in the final minutes: Bielle-Biarrey chased a grubber but failed to apply the decisive touch. After a reset attacking scrum, France opted to kick for the corner, the clock deep in the red. Galthié’s men had one last bash, but when the ball was ripped and a penalty awarded, Murrayfield rejoiced.
“We didn’t have much possession in the second half,” said France’s defence coach, Shaun Edwards. “If you’d have given me that scoreline before the game, I’d have thought: ‘Oh, that’s not a bad performance by us.’ But because we were winning by so much at half-time, we’re very disappointed.”
Scotland face the Springboks in Marseille in five weeks’ time. This sensational comeback will give them plenty of reason to hope.
