The Blues of 2020 will not imitate their elders of 2010. Beaten Sunday (28-17) by Scotland in Murrayfield, the XV of France is no longer in a position to achieve the Grand Slam in this Six Nations Tournament. Undisciplined and clumsy, the tricolors bow for the first time since the arrival of Fabien Galthié at their head.
The game
“We are on alert. Raphaël Ibañez and Fabien Galthié feared a relaxation after the amazing success of Cardiff, two weeks ago. Difficult to prove them wrong after this Scottish setback. This Sunday, the French were mistreated in combat, too often awkward in attack and above all far too unruly with eleven faults whistled against them.
The illustration? In less than forty minutes, the Blues took a yellow card and a red card. Reduced for the first time quickly to fourteen after a tackle where François Cros (5th) rocked his opponent on the head, they then finally found themselves at ten. The fault was a blood blow from their pillar Mohamed Haouas (37th) while an essay by Damian Penaud had just brought the XV of France back to the lead (6-7, 33rd). Behind, the French took 22 points with three tests signed Maitland (40th + 1, 45th) and McInally (64th).
To this must be added a few strokes of the spell. Uncertain for the match, the hooker replacing Camille Chat was injured from the warm-up. And on a badly negotiated aerial balloon where he sacrificed himself to save his team, it was the opening half holder Romain Ntamack who had to come out on injury (8th). Thrown in his place, Matthieu Jalibert missed his match and his opponent on the first Scottish try. Like a XV of France in a very bad day, who nevertheless fought to the end with a late second try from Ollivon (76th).
Player: Mohamed Haouas
He is one of these newcomers carrying a breath of fresh air among the Blues. In Murrayfield, Mohamed Haouas cost his partners dearly for his fourth selection in the France team. Provoked by the Scots, the pillar of Montpellier has not been able to remain in control of its nerves and its fists. Deported for hitting third row Jamie Ritchie, the 25-year-old came out under "Out, out!" From the Edinburgh public. Behind, his teammates suffered three tries and were never able to recover.
🏉 Mohamed Houas excluded for a punch during a general fight. The Blues will play at 14 until the end of the game. France Rugby
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The number: 6
The number of years between France's XV and his last victory in Scotland. Since 2014 and a victory on the score of 17-19, the Blues have systematically left Murrayfield with a defeat. We will have to wait until 2022 and the next trip as part of the Six Nations Tournament to hope to end this series.
Scotland-France: 28-17
Half-time: 14-7
Scotland: Maitland (40th + 1, 45th) and McInally (64th) tests, Hastings penalties (11th, 19th, 37th), Hastings transformation (45th, 64th)
France: tests by Penaud (33rd) and Ollivon (76th), penalty by Jalibert (61st), transformations by Jalibert (33rd, 76th)
Temporary expulsion: Cros (5th). Final expulsion: Haouas (37th).
Scotland: Hogg (cap.) - Maitland (Steyn, 67th), Harris, Johnson (Weir, 79th), Kinghorn - (o) Hastings, (m) Price (Horne, 58th) - Watson, Haining (Bradbury, 58th), Ritchie - Gilchrist, Cummings (Skinner, 71st) - Fagerson, Brown (McInally, 58th) Sutherland (Dell, 58th).
Coach: Gregor Townsend.
France: Bouthier (Ramos, 71st) - Penaud (Cretin, 58th), Vakatawa, Vincent, Fickou - (o) Ntamack (Jalibert, 8th), (m) Dupont (Serin, 77th) - Ollivon (cap.), Alldritt, Cros (Bamba, 48th) - Willemse (Taofifenua, 48th), Le Roux - Haouas, Marchand (Mauvaka, 64th), Poirot (Gros, 51st).
Coach: Fabien Galthié.
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)