Scotland rescue bonus point from France hammering but are heading for Six Nations Wooden Spoon battle

It was a match where Sione Fukofuka’s side showed flashes of quality that proved enough for a hard-fought and ultimately well-deserved try-scoring bonus point. However, the overall picture of the match was that they were outclassed over the 80 minutes by an impressive visiting outfit.

The game in Edinburgh got off to the worst possible start as Scotland shot themselves in the foot seconds after the opening whistle when Emma Wassell and Eva Donaldson failed to put a name on the kick-off and let the ball bounce. France recovered possession and a few phases later Téani Feleu scored in the corner.

Scotland roared back into the contest, aided by a raucous Hive crowd that got behind every chaseable kick or line break, and had their reward after 16 minutes. A deep box kick from Leia Brebner-Holden was mis-judged by Carla Arbez and went out for a 50-22 to the hosts who then dominated the maul and got the ball out to the backs with Rachel Philipps eventually charging over from five yards.

Helen Nelson slotted the conversion to put Scotland ahead and they were further rewarded when France skipper Manae Feleu was sin-binned for collapsing the maul. Despite that, it was the French who took charge of proceedings even with 14 players.

Arbez and Siobhan Soqeta both scored tires during the sin bin period and Léa Champon added France’s fourth shortly after. Scotland looked to end the half on a high and probably thought they had when Philipps crossed for her second after crashing on to a inch perfect flat pass by Nelson.

Unfortunately though there was still time for France to add another try and it was the pick of the bunch as some sublime passing was eventually finished off by Champon. A half time score of 31-14 did not flatter France but was still harsh on Scotland who had looked more than a match for their opponents for the most part.

The second half though was anything but an even contest as France stamped their authority on proceedings with Pauline Barrat, Soqeta, Alexandra Chambon and Léa Murie all scoring before Scotland even had a meaningful visit into the French 22. Worryingly for the host, they were being dominated in the scrum and their line-out was beginning to falter.

They did manage to turn that around and got the set-piece back up firing and a rolling maul had them to within inches of the try line before it came out the back and was eventually finished by Emily Coubrough The Hive was willing them to another score for the bonus point but instead it was France who were over again, this time through Annaëlle Deshaye.

Scotland responded and were deep in French territory as the clock ticked down when they got what they had worked so hard for as replacement hooker Aicha Sutcliffe on her Scotland was at the tail of another powerful maul that was willed over the line by the players and supporters. France had one more try in them at the death through Ambre Mwayembe and the final score was 69-28.

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