Stunning Scotland beat France in 90-point thriller - how they can win Six Nations title against Ireland

The Scots put in one of their greatest performances under head coach Gregor Townsend, scoring seven tries as they recorded a 50-40 bonus-point win in a frankly bonkers yet highly entertaining game of rugby.

However, they could not deny the French a try-scoring bonus point in the process and as a result it is Les Bleus who go into the final weekend top of the Six Nations standings. They and Scotland both have 16 points, but France have a better points difference (+79 versus +21) with Ireland a further two points adrift on 14. They are the only three nations that can win the title.

How Scotland can win the Six Nations

The final round of fixtures takes place next Saturday. Ireland v Scotland at the Aviva Stadium is up first at 2.10pm, with France’s match against England at the Stade de France in Paris slated for 8pm.

Scotland will need to better France’s result to stand a chance of winning the title and the most either can reach in the table is 21 points. Ireland can also win the Six Nations should they beat Scotland and France fail to win against England and not get two bonus points. The winner of Ireland v Scotland will also land the Triple Crown.

It sets up a seismic final weekend of the Six Nations and is an astonishing turnaround for Scotland, who lost their first match of the tournament against Italy - with some calling for Townsend to be dismissed as head coach.

In front of a packed and vibrant Murrayfield, Scotland made a fast start and grabbed the opening try on six minutes. Darcy Graham timed his run perfectly to pick up Finn Russell’s offload and went over. The stand-off added the extras to put the hosts 7-0 up.

France responded. After a wave of pressure, Scotland cracked when captain Sione Tuipulotu was robbed off the ball by Antoine Dupont. The ball was worked out to Lious Bielle-Biarrey and he finished acrobatically in the corner. Thomas Ramos landed a tough kick to make it all square on 19 minutes.

France moved ahead on 22 minutes with a classy try, with Bielle-Biarrey popping a delicate kick through for fellow winger Theo Attissogbe to score. Ramos was accurate again and it 14-7 to the visitors.

Scotland refused to buckle in a scintillating first half of rugby. Kyle Steyn finished off a great move on 28 minutes, made by a dextrous pass from hooker George Turner. Russell was unable to add the extras.

The try breathed belief back into Scotland. They went ahead on 34 minutes when Pierre Schoeman finished off a sustained period of attack and Russell kicked to make it 19-14 to the hosts. France stand-off Matthieu Jalibert was also yellow-carded for trying to slow the game down.

Scotland pressed for more but France held firm and the score was 19-14 to the hosts at the interval.

There was no let-up from Scotland after the break. They immediately went on the front foot and had another try on 44 minutes. Scrum-half Ben White spotted a gap in the French backline and he slipped through. Russell converted and the score was 26-14 to the hosts.

Scotland turn France into ribbons

France were completely wilting under the heat of Scotland’s play and Steyn was in again, pouncing on a loose pass and outpacing the French defence. Russell landed the extras and Gregor Townsend’s men were in dreamland, leading 33-14 by 52 minutes.

The tries kept coming. Graham got his second of the match on 59 minutes and Russell converted. Scotland were 40-14 up and now it was about keeping France away from a try-scoring bonus point. The France cause wasn’t helped by a yellow card to Lenni Nouchi for pulling down a maul.

Another try came on 63 minutes. Substitute Tom Jordan burst through the French defence to score under the posts and Russell converted. Murrayfield was in ferment, with Scotland 47-14 ahead.

However, France did finally get back in on the act. It was Dupont who landed it, sliding over after a break despite the attentions of Steyn. The winger unfortunately picked up an injury in the process and had to be taken off. Ramos converted and one more try would give France a crucial bonus point.

France now had a cause to fight for and the got the all-important fourth try when Ramos plunged over in the corner. He missed the kick but it left France with title matters in their own hands.

Russell added a late penalty to tick Scotland up to 50 - the greatest number of points Scotland have scored against France. That wasn’t the end of the scoring, remarkably, as Oscar Jegou finished off a fine move in the corner on 79 minutes to make it 50-33 with a Ramos conversion and then Ramos scored his own try on 81 minutes under the posts, as they score ended 50-40 in one of the most breathless matches ever witness at this grand old stadium.

What a magnificent victory for Scotland - and they are on the premises for the title next weekend. Dublin awaits ...