Review

France ease past Scotland

Sunday, February 07 Mathieu Bastareaud scored two first half tries as France laid down an impressive statement of intent with their 18-9 victory over Scotland in the RBS 6 Nations at Murrayfield.

Powerhouse centre Bastareaud, back in the side for the first time since being involved in a controversial incident in New Zealand, went over in the 14th and 33rd minute while Morgan Parra added eight points with the boot.

France’s backplay was at times excellent while they dominated Scotland in the scrum and in the end Andy Robinson’s men did well to keep the score down with all their points coming from the boot of Chris Paterson.

Aurelien Rougerie paid the price for administering two big hits going off injured after just four minutes and they conceded the first points when Imanol Harinordoquy was penalised for hands in the ruck.

Paterson continued his phenomenal Six Nations kicking record to make it 3-0 to the home side but French continued their attacking intent.

Only a combination of a tap tackle by Kelly Brown and some terrific work by winger Thom Evans stopped Rougerie’s replacement Vincent Clerc grounding the ball past the tryline.

But the reprieve was temporary. After putting on the squeeze at a series of scrums that seemed destined to result in a penalty try, France opted to move the ball and brilliant hands by fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc put Bastareaud over for his first try for France. Morgan Parra missed a difficult conversion.

Scotland nearly found an instant response when Johnnie Beattie drove towards the French line and just failed to find captain Chris Cusiter while another last-ditch tackle, this time from Sean Lamont, stopped Trinh-Duc from capitalising on a charge-down.

After Paterson and Parra exchanged a penalty apiece, Bastareaud got his second try on 33 minutes.

In a fine move sweeping from left to right, Harinordoquy drew his man before feeding Bastareaud who powered through Brown’s tackle en-route to the corner.

Parra slotted a terrific conversion and things could have got much worse for Scotland just before halftime when Paterson had his kick charged down but France failed to capitalise when camped on the home tryline.

Things did not improve after the break when Phil Godman’s restart when straight out of play and Parra added a penalty for an 18-6 advantage.

Paterson responded on 52 minutes and nearly the rest of the match was concentrated inside Scotland’s half.

Only some terrifically committed defence from Scotland and occasionally poor decision making stopped France adding to their advantage.

Scorers:

Scotland: Penalties: Paterson (3)

France: Tries: Bastareaud (2), Penalties: Parra (2), Conversions: Parra

With thanks to rbs6nations.com

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