France’s Grand Slam dreams have been dashed after losing to Scotland by 28 points to 17 in the fourth round of the Six Nations.
The French were again undone by a foolish red card, this time in the form of a closed fist rather than an elbow.
The visitors had an opportunity to grab an early lead from a penalty 50 metres out but Romain Ntamack pushed it right of the posts.
The first instance of ill-discipline from Les Bleus came in the fifth minute when Francois Cros tip tacked Grant Gilchrist, resulting in a yellow card.
Things got even worse for the French when their star player Ntamack was sent off for a HIA minutes later and remained off the field of play.
Scotland took control of the game through two penalties from Adam Hastings to put the hosts ahead by six.
However, France got themselves right back into the mix of things as Damien Penaud touched down in the corner after a lovely crossfield kick from Antoine Dupont.
A classic full of drama comes to an end in Edinburgh
FT: Scotland 28-17 France#GuinnessSixNations #SCOvFRA pic.twitter.com/6QSRkUyQJm
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 8, 2020
That left it 7-6 to the French but the game was turned on its head after Mohammed Haouas was shown a red card for a punch on Jamie Ritchie.
The Scots took control from then on out, with Hastings adding a penalty and Sean Maitland scoring a try in the corner to leave it 14-7 to the hosts at the break.
Gregor Townsend’s men came firing out of the blocks, as Maitland scored his second try of the match after 45 minutes. Hastings converted to put Scotland ahead by 14.
Replacement fly-half Matthieu Jalibert reduced the deficit to 11 with a penalty on the hour mark but an opportunist try from Stuart McInally five minutes later stretched the Scots’ lead to 18.
French captain Charles Ollivon got his fourth try of the tournament with four minutes of the game remaining, but it was too little too late for the visitors.
Fabien Galthié’s side could still win the tournament but need England to fail to get a bonus point in their currently postponed match with Italy.
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