As only France seems to manage in world rugby, it looked
nothing like the side which was humbled 59-16 by Australia in the same Stade de
France in its last match 10 weeks ago.
Instead of being whistled and booed off the field as in late
November, France received an ovation while it ran a lap of honor.
“There were some good things and others we could have
improved on, but we're happy with the win,” France flanker and captain Thierry
Dusautoir said.
France scored four tries, including a penalty try from a
pushover attempt, while Scotland showed its mettle by replying with three
converted tries in an entertaining affair.
Just two minutes in, Scotland turned over ball in a tackle
and France scored when Aurelien Rougerie, playing his second straight match in
an unfamiliar role at center, burst through midfield and his kick ahead bounced
up perfectly for winger Maxime Medard to touch down in the left corner.
Morgan Parra converted the try, and the crowd had further
reason to cheer when flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc slotted over a drop goal to
make it 10-0 after 10 minutes.
But, led by some powerful drives from lock Richie Gray,
Scotland punched holes in the French defense and got back into the match midway
through the first half when lock Alastair Kellock drove over for a converted
try.
But with Scotland's front row persistently retreating under
pressure, France was awarded a penalty try with 10 minutes remaining in the
first half as Scotland again collapsed the scrum. Parra converted for 17-7 at
the interval.
Scotland coach Andy Robinson replaced scrumhalf Rory Lawson
with Mike Blair for the second half, while center Maxime Mermoz went five
minutes later after taking a heavy knock.
That prompted France coach Marc Lievremont to push fullback
Damien Traille into midfield, with Clement Poitrenaud coming on at fullback.
Parra missed a penalty from just inside the halfway line in
a scrappy opening to the second half, before France finally got some breathing
space when Trinh-Duc's flash of brilliance led to No. 8 Imanol Harinordoquy's
try in the 55th.
Trinh-Duc snatched a loose ball in midfield and played an
ingenious pass through his legs to release Harinordoquy some 40 meters out, and
he sprinted to the line before touching down under the posts for another
converted score.
That, at last, prompted the French crowd to break into a
loud rendition of the national anthem “La Marseillaise..” But they were soon
silenced when Blair opted to run a penalty and then passed to No. 8 Kelly
Brown, who easily shook off his opposite number Sebastien Chabal and rolled
over the line.
Parks added the conversion to make it 24-14 with 20 minutes
remaining.
Traille and Scotland center Sean Lamont then benefited from
slack defending to dive under the posts within moments of each other.
The crowd jeered the French briefly when Yachvili opted for
a penalty, rather than running the ball, with France 10 points ahead and with
only moments remaining.
But that was soon forgotten as the crowd applauded their
team's lap of honor.
