France 22 Scotland 13: Lock, stock and one smoking try

SCOTLAND recovered some of their lost pride and banished the memories of that horror show opening weekend at least to the basement of their memories with a spirited display at Stade de France that, almost inevitably, was destined to fall short of an outright win.

Both teams scored one try apiece, a highly contentious one from flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo for the French and Thom Evans' response for the visitors. The only difference between these two teams on the day were the penalties, with Phil Godman kicking two from three while Lionel Beauxis struck five from seven.

This was light years better than the Welsh match but then again so it needed to be. With a little self-belief and the right selection, Scotland could have been celebrating a famous victory. Thom Evans had a first-half try wiped off by the TMO, which looked like the right decision, but Kelly Brown will be swearing long into the night that he scored in the second half after Allan Jacobsen tackled scrumhalf Sebastien Tillous-Borde on his own line. The referee judged the little Scotland prop had done so from an offside position. Hadden, almost inevitably, did not agree.

The forward pack creaked like a Hammer Horror film's coffin in the scrum and the lineout was little better but thankfully the men in blue rediscovered their appetite for the fight around the park. Led by the experienced duo of Jason White and Simon Taylor, the Scots ran hard and straight at the French midfield and tackled everything that moved. Mike Blair pinged long miss passes to the wider men in an effort to give his lightweight forwards a fighting chance and the tactic almost worked, with Ross Ford offloading late in the game to send the scrumhalf and John Barclay deep into French territory.

It was harum scarum stuff and inevitably some of the play was not as accurate as Hadden would have wanted. However, the Scots also caused their own downfall by giving up any number of turnovers in the contact, especially in the first half. This improved out of sight as the match progressed and the visitors had acclimatised to the pace and ferocity but the damage was done.

Where the Scots did look good, and Marc Lieveremont was pressed hard on this very topic after the match, was in breaking the French line.

Led by Max Evans and Simon Danielli, the latter having a great game on his return to Scotland colours, the Scottish backs unpicked the French defence almost at will but the ball was either lost in contact or the move ran out of support players. Danielli also prevented a sure-fire French try when the right winger came all the way over to the left flank to collect at full stretch a Maxime Medard chip that the French winger was about to collect.

Two Beauxis penalties to one from Godman meant that France took a squeaky 6-3 lead into the half time dressing room and just six minutes into the second half the commentators' nightmare struck for France. To their credit the Scots did not fold but, after going 19-6 behind to two more Beauxis strikes, they fought back to within one converted try of the French thanks to Thom Evans' try. It seemed for a short time as if the visitors might have emulated the class of 1999 and claimed what would have been Scotland's second success at this famous stadium.

The flying winger had already found a gap, slipped and still managed to escape his nearest pursuers when a long series of phases from the Scots saw him take up position beside his flyhalf and Godman slipped him a gem of an inside pass for the winger to scoot under the posts without a French hand on him.

Sadly for the Scots that was the end of their scoring and Beauxis finished the afternoon off with his fifth penalty to take the match out of the visitors' reach. Not for the first time the Scottish front row were the guilty party, this time for not pushing straight in a scrum, and Hadden might want to revisit his decision to play Ally Dickinson out of position on the tighthead side of the scrum.

They didn't get the win but the Scots can look forward to the Italy match in a more positive frame of mind after yesterday's match. The forwards need to work on the set piece but they showed great energy and enthusiasm in loose play where the wrecking ball that is Alasdair Strockosch did exactly it says on the tin.

The backs looked dangerous with the ball in hand and if they can convert breaks into scores they will be start winning matches. But Scotland badly need a more sophisticated kicking game and they must field a lot more muscle up front. On another day the long loose passes over the upcoming defence that Blair and co threw would be snapped up by a greedy opposition. Even yesterday, Beauxis got his boot to one such bobbling ball and had it sat up for him the French flyhalf would have scored.

In the event it was a vaguely disappointing result for both sides involved. France expected to have a much easier match than they got yesterday and the Scots, with the luck of anyone but the Irish, might just have sneaked a hugely rewarding win.

• Watch a slideshow of pictures from the match here

• Nathan Hines: 'What cost us dear was the error count and the penalty count'

• Iain Morrison: Mistaken officials only part of the problem for Scottish side with an unbalanced bench

France 22 Scotland 13: how they rated in Paris

MAN OF THE MATCH: Fulgence Ouedraogo

Only a few contenders, made up of Scotland's John Barclay and Thom Evans and French flankers Thierry Dusautoir and Fulgence Ouedraogo. Vote just goes to the latter, who grabbed his first try in blue to set France on their way. Defended valiantly and was a pillar of strength in the lineout and the scrum.

FRANCE

Try: Ouedraogo

Conversion: Beauxis

Penalties: Beauxis (5)

15. Clement Poitrenaud

Toulouse

No doubt the experienced full back has quality, but too often jinking runs came to nothing. Solid catching and defending were order of his day

14. Maxime Medard

Toulouse

Saw a glimpse of a try snatched away as he failed to control the ball with his feet early in the second half. Willing ball-carrier and played a part in the opening try of the game. Solid performance.

13. Benoit Baby

Toulouse

Did all that was asked of him in defence, but found chinks in the Scottish armour came at a premium. Nothing spectacular on a day when neither centre found chances to penetrate.

12. Yannick Jauzion

Toulouse

Centre made a couple of last ditch tackles to thwart early Scotland moves. Faded out of the game as it progressed but defended resolutely.

11. Cedric Heymans

Toulouse

Winger was his usual spritely self and had a few dashes in the first period. Found it tough to keep up with Scottish break-aways but always posed a threat and looked for space.

10. Lionel Beauxis

Stade Francais

Fluffed two facile penalties but went on to bang over five, including a conversion. Kicking in play was solid throughout and kept moves ticking over in the backs. Thoroughly decent match.

9. Sebastien Tillous-Borde

Castres

Scrum half started the game showing nerves and got away with a juggling act on his own try line with Thom Evans looming. Made way for Parra on 67 minutes.

1. Fabien Barcella

Biarritz

A powerhouse in the scrum, Barcella earned his side a penalty in the second half when his pressure caused the Scots scrum to buckle. Never gave the opposition pack a moment's rest.

2. Dimitri Szarzewski

Stade Francais

First lineout throw was wayward but settled down and found target more often than not. Performed well in the scrum and will be pleased with his game. Replaced by Kayser mid-way through the second half.

3. Nicolas Mas

Perpignan

Didn't do an awful lot right or wrong in the first period and was part of a scrum that held its own. Replaced by Renaud Boyou at the interval.

4. Romain Millo-Chluski

Toulouse

Would have been delighted when he saw Jim Hamilton trudge off to lighten the load on him and his partner Nallet. Gave the French drive in the scrum before being taken off for Chabal.

5. Lionel Nallet (c)

Castres

The French skipper, much like Millo-Chluski, had his job made easier by the removal of Hamilton. Urged his side on at every opportunity and was one of the first forward to the breakdown.

6. Thierry Dusautoir

Toulouse

Drove the scrum on from the back and was a monster in defence. Narrowly pipped by try-scorer Ouedraogo for man-of-the-match. Very assured display.

7. Fulgence Ouedraogo

Montpellier-Herault

Soft hands at the lineout meant France could rely on him when targeted. Got the all important French try on 45 minutes and almost added another late on.

8. Imanol Harinordoquy

Biarritz

Stalwart of the French pack linked well with backs from base of the scrum and was a keen ball-carrier when called upon. Made way for Picamoles as he started to tire in the second half.

REPLACEMENTS

16. Benjamin Kayser Leicester (for Szarzewski, 54) Young scrum half did little wrong in his 30 or so minutes on the pitch. 6

17. Renaud Boyoud Dax (for Mas, 40) Contributed to French dominance in the scrum. 6

18. Sebastien Chabal Sale (for Millo-Chluski, 59) Added fresh strength to the pack. 5

19. Louis Picamoles Montpellier-Herault (for Harinordoquy, 71) Little time to have a meaningful impact on latter stages. 5

20. Morgan Parra Bourgoin-Jallieu (for Tillous-Borde, 67) Came in to add fresh legs to the forwards. 5

21. Maxime Mermoz USC Perpignan (for Baby, 59) Much like Baby, found running space at a premium. 5

SCOTLAND

Try: Thom Evans

Conversion: Paterson

Penalties: Godman (2)

15. Hugo Southwell

Edinburgh

Had a first half to forget with a charged down kick that broke momentum going forward and was then beaten twice in the air. Improved in the second.

14. Simon Danielli

Ulster

Not a good day at the office for the winger. Made a big opening tackle on Poitrenaud but found his handling let him down when the ball eventually found him. Made way for Paterson.

13. Max Evans

Glasgow

Full of pace and strong running in the opening period but faded as the game progressed. Tried to make inroads into French territory but encountered stubborn resistance.

12. Graeme Morrison

Glasgow

His clever hands livened up the Scots backline but, much like Max Evans, he found chances limited. Went off injured for Nick De Luca.

11. Thom Evans

Glasgow

Scotland's best performer. The winger's pace gave the French grief time and time again and was unfortunate not to add to his 69th minute try which gave Scotland a glimmer of hope.

10. Phil Godman

Edinburgh

Slotted over two out of his three kicks and made a sweet reverse pass to send Thom Evans over the whitewash. Kicking in play was solid enough and looks to have made No.10 his own.

9. Mike Blair (c)

Edinburgh

The French pack, in particular Dusautoir and Ouedraogo, marked the little scrum half tightly. Made an error in judgment in going for a try in second half when three points were on.

1. Allan Jacobsen

Edinburgh

Found the going tough without the oomph from the back of the scrum and the ability of the French front row. Blotted his copybook with a bout of verbal diarrhoea at the referee and tired towards the end.

2. Ross Ford

Edinburgh

Too often the hooker's lineout deliveries were off target or not straight, throwing valuable possession back to the French. His day was ended prematurely by the introduction of Dougie Hall.

3. Alasdair Dickinson

Gloucester

Gave everything for 47 minutes before he was substituted for Moray Low. Part of a front-row that found life tough after Hamilton's departure.

4. Jason White

Sale Sharks

Not a recognised second row and had life made doubly difficult by the French pack. Never shirked away from his defensive duties and made a couple of punchy forays into French territory.

5. Jim Hamilton

Edinburgh

Only lasted 18 minutes before a shoulder injury forced him off for Kelly Brown. Couldn't push nearly as hard as usual in the scrum which was the main reason why France reigned in that department.

6. Alasdair Strokosch

Gloucester

Went in for silly high tackle on Benoit Baby that set the tone for a tough day at the office. As always, put in a shift in defence and offered support at the breakdown.

7. John Barclay

Glasgow

Made a series of breaks in the second half and was Scotland's best forward. Continued his good form from the Wales game and caused the French problems with his running.

8. Simon Taylor

Stade Francais

Had barely settled into No.8 in his current home town before he was shunted to second row to accommodate for the loss of Hamilton. Impact, as a result, was somewhat muted from then on.

REPLACEMENTS

16. Dougie Hall Glasgow (for Ford, 65) Slightly better than Ford in the lineout but never really had opportunity to shine in his 15 minute cameo. 5

17. Moray Low Glasgow (for Dickinson, 47) Found the scrum tough and fumbled when he ventured on to the wing at the end of a Scotland move. 5

18. Kelly Brown Glasgow (for Jim Hamilton, 18) Plenty of tackles after going to the back row early on. Respectable display. 6

20. Chris Cusiter Perpignan (for Blair, 73) No real chance to light up the Stade de France. 5

21. Chris Paterson Edinburgh (for Danielli, 65) Converted Thom Evans' try. 6

22. Nick De Luca Edinburgh (for Morrison, 73) No time to shine. 5

• Ratings by Mark Atkinson