Rampant Scotland annihilated French Grand Slam dreams with a stunning seven-try victory at Murrayfield that blew the Six Nations championship wide open.
In a staggering contest of 13 tries and 90 points, Gregor Townsend’s men were astonishing in every way until a madcap endgame that saw France run in a battery of tries.
The Scots landed seven scores and a half century of points against the previously imperious but now seriously beleaguered French.
Darcy Graham put them ahead early. Louis Bialle-Biarrey – scoring in his ninth consecutive Six Nations match – and Theo Attisogbe hit back in rapid order to seemingly put France in control.
But, no. Steyn and Pierre Schoman scored before the half was out. Then Ben White darted over early in the new half, followed quickly by Steyn and Graham, each for their second of the match.
Tom Jordan added a seventh as France reeled – 47-14 after just over an hour and then 50-26 when Finn Russell banged over a penalty.
France came back with a barrage of tries late on – and claimed what could prove a decisive bonus point – but it was too little, too late for this game.
This was a glorious, bewilderingly brilliant day for these Scotland players. Dublin awaits the on the final day.
The French still have it in their hands – a bonus-point win over England in Paris will retain the title. But anything less opens the door for the Scots and, potentially, even the Irish.
‘French beaten at their own game’
No team had managed to lay a glove on France in their previous three games – they never trailed at any point – but it was different here. Oh so different.
In a game of frenetic brilliance – everything we had hoped for – Scotland made the kind of start that had almost become the exclusive preserve of the French, scoring after just five minutes.
It all started with a Thomas Ramos fumble. Not many of those from France this season.
Scotland seized on it, won a free-kick at the scrum and blasted away. Russell dropped it backwards, but that only seemed to confuse the French. When the fly-half regathered he sent Graham away.
Murrayfield rocked. Russell’s conversion made it 7-0 and the dream start of Townsend’s dreams had materialised. His team were playing at a tempo that France were struggling with.
The pace to the game was wild. As was France’s reply.
They scored twice in four minutes, a double whammy that put them in front. First, when carrying ball away from his own line, Sione Tuipulotu got turned over by none other than Antoine Dupont.
France went wide, Mathieu Jalibert finding Bialle-Biarrey for another try for the record books. Bialle-Biarrey went from scorer to provider soon after when grubbering in behind for Theo Atissogbe to pounce – 14-7 France. A classic, already.
What could Scotland find? A lot. They hardly blinked at France’s comeback, hitting them with a second try of their own just before the half-hour.
What a clever score it was. Off a lineout, George Turner got ball in hands, switched it Steyn belting in an angle for the left corner. The handling and the timing was perfection. Steyn sped past Dupont to score.
The intensity, and quality, of the home team was relentless. If France didn’t know they were in a mighty battle by now – and their Grand Slam in mortal jeopardy – then they knew it minutes later when the rampant hosts did them again.
Patience and power did the job. Scotland banged away in the French 22, never panicking, always in control. They waited and waited and then Schoeman fired himself over.
The ruthlessness was quite something. A ferocious turning of the screw against a shell-shocked team.
Russell’s conversion was good and Scotland led 19-14. Even better news, Jalibert was sent to the bin for persistent French infringement.
Finest Scotland performance in Six Nations history’
What came next was other-worldly – the finest Scotland performance in Six Nations history. They tore France away with their pace and intelligence. And, yes, their physicality and fitness, too.
Townsend freshened things up just before half-time when bringing on Zander Fagerson for D’arcy Rae, who had put in a terrific shift.
Just after the break, Scotland screamed over for their bonus point try. Stunning. White’s opportunism at the side of the ruck was what did it, the scrum-half too quick, too sharp, too lethal for the French cover.
With the extras, Scotland were ahead by 10. They were only getting started.
Eight minutes later, Steyn got his second, Scotland out-Franceing France with their desire to play at breakneck speed. They created space out wide and Steyn galloped away from Yoram Moefana to strike from 45m.
Murrayfield wiped its eyes in disbelief. France wiped tears.
Nine minutes later, the astonishing flow of one-way traffic carried on when Scotland passed up an easy three close to the posts and went for touch instead. They nailed it like they nailed everything else.
The ball came out to Blair Kinghorn, who drew French defenders to him before slipping a pass to Graham, who slalomed over. The conversion made it 40-14.
And soon when Lenni Nouchi got France’s second yellow, it was 47-14.
The mind boggled at the systematic annihilation Scotland were delivering. Off a scrum, the brilliant leader that is Tuipulotu drove it up and found Jordan, who scored at the posts. Seven tries and a landslide score. All in 63 minutes.
Dupont ran in for a consolation score that the vast ranks of French supporters could scarcely cheer. Ramos added another for a bonus point and Oscar Jegou landed one more while Josh Bayliss was in the bin. Mere crumbs.
They might still win the title next weekend but their Slam has gone, ripped from them by an extraordinary, powerhouse performance from the title-chasing Scots.
To Dublin on the final day, then, with more momentum than Scotland have ever had in the history of this championship.
Line-ups
Scotland: Kinghorn; Graham, Jones, Tuipulotu (capt), Steyn; Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Rae, Brown, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.
Replacements: Ashman, Sutherland, Z Fagerson, Gilchrist, Douglas, Bayliss, Horne, Jordan.
France: Ramos; Attissogbe, Depoortere, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Dupont (capt); Gros, Marchand, Aldegheri; Ollivon, Guillard; Cros, Jegou, Jelonch
Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Bamba, Flament, Meafou, Nouchi, Serin, Barassi
