France edge Paris arm-wrestle

The entertainment value was not so much the quality of the two teams' play, but the intrigue as Scotland edged ahead, before France took the lead midway through the second half, only for Scotland to streak ahead again and finally France producing a moment of magic that brought the match-winning score.

For an hour Greig Laidlaw and Frederic Michalak exchanged penalties, before a 55-metre Scott Spedding penalty sparked the game alive.

It was followed by the first of two tries – France attacking from deep inside their own half, only to turn the ball over inside the Scottish 22 and Tommy Seymour to score at the other end.

Then the best of the French came to the fore – a series of powerful scrums and forward charges that resulted in David Denton being yellow-carded for repeated infringements.,

Then Noa Nakaitaci scored the match-winning try off another series of forward charges that was followed by some sublime interplay.

The visitors, who will open their World Cup campaign in Pool B against Japan, were in front for most of the match – but France's power eventually prevailed.

France, who also beat England at home a fortnight ago, will need to show a lot more creativity, however, if they want to prevail in Pool D where they face Ireland, Italy, Canada and Romania.

Greig Laidlaw, who ended with 11 points, opened the scoring for Scotland when he slotted home a 45-metre penalty after France captain Thierry Dusautoir was sanctioned for offside.

Flyhalf Frederic Michalak levelled with a penalty for the hosts only for Laidlaw to add another three points as the visitors were rewarded for their attacking intent.

But Vern Cotter's Scotland lacked discipline and Michalak was handed an easy penalty to make it 6-all.

The French built momentum and Scott Spedding eased his way through the Scotland defence before centre Wesley Fofana dived over the line only to see referee Wayne Barnes rule out the try for a forward pass.

Scotland were lucky to reach half-time with a 9-6 lead after Laidlaw added another penalty when the French were again penalised for offside.

Michalak drew the hosts level again after Gordon Reid was penalised early in the second half, but France were guilty of making too many errors.

A knock-on after a long phase of domination cost France a possible try, while Yoann Huget was bundled into touch by Sean Maitland five metres from the line after bursting down the right wing.

France took the lead for the first time just before the hour thanks to Spedding's 55-metre penalty as the hosts' upped the pressure.

But Saint-Andre's side wasted another good try-scoring chance, when they lost the ball five metres from the line.

Scotland then grabbed their only try of the match when Laidlaw's long kick set up Tommy Seymour, who comfortably scored between the posts and the conversion gave Scotland a four-point lead.

France then laid siege to the Scottish line, winning scrum after scrum, and number eight David Denton was shown a yellow card.

France finally found a way through the Scotland defence when Nakaitaci escaped two tackles and dived over while replacement scrumhalf Morgan Parra converted.

Man of the match: The Gray brothers, Jonny and Richie, were monumental throughout the game, while Greig Laidlaw was the general that kept driving his troops onwards. Scott Spedding had a brilliant first half, Mathieu Bastareaud was his team's main battering ram, Wesley Fofana the creative spark. Pascal Papé was a rock in the second row, but our award goes to French captain Thierry Dusautoir – for his unwavering workrate and determined efforts to get his team over the line.

Moment of the match:  There were two great, and crucial, tries. However, the most crucial play came after 82 minutes. Scotland won a penalty inside the French 22 and kick at goal would have given them a draw. They opted to tap and go, ultimately coughed up the ball and lost the match – bravery to be lauded, but a costly error.

Villain of the match:  Nothing really, not even David Denton's yellow card, as he was at the end of a string of Scottish penalties as they desperately defended their tryline.

The scorers:

For France:

Try: Nakaitaci

Con: Para

Pens: Michalak 4

For Scotland:

Try: Seymour

Con: Laidlaw

Pens: Laidlaw 3

Yellow card: David Denton (Scotland, 71 – repeated infringements, killing the ball)

Teams:

France: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Frédéric Michalak, 9 Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Damien Chouly, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Alexandre Flanquart, 4 Pascal Papé, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Eddy Ben Arous.

Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Nicolas Mas, 19 Bernard le Roux, 20 Yannick Nyanga, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Rémi Talès, 23 Alexandre Dumoulin.

Scotland: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (captain), 8 David Denton, 7 John Hardie, 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Willem Nel, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.

Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Alasdair Strokosch, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Sean Lamont.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), Luke Pearce (England)

TMO: Graham Hughes (England)