Player Ratings: Scotland

OPINION: Scotland will head to Dublin next Saturday with their first shot at a Six Nations title after a sensational, seven-tries-to-six victory over Championship favourites France at a disbelieving Murrayfield.

Even if a first win over Ireland in 12 attempts under Gregor Townsend proves beyond them, this startling occasion will still live long in the memory.

Scotland led 47-14 when Tom Jordan crossed in the 63rd minute before a late French fightback featuring four tries put a gloss on the scoreboard for the visitors.

*Bryn Palmer rates the Scotland players!

15. Blair Kinghorn – 7
Playing against seven of his club-mates from the start, and five more when they came on, the Toulouse fullback will enjoy heading back to his club after this. Relatively safe under the high ball, one fumble aside. Looked a threat when he stretched those long legs and hit the line. Failed to put Graham away down the right when his pass went into touch, but helped create his second try shortly afterwards.

14. Darcy Graham – 8
Restored to the starting side after being benched for the first three games of the campaign, the impish wing was onto a loose ball in a flash to scamper over for his 36th Test try, moving clear on his own at the top of Scotland’s try-scoring charts. Showed similar predatory skills for his 37th to cap a fine return.

13. Huw Jones – 7
Glided onto Tuipulotu’s pass to make an early line-break and always a threat with ball in hand, even if he couldn’t quite escape into space. Looked to be hobbling when he trooped off after 55 minutes.

12. Sione Tuipulotu – 8
A reassuring, calming presence in midfield, making hard yards when required and linking well with Russell and Jones, although turned over when running ball out of his own 22 in the first half, which led to Bielle-Biarrey’s opening try for France. But led superbly on one of Scotland’s great days.

11. Kyle Steyn – 9
Chased a succession of box-kicks early on to pressure the French back-three and always looking for action off his wing. Rewarded with a 17th Test try when he picked a lovely angle to cut back onto Turner’s pop-pass to score in the left corner. His 18th followed when he picked off Dupont’s pass to race in from 45 metres down the left touchline. Didn’t deserve his day to end being taken off on a cart, after manfully trying to stop Dupont scoring.

10. Finn Russell – 7.5
A mixed bag at times from Scotland’s conjuror-in-chief, with some of his kicks from hand not always coming off and a couple of passes going to ground, but his pinpoint passing continually stretched the French defence out wide, and marshalled the second-half barrage with aplomb. Superb from the kicking tee, landing seven from eight.

9. Ben White – 8.5
The Toulon scrumhalf was excellent directing operation at the base of the scrum, with a snappy service and box-kicks on the money. Exposed France’s defence around the ruck to snipe over for his ninth Test try, Scotland’s fourth, early in the second half.

Ratings continue below…

8. Jack Dempsey – 8.5
Back in the side after a speedy recovery from a bicep injury sustained in the win over England, the Glasgow No.8 caught the opening kick-off and ran hard at the guts of the French defence, making 10 carries in the first half alone and finishing as Scotland’s top carrier with 16. A belligerent operator who revelled in the mayhem.

7. Rory Darge – 7.5
Was leading the Six Nations stats for jackal turnovers and rucks hit after the first three rounds of the Championship. Not quite as influential here, but helped Scotland win the battle on the floor in the first hour, and ended up in the backline after Steyn was forced off.

6. Matt Fagerson – 8.5
Switched to blindside to accommodate the returning Dempsey, Fagerson was a rumbustious presence, carrying hard around the fringes – hitting double figures in the first 40 – and making plenty of big hits on the gainline.

5. Scott Cummings – 7
An industrious outing as always from Scotland’s first-choice lock. Marshalled the line-out operation well, taking several balls himself, and hit plenty of rucks, as well as defending the French maul well when the game was still in the balance.

4. Gregor Brown – 6.5
Switched to the second row from blindside, the Aberdonian was prominent in taking the game to the French up front with some forceful carries and was a go-to line-out target. But forced off early after 33 minutes.

3. Darcy Rae – 6
Handed just his fourth Test start, his first in the Six Nations, and just his sixth cap in all, the Edinburgh tighthead dropped an early pass but helped Scotland’s scrum win two penalties in the first half before he was taken off just before the interval.

2. George Turner – 8
Another restored to the side, in place of David Cherry, Turner nailed all his line-out darts, was part of an effective scrummaging unit and showed his softer skills with a lovely reverse pop-pass to put Steyn over for his try, and another out-the-back pass. More than justified his recall.

1. Pierre Schoeman – 9
Restored to the starting XV after two outings off the bench against England and Wales. Helped to steady the Scottish scrum, carried hard and regularly – 14 times in all – and showed tremendous strength to burrow over from close range for Scotland’s third try.

Replacements

16. Ewan Ashman – 6
Restored to the 23 after his Rome nightmare in Round One and subsequent neck injury, Ashman missed one line-out target but otherwise brought plenty of energy to the fray.

17. Rory Sutherland – 5
In the matchday squad for the first time in this campaign, the 33-year-old took over from Schoeman with 15 minutes left, but lacked the impact of the man he replaced.

18. Zander Fagerson – 7
Unfamiliar territory for Scotland’s most capped prop, the tighthead titan dropped to the bench for the first time since February 2022, in his 80th Test. On a minute before half-time, Scotland’s scrum was immediately penalised for the first time. But two big carries in the build-up to White’s try, among eight in all, and brought plenty to the loose exchanges.

19. Grant Gilchrist – 6.5
Into the fray early, after 33 minutes, for Brown on the day he drew level with Scott Murray as Scotland’s most capped lock in his 87th Test, putting him joint-sixth on Scotland’s all-time list. The Edinburgh stalwart relished the physical scrap.

20. Freddy Douglas – 6
Came on for his Six Nations debut and only his second cap, having become Scotland’s youngest international in more than 60 years against Portugal in November 2024. The 20-year-old couldn’t stem the late French tide, but will have enjoyed being present on such a momentous occasion.

21. Josh Bayliss – 6.5
Showed his versatility when he came on for Cummings to join Gilchrist in the second row, adding dynamism to Scotland’s pack in the final half-hour.

22. George Horne – 6
On for White after 65 minutes with the game already won, Horne brought his usual speed and tempo, even if Scotland were on the back foot for the time he was on.

23. Tom Jordan – 7
The versatile Bristol back replaced Jones after 55 minutes and brought his trademark aggression to the fray, scything over for Scotland’s seventh – yes, seventh – try at the posts to send Murrayfield into delirium.

Source: @Rugbypass