Player Ratings: From fiesty to faded
The French showed great je ne sais quoi as a brace of tries by Teddy Thomas in the first 40 minutes saw them take a 20-14 lead at the break – it was a true display of the French intentions.
However, the second stanza the side faded into the background. They conceded too many penalties which Scotland's Greig Laidlaw was all to happy to slot over for the 32-26 win.
Leezil Hendricks rates the France players!
15 Geoffrey Palis
Had a subtle game. His kicks did not really have any directions and didn’t pose as a threat during the game.
5/10
14 Teddy Thomas
Similar to last week against Ireland, the wing had an excellent start. His pace created havoc out wide. One of the best France players on the pitch, he broke through Scotland’s defence on several occasions – one of the breaks led to his try after just three minutes of play. However, in the last 30 minutes of the match, he was missing in action.
8/10
13 Remi Lamerat
His attack wasn’t that flamboyant as it is in the Top 14. But he was industrious in defence. The centre made more than 10 tackles to keep Scotland’s attack at bay.
5/10
12 Geoffrey Doumayrou
Wasn’t that tenacious in the first half. But in the second half, he caused the Scottish defence all sorts of trouble. He made 34 metres and produced six tackles.
6/10
11 Virimi Vakatawa
He had a few good runs with the ball. However, unlike his fellow teammate on the right wing, the big Vakatawa failed to make a huge impact. He was eventually replaced with Benjamin Fall in the 70th minute.
4/10
10 Lionel Beauxis,
After being out of action for more than six years, the lack of international action was evident in the flyhalf’s performance. The 32-year-old had a rocky game and even with a different halfback partner Beauxis still failed to influence the game. On the 67th minute, it just went all pear-shaped as a knock-on was followed by a disastrous offload to Palis on his own try-line.
4/10
9 Maxime Machenaud
The scrumhalf had a prominent game. He dictated the pace and was instrumental from the tee adding 2 conversions and 2 penalties to his side’s tally. He was truly missed after being replaced by Baptiste Serin at the start of the second half. His departure also handed Scotland’s Greig Laidlaw the opportunity to dictate play.
7/10
8 Marco Tauleigne
Was in good form when it came to set-pieces. He put the Scottish loose trio under pressure but did not to much in the second half and was eventually replaced by Louis Picamoles in the 57th minutes.
4/10
7 Yacouba Camara
A true workhorse, not only at the breakdown but on the attack as well. His offload was instrumental in the lead up to the second try and was constantly in support of the backs when they broke.
7/10
6 Wenceslas Lauret
Another one on the French side who has a stellar first 40 minutes however in the second half the flank faded and his work rate at the breakdown decline.
4/10
5 Sebastien Vahaamahina
A very solid performance. Managed to steal one line-out but was not really that spectacular. However, a much better performance than last week against Ireland and his penalty count decline since last week.
5/10
4 Arthur Iturria
The lock had a quiet game. Was not very instrumental when it came to winning line-outs but his work rate in defence was very industrious.
5/10
3 Rabah Slimani
Aside from his great interchanging passing with his captain for the team’s second try, the prop did not really make an impact as was expected and was replaced in the 57th minute.
3/10
2 Guilhem Guirado (captain)
Was good defence just his lack of accuracy when it came to line-outs placed his team under pressure on two occasions. However his work when it came to scrum time made up for it and also showed good ball control which helped Thomas to his second try,
5/10
1 Jefferson Poirot.
Did solid work to put the Scottish scrum under pressure however he was not spectacular.
3/10
Replacements:
16 Adrien Pelissie (On for Guirado, 74th min)
Not enough time to be rated
17 Eddy Ben Arous (On for Poirot, 57th min)
Similar to Poirot, the replacement did not make a huge difference. He did the basics right but lack that extra prowess in front.
3/10
18 Cedate Gomes Sa (On for Slimani, 57th min)
When he took the pitch he certainly looked for work, he offered more in defence and his work set-piece work was noteworthy however not spectacular.
5/10
19 Paul Gabrillagues (On for Vahaamahina, 70th min)
Not enough time to be rated.
20 Louis Picamoles (on for Tauleigne, 57th min)
His first touch was horrible, as a handling error handed Scotland a penalty which levelled the score to 26-all. The flank eventually regrouped and made up for his mistake with a noteworthy defence display
5/10
21 Baptiste Serin (On for Maxime Machenaud, 40th min)
The replacement added two successful penalties and showed great courage in defence. However, he never fill the void left by Machenaud.
5/10
22 Anthony Belleau (On for Beauxis, 70th min)
Not enough time to be rated
23 Benjamin Fall (on for Vakarawa, 70th min)
Not enough time to rated.
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