Scotland take it on the chin

Although 'gutted' by his team's last-minute defeat to France, Scotland coach Scott Johnson was not ready to point any fingers.

Scotland outscore their visitors by two tries to one at Murrayfield, but that was not enough to prevent a demoralising defeat.

There was some debate about referee Chris Pollock's final penalty award but Johnson was happy to accept the New Zealand official's verdict in that instance.

However, he was mystified as to how Scotland had yet again ended up on the wrong end of a lopsided overall penalty count.

"That's without a doubt my most disappointing day as Scotland coach," said Johnson.

"I'm gutted, absolutely gutted," the Australian added.

"We've got to accept our responsibility for it, and we will, but in a competition as close as this and you're leading the game, and you're down 11-2 on penalty count, I don't know. That doesn't sit well with me," he added.

The Scotland boss said that it was especially disappointing to lose after having outplayed the French for most of the game.

"This was a game we should have won, I felt we were the better team, no doubt about it.

"Sometimes the scoreboard just doesn't reflect what happens in the contest," insisted Johnson, whose side finish their Six Nations campaign away to two-time defending champions Wales.

AFP