EDINBURGH, Scotland: France stayed within the Six Nations title hunt when it benefited from a controversial name by the Television Match Official to disclaim Scotland a final-seconds strive at Murrayfield on Saturday.
France received 20-16, taking the lead solely within the 71st minute.
In the final minute, Scotland regathered free French ball close to the visiting crew’s tryline and hammered away. The clock handed 80 minutes when Sam Skinner drove over the road and was tackled by Yoram Moefana and Sebastien Taofifenua. Referee Nic Berry stated Skinner was held up however needed a video examine.
The ball was seen to roll off a French boot below the pile of our bodies, however after 4 minutes of replays, TMO Brian MacNeice stated there was no conclusive proof Skinner scored.
“We were celebrating in the coaches box,” Scotland coach Gregor Townsend stated. “We could hear the TMO’s conversation with the referee, saying, ‘The ball was on foot then the ball was down,’ and then he changes his mind and says, ‘Stick with the on-field decision.’
“From a coaching perspective, you’ve got to win the game and not put it in the hands of TMOs and referees and that is what we will work on.
“We were in control of the game and in control most of the way in tough conditions. We had to play a different way and I’m really disappointed we didn’t win the game. We felt we won the game. We saw the ball on the tryline.”
France celebrated rebounding from humiliation at dwelling inflicted by defending champion Ireland final weekend within the opening spherical.
Scotland, on the again of an historic first win in Cardiff in 22 years, had visions of an announcement win over the French however wasted leads of 13-3 and 16-10.
The French stayed within the match regardless of 13 dealing with errors, 12 turnovers and tighthead prop Uini Atonio’s sin-binning, throughout which France didn’t concede some extent.
Atonio’s yellow card drew a dramatic finish to the primary half, too.
The Scots had turned down two kickable penalties. Then Atonio was sin-binned for a no-arms sort out whereas defending the tryline. Scotland elected to scrum once more, forcing France to ship in reserve prop Dorian Aldegheri and take off wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey. But the French scrum got here up trumps as Scotland’s collapsed, and Berry referred to as halftime.
France simply dealt with the primary eight minutes of the second half a person brief, however as quickly as Atonio returned they misplaced workhorse captain and No. 8 Gregory Alldritt, who badly twisted his left leg whereas jackalling.
Captain Finn Russell’s fourth goalkick — he’s 100% off the tee within the first two rounds — despatched Scotland 16-10 up heading into the final quarter however the dwelling aspect sat again in a interval when no one took cost.
Out of nowhere, France struck. From ruck ball, 21-12 months-previous alternative scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec’s quick, flat go gave 20-12 months-previous Bielle-Biarrey time to chip a crowd of Scots, burn previous them, regather and rating. Thomas Ramos transformed for France’s first lead and added a 77th-minute penalty from a dominant maul for good measure.
Scotland had late probabilities. Winger Kyle Rowe reeled off a 50-meter break that was stopped by Le Garrec after which the siege of France’s tryline.
But Scotland couldn’t end off a match it led virtually till the tip.
It was pressured right into a late change when wing Kyle Steyn was advised to stick with his spouse Ali, who was in labor. Former sevens participant Harry Paterson, uncapped and with eight skilled video games, obtained the decision 4 hours earlier than the match.
France examined Paterson with the primary excessive ball after 30 seconds and he was protected. So was his catching and passing when Scotland scored the opening strive within the seventh minute.
Mathieu Jalibert dropped a bomb, Rory Darge recovered it, and Russell ignited the backline. Duhan Van der Merwe got here off his wing to ship Paterson tearing into a spot and White slid throughout in a double sort out to finish a 50-meter sweeping transfer.
Van der Merwe tracked again to drop Gael Fickou in entrance of the tryline and Scotland’s protection dealt with 10 French phases between two Russell penalties to steer 13-3. But then went to sleep.
At the restart, flanker Francois Cros turned over Scotland ruck ball, and the French narrowed Scotland’s protection so an unmarked Fickou might angle into the fitting nook. Ramos transformed from the sideline to have them trailing solely 13-10 after 32 minutes.
Scotland ought to have scored once more in a exceptional finish to the half however France withstood sustained strain with 14 males.
Scotland hosts England in two weeks. France has Italy.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
