Scotland came from 11 points down to avenge last weekend’s disappointing loss in Nice and defeat France 17-14 at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Les Bleus were the better team in the first half and were 14-10 ahead at the interval thanks to a pair of Damian Penaud tries.
Greig Laidlaw kicked a penalty in between those efforts from the wing before Sean Maitland crossed the whitewash to keep the hosts in the contest at the break.
The Scots then controlled much of the second period and deservedly scored through Chris Harris to secure the win and get their World Cup preparations back on track.
It was a much improved effort from the Scots but there were still far too many errors, particularly in the opening half-hour. One such mistake allowed the visitors to get the ideal start as Penaud intercepted a stray pass and strolled across the whitewash unopposed.
Although Laidlaw immediately reduced the arrears, the home side continued to struggle with ball in hand. Their physicality and intent may have been more to Gregor Townsend’s liking, but several knock-ons halted any momentum garnered.
France were not much better in a number of the exchanges but they initially had the quality when it mattered. That was shown by Sofiane Guitoune, who was a late replacement for Wesley Fofana, when the centre sprinted through a gaping hole and found his right-wing to score.
For the second time, Thomas Ramos was on target with the conversion and Les Bleus held a 14-3 advantage, but they were pegged back by Scotland.
🗣 "That's more like it from Scotland!"
🏴 Finn Russell sets up Sean Maitland for Scotland's first try of the day, just before half time! pic.twitter.com/wXUrN8ZSf1
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) August 24, 2019
In keeping with the game, it came from a mistake as the visitors lost the ball deep inside their half. Blair Kinghorn pounced before the ball was shifted left and Maitland was on hand to collect Finn Russell’s pass and touch down.
The second period continued in the same vein as the first with errors pervading the play, which led to a number of scrums. That favoured Townsend’s charges, who were controlling the set-piece battle, and they began to get the upper hand.
Jacques Brunel’s men conceded some needless penalties and their opponents set up camp in the 22. The Scots duly pressurised the French defence and it was eventually breached when Harris took a superb line to finish underneath the posts.
They had the momentum and France were far too loose, but this French outfit showed last week that they could produce the spectacular and almost created a superb score.
Forwards and backs linked well before Maxime Medard chipped the ball over the top, but Stuart Hogg covered well and that proved to be their final chance as Scotland claimed the win.
The scorers:
For Scotland:
Tries: Maitland, Harris
Cons: Laidlaw 2
Pen: Laidlaw
For France:
Tries: Penaud 2
Cons: Ramos 2
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Pete Horne, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (c), 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Sam Skinner, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Willem Nel, 2 George Turner, 1 Gordon Reid
Replacements: 16 Grant Stewart, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 John Barclay, 21 George Horne, 22 Rory Hutchinson, 23 Blair Kinghorn
France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Sofiane Guitoune, 12 Gael Fickou, 11 Alivereti Raka, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Arthur Iturria, 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 4 Felix Lambey, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado (c), 1 Jefferson Poirot
Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Emerick Setiano, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Yacouba Camara, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Romain Ntamack, 23 Maxime Medard
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
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