Rampant Scots keep their Six Nations title hopes alive… and claim the greatest victory of Gregor Townsend’s tenure
After all the aggro about the size of the changing rooms at Murrayfield, with Fabien Galthie complaining about his players having to get stripped in the corridor, France had their pants pulled down out on the field.
Knowing that a bonus-point win would have clinched a second successive Six Nations title, Galthie’s men were blown away by a rampant Scotland. Their Grand Slam bid was derailed in the most stunning fashion.
After what surely ranks as the greatest victory of Gregor Townsend’s tenure, it is the Scots who will travel to Dublin next weekend with the naked ambition of trying to win the championship.
That in itself signals clear progress. For the first time in the Six Nations era, the Scots will go into the final round of games still with genuine hope of winning the trophy.
But there is bound to be a part of them that will rue the flurry of late French tries which swung the advantage back in favour of Les Bleus.
Ben White of Scotland celebrates his try with Pierre Schoeman
There was a period during the second-half blitz from Townsend’s side when they had the whole championship in the palm of their hand.
They were set to move above France and go top. But the visitors finally came to their senses and took a bonus point thanks to scoring six tries in total.
Yep, that’s right, France scored six tries and lost. In truth, they were hammered. Scotland scored seven tries of their own and were utterly magnificent.
But it now raises the bizarre prospect of relying on England to do them a favour in Paris next weekend when Steve Borthwick’s side take on France.
Townsend’s men will face Ireland in Dublin and, if they can win that, they would then need England to do the business against France.
Ireland will be a huge challenge at a venue which has been a graveyard for Scotland over the years. But there’s still a chance, still a hope that Scotland can pull this off.
Whisper it, but every man, woman and child in Scotland will be cheering on England next weekend if it means Townsend’s side would lift the trophy.
Man of the match Kyle Steyn scores Scotland’s fifth try against France
This was an incredible match, one for the ages, and it was Finn Russell who got the better of Antoine Dupont in the duel between the two best players on the planet right now.
But Russell had plenty of help. Kyle Steyn and Darcy Graham were both outstanding. Ever it Scotland player delivered their very best level.
This felt like a day when Townsend’s team really came of age. Against a free-flowing and free-scoring French side, Scotland rose to the challenge and delivered a seismic blow.
In his media conference on Friday afternoon, Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu had spoken about the prospect of this being an open and expansive game between two teams whose styles are very similar.
The conditions were ideal for exactly that type of contest. With Murrayfield bathed in glorious sunshine, all eyes turned to Dupont and Russell to see what sort of magic they could conjure.
As kick-off approached and the sense of anticipation grew ever stronger, it began to feel like there had been an invasion of French supporters.
They had travelled in their thousands, knowing that there was the prospect of a title party if their team could secure a bonus-point win.
Had you closed your eyes and just listened to the noise, you could easily have thought you were in the Stade de France as Allez les Bleus and renditions of La Marseillaise rang out.
Dupont was stony-faced as he went through his warm-up with his team-mates. Having missed last year’s championship due to injury, France’s little maestro was back in his usual domain with a trophy to win.
Russell, meanwhile, cut a typically nonchalant figure, doing a few keepy-ups, juggling a few balls, and changing the music in his earphones from time to time.
The old clip of Diego Maradona dancing to Live is Life springs to mind when you watch Russell in that kind of mood.
When the game started, Scotland came flying out the traps and got the quick start they so craved. Graham wriggled free and burst over to score the opening try on five minutes.
Kyle Steyn celebrates after scoring Scotland’s second try of the match
Immediately, France had been asked a question. That was the first time they had been behind in any match across the whole championship.
It took a little while for them to muster a response. But, in the blink of an eye, two tries from their wing wizards Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Theo Attissogbe put them ahead.
Both teams were throwing the ball wide at every opportunity. Scotland’s attack was decorated by some beautiful combinations between Russell, Tuipulotu and Huw Jones in midfield.
The three of them dovetailed in devastating fashion at times, but it was the outstanding Steyn who hit a terrific reverse line off a lineout to score the team’s second try.
Scotland’s wing Darcy Graham dives over the line to score their sixth try
Scotland led 19-14 at half-time. Few could have predicted what was about to unfold thereafter. Townsend’s side blew France away in the most spectacular fashion.
Another four tries from Ben White, Steyn, Graham and Tom Jordan saw them surge into a 47-14 lead with just under 20 minutes to play.
They had savaged France and punished every single error. Dupont was throwing interceptions, something which felt emblematic of the way his team completely and utterly lost their way.
France eventually settled down and a late burst of tries swung the championship back into their hands. But what a day this had been.
A game that scrambled minds and left jaws on the floor. Scotland, magnificent. France, still the masters of their own destiny despite leaving Edinburgh with a bloody nose.
