No flair but France prevail over Scotland

France 15 Scotland 8: They put a brave face on it but it was evident from the shrugs and pouts that a hard-fought tryless 15-8 victory over a feisty Scotland in Paris was not quite enough for the French. 

The coach Phillipe Saint-Andre and his players were quick to admit that they need to raise the level of their game if they are to trouble Ireland in Dublin next week.

“It was very frustrating,” admitted Scott Spedding, one of nine French players to make their first appearance in the Six Nations.

“We had the possession, we created the opportunities. In the second half we had the chance to kill the game off but we just couldn’t do it. As a performance, I would probably give it five or six out of 10. But it is our first game so there is a lot to work on. The essential thing is the win. I think it is a lot easier to build on a performance after a win. We can work in peace. The most important thing was the win but it wasn’t the prettiest win.”

Pretty or not, France deserved it, if only for the second-half performance when they set up camp in the Scottish half and did everything but batter down the castle walls.

It took five penalties from out-half Camille Lopez to see off a Scottish side that followed Greig Laidlaw’s early penalty with the only try of the match for Dougie Fife just before half-time.

But the clock is now running on how quickly the French can regroup and lift their performance for next week’s meeting with the 2014 champions in the Aviva.

“We are not at a high enough level to win in Dublin right now,” said an admirably blunt Thierry Dusautoir.

“We need to be better in our mauls and around the fringes. These are points that we are going to have to work on before next week.”

Saint-Andre will almost certainly tinker with his side, taking a close look once again at the half-back combination. It will be no surprise to see Morgan Parra and Rémi Tales there in Dublin. Saturday’s starter at nine, Rory Kockott, had an ineffective first half and the French picked up noticeably when Parra replaced him. Lopez stayed the course at fly-half but had a mixed evening, his kicking out of hand noticeably below par.

“We have to find another level altogether,” said Spedding. “We know how good Ireland are at the moment. I think they were the only team with the All Blacks last year to finish unbeaten in the November tests. So they are on another level and we are going to have to up our game if we want to be able to compete with them.”

The outcome in Dublin is likely to rest on the two packs. Like Dusautoir, fellow flanker Bernard Le Roux is well aware of Ireland’s power up front and the need to show more control on foreign soil.

“It is easy to play at home, a lot more difficult to play in Dublin,” he said. “Ireland are such a good team. (Johnny) Sexton, the wings, the full-back, the pack… they are a complete team.

“What let us down here was the rucks and mauls. When we get the ball, we have to make a base and show a bit more patience.”

The away factor may indeed prove to be in France’s favour because, in spite of what Le Roux says about playing at home, if there is one thing more impatient than a French team, it is a French crowd in Paris.

Saint-Andre’s side can now head to Dublin with the pressure off. No one expects them to win, certainly not in France, and only true fans will be escorting them.

They might realise they can afford to enjoy themselves next week. And that could spell danger for the Irish.

“It will be something new for a lot of players in the squad who have never played away from home,” said Dusautoir with just a hint of a smile. “Maybe that can be a strength.”

Scorers for France: Pens: Lopez 5.

Scorers for Scotland: Tries: Fife. Pens: Laidlaw.

FRANCE: Spedding, Huget, Bastareaud, Fofana, Thomas, Lopez, Kockott, Menini, Guirado, Slimani, Pape, Maestri, Le Roux, Dusautoir, Chouly.

Replacements: Lamerat for Bastareaud (71), Parra for Kockott (54), Ben Arous for Menini (41), Kayser for Guirado (47), Atonio for Slimani (54), Taofifenua for Pape (60).

SCOTLAND: Hogg, Seymour, Bennett, Dunbar, Visser, Russell, Laidlaw, Dickinson, Ford, Murray, R. Gray, J. Gray, Harley, Cowan, Beattie.

Replacements: Fife for Seymour (16), Horne for Dunbar (67), Hidalgo-Clyne for Laidlaw (78), Reid for Dickinson (64), F. Brown for Ford (67), Cross for Murray (64), Hamilton for R. Gray (64), Strokosch for Harley (52).

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales).