Scotland 16-20 France: Louis Bielle-Biarrey scores key second half try to give French first Six Nations win of 2024
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Updated 10/02/2024 at 21:42 GMT
There was huge drama late on at Murrayfield as the TMO upheld referee Nic Berry's on-field decision that Scotland had not grounded the ball for a try that would have given them the victory over France. in the Six Nations on Saturday. The French had earlier battled back from 16-10 down to go ahead courtesy of Louis Bielle-Biarrey's late try.
France's wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey (R) celebrates with France's Nolann Le Garrec (L) after scoring a try during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Scotland and France at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland on February 10, 2024.
Image credit: Getty Images
France narrowly edged Scotland in strangely tense game at Murrayfield as a late try from Louis Bielle-Biarrey sent the visitors on their way to their first win in this year’s Six Nations.
Bielle-Biarrey’s try and one from Gael Fickou, alongside two penalties from Thomas Ramos was enough to dispatch Scotland. Finn Russell’s three penalties and a beautiful team try scored by Ben White looked like it was enough for the hosts.
But the game will be remembered by a controversial decision from Nic Berry at the end after he denied Scotland what seemed like a certain try.
It was an error-strewn performance from the French, but the Scots were reluctant to take the risks to lengthen their lead and resting on their laurels cost them in the end.
Often, a picture is worth a thousand words. Russell's reaction to Berry's decision is one such case. The fly-half shook his head in disgust and flashed an insincere smile as the French celebrated the cruellest of wins over Scotland.
Scotland opened the scoring with a fabulous team try with White at the end of it. Debutant Harry Paterson was at the heart of the move after a box-kick from White fell favourably for the hosts. The young fullback skipped into the French 22 off a pop pass from Duhan van der Merwe and offloaded to centre Huw Jones.
France struggled throughout the 80 minutes to find any sort of routine and control, but they found much of their luck when they caught Scotland napping on the restarts. After the first try, they bulldozed their way through Scotland's rucks and forced a penalty, which Ramos predictably converted.
Russell soon restored the lead to seven points with a penalty of his own, however.
From there the game switched to an immense defensive effort from Scotland. They never seemed panicked or worried, and in fact made France look rather predictable offensively. It didn't help that the visitors were coughing up handling errors like no tomorrow. Scotland were forcing the errors and seizing the opportunities, with Russell adding another three points.
Scotland's failure to exit after the restart bit them again, however. Francois Cros stole the ball at the ruck and France set their attack in motion, forcing Scotland's defence one way and narrowing them just enough for Gael Fickou to slide over in the opposite corner after a long pass.
Another moment Gregor Townsend will rue was the final moments of the first half. Uini Atonio was sent to the bin with a yellow card after a no arms tackle, and a plethora of French penalties gave Scotland all the momentum in the world in the visitor's 22.
The ensuing scrum saw France win a penalty as the clock hit 40 and Ramos booted the ball into the touch.
While the first half was certainly tense, the second was cagey and wholly un-entertaining, aside from the closing crescendo. For almost 30 minutes the tie was devoid of the offensive talent these two sides have become famed for.
France couldn't find any control and Scotland were reluctant to take the risks to put the game to bed. As Sam Warburton put it, both sides were "playing not to lose."
That changed instantly however when Nolann Le Garrec entered the fray. The young nine, heir to Antoine Dupont, injected an intense pace into the game, zipping from ruck to ruck. His flat pass to Bielle-Biarrey gave the winger the time and space to chip over Harry Paterson's head and race past him to score.
Ramos nailed the conversion and France had found the lead for the first time today.
The game's complexity had been flipped in an instant. Russell's calm demeanour was panicked, now flinging passes instead of the composed kicking he had exhibited all half. At one point it looked like Kyle Rowe would be Scotland's saviour, the Scotland winger breaking France's defensive line and stepping in and out only to lose the ball forward under pressure from Thomas Ramos.
But then came the controversy. Russell stole the ball. Scotland marched forward and George Turner touched down, or so he, and the rest of Murrayfield thought. Berry's initial on-field call of no-try looked set to be reversed, only for the Australian to say "There is no conclusive evidence to overturn my original decision."
Players, coaches, and fans were stunned. It was a crazy, controversial ending that will be talked about for weeks, months, maybe years. With that, France snatch victory right out from under Scotland.
Talking Point - A controversial finish
Everything else, good and bad, will be overshadowed by the ending in which Nic Berry denied Scotland a last-minute try and their second win of this year's Six Nations Championship.
There was no evidence it wasn't a try, but not enough to be conclusively ruled as one. The stadium roared and howled in disgust and disappointment.
But no matter how loud they shouted, or how much players protested, it wasn't enough. Scotland lost a match they could have, should have won.
Regardless, they didn't do enough in the prior 80 minutes to make the win theirs. They were content playing to France's beat in the second half and waiting for the visitors to make mistakes. In the end, it cost them.
Player of the Match - Finn Russell
He may be on the losing side, but everything went through the Bath 10 today. His passing was seamless and his kicking sublime. He pulled the strings and kept Scotland in control for much of the tie.
He continued his flawless success rate from the tee and stood firm in defence too.
He was also responsible for Scotland's near-try in the 80th minute, after stealing the ball from the French and launching his side towards the try line.
Match Highlights
8' - TRY! SCOTLAND 7 - 0 FRANCE - A beautiful, brilliant team try finished off by White. Finn Russell pulled the strings as always, and a good pop to the outside from Duhan van der Merwe let Harry Patterson loose. His ball inside to Jones unleashed White in just enough space to make it over the line.
11' - PENALTY! SCOTLAND 7 - 3 FRANCE - France's attacking passage ends in three points as Ramos slots the kick at goal thanks to Grant Gilchrist being caught offside.
21' - PENALTY! SCOTLAND 10 - 3 FRANCE - Penalty for offside and Russell kicks an easy three points straight through the posts.
29' - PENALTY SCOTLAND 13 - 3 FRANCE - Another easy kick for Russell brings Scotland to a 10-point lead.
32' - TRY! SCOTLAND 13 - 10 FRANCE - Fickou slides over in the corner! A vital turnover from Francois Cros and the French spear their way to Scotland's try line. A long pass out wide to Fickou in space with Scotland's defence narrow, and the centre slides in with ease. Ramos slots the conversion.
58' - PENALTY! SCOTLAND 16 - 10 FRANCE - We finally have the first points of this half as Russell slots another three points. The hosts lead by six points with just over 20 minutes to go.
71' - TRY! SCOTLAND 16 - 17 FRANCE - THE GAME BURSTS ALIVE OUT OF NOWHERE. Young Louis Bielle-Biarrey thought "right, that's enough," and chips the ball over Paterson's head, burning the debutant and sliding over for his sixth international try. Ramos' converts and for the first time France lead at Murrayfield today.
74' - PENALTY: SCOTLAND 16 - 17 FRANCE - It feels like momentum has fully swung the way of the French as Scott Cummings is penalised for an arm on the French jumper at the lineout. The travelling supporters have found their voice too.. In other news, Alec Hepburn is on in place of Pierre Schoemann in the front row.
76' - THREE POINTS! SCOTLAND 16 - 20 FRANCE - And just like that France take a four-point lead as Ramos slots an easy penalty. Scotland have no choice but to play rugby now - something they've been reluctant to do in the past 25 minutes.
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