The French team won 30-27 against Scotland in their second World Cup preparation match. Despite scoring three tries by Romain Ntamack, Damian Penaud, and Charles Ollivon, the French team struggled against the strong Scottish players.

Scoring 4 tries and finishing strong, the Scottish team may have regrets about this match. Nevertheless, they displayed a high level of seriousness, potentially making Pool B of the World Cup (including South Africa and Ireland) even more competitive.

Scotland played fluently and creatively, while France appeared somewhat disjointed but brilliant.

That’s the paradox of this match. The Scots controlled the game, spreading play across the field. The French, on the other hand, took a more direct approach and relied on their defense to gain ground.

After Scotland’s first try by Kleyn, the team stuck to their game plan. France capitalized on this by winning a penalty on the ground, eventually resulting in a try by Romain Ntamack (13-10).

Scotland maintained their approach after halftime, aiming for extended effective playing time.

Unfortunately for them, right after the restart, the French scored from a turnover. Damian Penaud and Charles Ollivon also contributed to the French lead.

Despite the Scots’ effort, they tied the score at 27-27 with three tries. However, it was the French scrum that secured victory two minutes before the end. Final score: 30-27. The match was full of excitement and promise.

Finn Russell and his teammates controlled the game and impressed with their ball-handling skills. However, they faced a 10-minute lapse at the beginning of the second half, during which France led 27-10. Russell also missed two conversions. Four crucial points left behind…

Baille and Ntamack injured

According to Fabien Galthié, Cyril Baille suffered a knock to his right calf, and Ntamack sustained a ligament strain. These details are yet to be confirmed.

Key takeaways from the match

There were many errors from the French side due to lack of synchronization. It was the starting team’s first match since the Six Nations tournament. The Scots managed to keep the effective playing time at 45 minutes, which is significant.

France, starting their preparation a month later, appeared less fit than their opponents and had defensive lapses. Improvement is expected as the opening match approaches. French fans’ concerns are natural, but the team will progress in this area.

Lastly, Julien Marchand, Charles Ollivon, and Gaël Fickou had outstanding defensive performances.