France in irresistible form against Scotland

FRANCE enjoyed a riotous farewell party at the Parc des Princes but it is the Celtic nations like those red-eyed men in kilts trudging around the city's streets yesterday morning, who will be suffering the hangover.

The Five Nations Championship will be remembered for France's deserved Grand Slam, the fifth in their history, and astonishing avalanche of 611 points and 52 tries. But Scotland, Wales and Ireland were ultimately buried in that avalanche. Each contrived a single, spirited win but in the professional era the sport's oldest competition is increasingly a contest of Two Nations.

Such has been the dominance of France and England, with their much larger player bases, that their three rivals may be down and out in London and Paris for a lot longer.

France were decimated by injuries this season, ending this competition with only five players, who finished last season's in Cardiff. But they were able to introduce players of the quality of the centre Christophe Lamaison and the Pau fly-half David Aucagne seamlessly into a side that has grown in confidence throughout a triumphant three months.

Lamaison's Brive side, with their unexpected European Cup win in January, created the template around which France's Five Nations victory was drawn, physical but mobile forwards launching backs who create space with intelligent running along well-worked angles.

French backs never seem to run out of space and the final try in a Five Nations game at the Parc summed up the philosophy of, coaches Jean-Claude Skrela and Pierre Villepreux. Jean-Luc Sadourny, France's brilliant running full-back, created the extra man in a three-quarter move that scorched across the field. It seemed to be on its last legs as the right-wing Laurent Leflamand was forced into the corner but he was able to slip a pass inside to the flanker Olivier Magne to plunder a glorious try.

Philippe Sella, France's most-capped player, has played at the Parc des Princes 30 times but said that Saturday's display was the finest he had witnessed there. "I can't remember France's backs and forwards playing so well collectively. This will be the start of a new era in French rugby," the Saracens centre said.

"They have confidence and pace in every position. Lamaison, Sadourny and Merle have been out, standing throughout the championship and Pierre Villepreux is inspiring some explosive running.

The European competitions have done so much for the confidence of the national team."

Sella said that in world terms New Zealand were out on their own but France had now joined Australia and South Africa on the next level down. England, he added diplomatically, were almost ready to join the three. "England showed in that first hour against us that they can be just as strong.

For Scotland, though, the afternoon was a painful one. A record defeat, compounded by Lamaison's near faultless place-kicking - he landed nine of his 10 attempts at goal - leaves Rob Wainwright's chances of leading the Lions in South Africa this summer very slim indeed. Gavin Hastings, whose memorable try had sealed Scotland's win on their last visit here, had said before the game that his old team-mates were confident of spoiling the French party.

"Bunt valiantly though Wainwright's Bravehearts performed, their front-five, Doddie Weir excepted, could not cope with the brute force of the French scrum. Alan Tait, though, did enhance his Lions prospects, becoming the first and last Scot to score two tries in a game at the Parc des Princes.