Scots improve, but not enough

Ian McGeechan is an optimist - and it's just as well. The Scotland coach has been left to reflect on another Six Nations Championship defeat which, however much spin is put on it, followed in a similar vein to the first two.

But while capitulation against Italy and Ireland came in the first half, on Saturday at Murrayfield Scotland lasted three quarters of the match before hitting the self-destruct button.

The scoreline could have been even more damning if France had managed to keep all 15 players on the field for the entire duration of the game.

As it was, Gallic exuberance let the visitors down with winger Emile Ntamack and second-rower Jean Daude sin-binned in quick succession.

In a seven-minute spell either side of the interval France were two men down and Scotland capitalised, taking the lead for the only time in the match when scrum-half Andy Nicol crashed over for a try.

But a French penalty and an astute tactical switch, which saw the visitors abandon flair for ferocious possession, succeeded in tying up the game and by the time they were level in playing strength they were also equal on the scoreboard.

"I am disappointed that at 13-10 we didn't come back and establish a bit more control," said McGeechan.

"It was there for us because the players felt the French heads were down. But we didn't make the most of that opportunity and for 10 minutes after that we couldn't get out of our own 22."

Scotland somehow survived that pounding but just as they thought they could snatch a dramatic victory, two genuinely world-class French players combined to send the home supporters scuttling for the exit.

Ntamack's positive contribution to that point had been negligible. At 29 some might argue his best days are behind him - but his mind is as sharp as ever.

When scrumhalf Christophe Laussucq nipped down the blindside of a scrum inside the Scottish half, Ntamack was on hand to gather the grubber kick which turned the home defence on its heels.

Olivier Magne was in support and though the outstanding Chris Paterson made a valiant effort to salvage the situation, one lone Scot facing two fierce Frenchmen is hardly an enviable task.

Paterson narrowed the gap to two points with a penalty almost immediately afterwards but his overworked team-mates were too drowsy to recognise the opportunity.

Instead, ineffective out-half Gregor Townsend launched a speculative kick to no-one in particular, Ntamack seized possession, slipped through a weak tackle from John Leslie and advanced on the Scottish line with increasing menace.

Again Paterson stood in his way, again Magne was on hand. Try scored, conversion kicked, game won.

"I knew how important it was when I went off, basically I put my team in trouble," said Ntamack.

"We were up against it at that stage but by the end I felt I contributed to the win.

"It was a difficult game but England have more than Scotland in all regions and were better equipped to trouble us."

The winger's assessment offers little hope of a Scottish victory in the Calcutta Cup clash on April 2nd, now the only way that France can win the championship.

The visitors were ahead after just 10 minutes when Thomas Castaignede cruised in after the Scottish defence had been sucked under their own posts.

Merceron converted Castaignede's try, part of an overall haul of five successful kicks from six attempts.

Kenny Logan replied with a penalty but had lost that responsibility to Paterson when Scotland next put points on the board.

Magne had already been fortunate to escape with a clear first-half head butt on Stuart Reid, although punishment may yet be forthcoming, before indiscipline threatened to ruin France's afternoon.

Ntamack saw yellow for failing to release the ball under pressure close to him own line, while Daude blocked Townsend as he was attempting to chase his own kick.

McGeechan made seven changes to the side which lost in Dublin and was rewarded with a doughty, better balanced performance.

Scorers: Scotland: Tries: Nicol. Cons: Paterson. Pens: Logan, Paterson 2. France: Tries: T. Castaignede, Magne 2. Cons: Merceron 2. Pens: Merceron 3.

Scotland: C Paterson, G Metcalfe, J McLaren, J Leslie, K Logan, G Townsend, A Nicol, T Smith, S Brotherstone, M Stewart, G Weir, S Murray, M Leslie, B Pountney, S Reid. Replacements: D Hodge for McLaren (74), D Hilton for Stewart (69), S Grimes for Weir (69). Not Used: J Mayer, G Beveridge, C Mather, S Scott.

France: T Castaignede, E Ntamack, D Venditti, T Lombard, C Dominici, G Merceron, C Laussucq, C Califano, M Dal Maso, F Tournaire, J Daude, O Brouzet, S Chabal, O Magne, F Pelous. Replacements: R Ibanez for Dal Maso (55), P De Villiers for Tournaire (55), T Lievremont for Daude (51), A Costes for Chabal (53), J-B Elissalde for Pelous (80). Not Used: A Hueber, C Desbrosse. Sin Bin: Ntamack (39), Daude (40). Att: 67,500.

Referee: Steve Lander (RFU).