Scotland 29-18 France: Six Nations – as it happened

Here it is, in all it’s glory.

Here’s the full story on England winning the Six Nations. Michael Aylwin’s match report from here will be along shortly.

Oh hold on, I’m still here. Eddie Jones is being interviewed and he says England haven’t achieved what he wants yet, which is the grand slam. He points out that this is nearly the same squad that played in the World Cup and says they deserve credit for improving themselves. He says he’s been most impressed with Chris Robshaw for lifting himself from the low of the post-World Cup nadir to his performances in this tournament. He plans to go for a few beers with Dylan Hartley later.

That was probably the match of the tournament so far. Scotland have, as Gavin Hastings noted on commentary, improved in every match and were rewarded with their best Six Nations result in a long old time. They played with intelligence, patience and discipline that have been so notably absent during that miserable losing run.

Credit goes to France too, for playing with pace and ambition themselves. We’ve praised Italy and Scotland for doing that in defeat over the past couple of years so it’s only fair to afford France the same courtesy. They’ve been accused of laziness and of not giving a solitary one during their recent slump but that’s not a charge you could level at them today.

The win sends Scotland third in the table above their vanquished opponents. They are unlikely to overtake Wales, who play Italy on the final day, but after that performance will go to Ireland full of confidence. France, on the other hand, welcome England to Paris on Saturday night and will look to stop Eddie Jones’s champions completing the grand slam.

Do join me again for all that next Saturday. In the meantime, cheers for reading. Bye!

“Bugger it, Dan,” says Simon McMahon. Meat Loaf was right, two out of three ain’t bad. COCKTAILS ON ME!!! What are you having?”

80 min France plug away but it’s very disjointed. With 25 seconds left Maestri takes it into contact but is held up by Hardie and again Scotland get the turnover scrum! The clock goes red so this will be the final play.

79 min Back it goes from the scrum to Hogg, who clears to touch 30 metres upfield. The full-back, who has been magnificent again, is named man of the match.

Swinson on, Richie Gray off.

78 min Into the corner and the throw is taken by Vahaamahina at the back. The maul is formed but Scotland hold it up and stop the drive, and get the scrum too! Surely that’s the game?

77 min Chouly takes it in and they drive powerfully towards the line. It collapses five metres out and they go inside; Fickou goes through under the posts but the scoring pass is forwards. We’re going back for a French penalty for offside though.

76 min Richie Gray taps the restart back to ground but Seymour gathers. Bezy is on for Machenaud for France. Laidlaw kicks high and Seymour takes it on halfway. They recycle but France get a penalty on halfway for holding on. Spedding drills it into touch on the left, 15 metres from the Scotland line.

74 min Atonio pulls the scrum down and Scotland get the penalty!

73 min WP Nel is off after another fine game. If you were picking a Lions XV today he’d be in I reckon. Moray Low replaces him. And it was Chouly who knocked on, sorry.

72 min Free-kick Scotland, god alone knows why. The referee was bored, I think. Hogg puts it up high but it’s comfortably taken by Machenaud outside his 22. They’re looking to run it from deep but Scotland are putting the pressure on at the breakdown. And then Medard knocks it on in his 22!

71 min “Booooooooooooooo!” – the Murrayfield crowd, understandably. This is really undermining an excellent game.

70 min Chat is also on, for Guirado. We still haven’t completed this scrum.

69 min France have also made a couple of changes: Medard is on for Mermoz and Plisson for Trinh-Duc. Fofana shifts to 12 with Medard out on the wing.

68 min It’s also worth praising Richie Gray for not risking the offload after making that break. Laidlaw’s conversion falls just short then from the restart France knock it on. McInally replaces his clubmate Ford.

66 min Taken by Barclay then Dunbar crashes up the middle. R Gray drives on, up to within five then Nel takes it to the line. Advantage Scotland...

65 min Pello can’t continue, so Poirot returns after a two-minute break. Scotland get a penalty at the lineout and this time Hogg opts to kick for touch. He fires it down the right into the 22 and Murrayfield cranks up the volume.

64 min Free-kick to Scotland. Pello is holding his shoulder too. Anyway, Hogg smacks it down the middle of the pitch but Spedding returns with an excellent clearance under pressure, finding touch midway between halfway and his own 10 metre line. Goujon comes on for Camara.

63 min France continue to vary their points of attack around the fringes, keeping Scotland on their toes, but then Vakatawa runs into the back of his own man. Scrum Scotland for accidental offside, around 18 metres from their own posts.

62 min Spedding kicks to touch on the 22 as Ryan Wilson replaces Josh Strauss and France replace both props. From the lineout they drive about four metres before recycling.

61 min Chouly takes the shortened lineout and pops it to Machenaud, who goes shortside to Vakatawa. France recycle and go right, but then Taylor intercepts a loose pass and Scotland are back in possession. They go right, but Dickinson holds on under huge pressure from Guirado at the breakdown. The France captain has had an excellent tournament.

60 min Richie Gray takes it at the front and gives to Hardie at the back of the maul before Horne flings a long pass wide to Hogg on the right. He’s tackled though so Scotland come back the other way with Strauss carrying, then Taylor sends a low grubber kick skimming past Vakatawa and into touch about 15 metres inside the France half. That was a bit unimaginative from Scotland.

59 min Hogg restarts long and Fofana fields before Machenaud sends a good long box kick into touch on the French right, on halfway. That’s a really good exit from France.

57 min Apologies, it was Horne who ripped the ball there. France come again from 40 metres but it’s spilled in midfield by Vakatawa. To the crowd’s consternation though, Jackson says the ball has gone backwards and penalises Scotland for coming offside.

56 min It goes nowhere, Machenaud comes off the back and he’s stripped by Dunbar! That’s brilliant defence and Laidlaw thumps it clear to touch!

55 min To the middle and Chouly, here comes the drive...

Nope, it’s into the corner. Scotland were on the ropes last time against that very powerful driving maul.

54 min Camara takes at the back and France drive towards the posts. To ground it goes just short, then Nel blocks Machenaud’s dive for the line. They’re metres short and they get a penalty for offside. Take the three, surely?

53 min Maestri collects the restart and France move it left through some lovely fast hands, Spedding carrying up into the Scotland half. They shift it right then left again, then Spedding stabs a very lovely grubber kick down the line that Laidlaw can only take into touch inside his own 22.

51 min Flanquart takes well but Machenaud is driven back by a firm tackle from Hardie. Ford gives away another penalty though, entering the ruck from the side and on the ground. Machenaud should have no problems bringing the gap back down to six.

50 min Spedding finds a very good touch on the right, midway inside the Scottish 22.

49 min Scrum France nine metres inside their own half. Scotland put them under almighty pressure but Ross Ford is penalised for not driving straight. I’m not sure about that one.

48 min Richie Gray takes in Trinh-Duc’s restart. That was a monster kick from Hogg, well inside his own half and off to the left. Laidlaw clears and Machenaud takes, France in possession on halfway and the ball goes loose at the breakdown, but via a Scottish hand.

46 min At long last, it ends. A penalty to Scotland given against the French front row for standing up. I reckon Poirot might be hooked soon. Hogg is going to have a crack at goal from 56 metres!