Summary

  • FT: Scotland 25-21 France

  • Penalty from skipper Russell puts Scotland - who lose White to first-half injury - 3-0 ahead early on

  • France respond with converted tries from Couilloud, Bielle-Biarrey and Woki to lead 21-3 at half-time

  • Graham & Schoeman cross to reduce deficit either side of red card for Fagerson

  • Kinghorn score ruled out but Cherry try nudges 14-man Scotland in front & Russell adds penalty

  • Second of four World Cup warm-up games for Scotland, who visit France next weekend

  1. Goodbyepublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: Scotland 25-21 France

    That's all from me on live text duties today, as Scotland come from 18 points behind to beat World Cup hosts France at Murrayfield.

    We'll be back next week for Scotland's trip to St Etienne, but for now, go enjoy your weekend!

    Scotland celebrate at full-timeImage source, SNS
  2. 'Next week will be close to our strongest team'published at 17:41 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: Scotland 25-21 France

    More from Townsend:

    "We'll wait and see what happens [with Zander Fagerson]. He has to do better at making sure he gets under the chest of the French player.

    "Ben White did have an ankle injury coming into camp. We hope that it won't keep him out too long, but we'll wait and see.

    "I thought George Horne did really well coming on and adding tempo to our attack. Fingers crossed that Ben's injury doesn't mean he misses the World Cup.

    "Next week will probably be closer to our strongest team, in particular if Jamie [Ritchie] comes back. We know we have to get our strongest team out at least two occasions before we play South Africa, because the more they play together, the better they become."

  3. Postpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: Scotland 25-21 France

    Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend on Amazon Prime Video:

    "We believed that we could still win the game [at half-time]. We had to stop them scoring more points, and how we had to do that was to be more aggressive in our assist tackles, and also being better with our kick-chase defence.

    "Our attack play was leading to overlaps, we just didn't execute. We knew we needed more ball and probably needed more speed in our attack and we got that second half.

    "I did fear that one man less would make it tough for us, but it didn't. We still looked very dangerous. Credit to our maul defence - I thought it was outstanding. We looked much calmer in defence in the second half."

  4. 'We came out a different team second half'published at 17:26 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: Scotland 25-21 France

    Finn Russell has also been talking to Amazon Prime Video:

    "It was a tough first half - we didn't perform as well as we wanted, and we gave away too many soft penalties and turnovers.

    "Second half we came out a different team. It was a game of two halves, and it shows that we can come back when we're down and turn over some of the best teams in the world. I was really proud of the boys for that second half, but we know we need to be better than the first half.

    "We had nothing to lose second half, and just played our game, our style.

    "I loved [captaincy]. I leaned on some of the boys here and there, but it was great fun, and great to get a win. At half-time I though 'here we go. First time as captain and we're going to lose by 30 points'.

    "We took another step forward today, but next week will be a different team that we face and it'll be a tough challenge. It will show us where we are leading up to the World Cup."

    Finn Russell in actionImage source, SNS
  5. 'Brilliant stuff from Scotland'published at 17:18 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    FT: Scotland 25-21 France

    Tom English
    BBC Scotland's chief sports writer at Murrayfield

    The score was 22-0 to Scotland in the second half despite playing most of it with 14 men.

    If you saw that coming then declare yourself a genius immediately. Some brilliant stuff from Scotland to turn around what looked like a hopeless cause.

    Would love to know what words were exchanged at half-time. Really taken by Dave Cherry's contribution when he came on. The three hooker spots are absolutely wide open now.

  6. Player of the Matchpublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Scotland 25-21 France

    Blair Kinghorn has been named player of the match and has been giving his thoughts after that rousing comeback.

    "We didn't up to the standards we knew we could in the first half, and we had a stern word at half-time," he said on Amazon Prime Video.

    "We came out at the start of the second half and did our thing. We just need to stay focused for 80 minutes.

    "I was excited to start at 15, and it's good when you've got a bunch of boys around you that let you play your game."

    Blair Kinghorn runs with the ballImage source, SNS
  7. Full-timepublished at 83 mins

    Scotland 25-21 France

    Scotland look so stretched, but just when France look poised to score, Rory Darge gets over the ball and wins a game-winning penalty.

    Murrayfield roars its delight, and then roars again, even louder, when Finn Russell boots the ball into the stands.

    What a turnaround - a real confidence booster for Gregor Townsend's side!

  8. Postpublished at 82 mins

    Scotland 25-21 France

    The scrum goes to ground, and Ben O'Keeffe awards France ANOTHER penalty.

    The visitors go to the corner this time...

  9. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Scotland 25-21 France

    Scotland disrupt the maul, but Richie Gray is pinged again, this time for offside.

    France opt for a scrum this time.

    Sixty seconds left - this is the game, right here...

  10. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Scotland 25-21 France

    France have possession inside the Scotland 22, and win a penalty.

    Richie Gray the man penalised for not rolling away, and France kick to the corner...

  11. Postpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Scotland 25-21 France

    Tom English
    BBC Scotland's chief sports writer at Murrayfield

    This really is an exceptional second half performance by Scotland. You have to remember that they're down to 14.

    There's not much evidence of a numerical disadvantage with the way they are playing though. Darcy Graham has been sensational. Blair Kinghorn looks a major threat every time he touches it.

    Again, though, why did they have to put themselves in the position of chasing the game? I'm not sure they get away with that at the World Cup.

  12. Penalty Scotland 25-21 Francepublished at 74 mins

    Finn Russell

    Through it goes, and France now need a try.

    Finn Russell kicks at goalImage source, SNS
  13. Postpublished at 73 mins

    Scotland 22-21 France

    Scotland's maul makes good ground again, and when George Horne is blocked at the ruck, Scotland are awarded a penalty.

    Ben O'Keeffe warns France that the next penalty will be a yellow card.

    Finn Russell gestures at the posts, and will have a straightforward kick to stretch the lead...

  14. Postpublished at 72 mins

    Scotland 22-21 France

    France have their first foray into Scottish territory for a while, but the ball ball goes loose, and Blair Kinghorn belts a kick clear.

    The ball comes back, but Kinghorn is there to claim the mark with an acrobatic take.

  15. Postpublished at 67 mins

    Scotland 22-21 France

    Scotland have had 93% of possession in the last 10 minutes.

    Dominant.

  16. try

    Try Scotland 22-21 Francepublished at 64 mins

    Dave Cherry

    Boom! This one will count!

    Scotland go to the maul, despite being a man down, and they rumble over the line with Dave Cherry directing proceedings.

    Finn Russell's conversion attempt bounces away off the post, and the Scotland lead stays at one point.

    They've played superbly in this second half - night and day compared to the first.

    Dave Cherry scoresImage source, SNS
  17. Postpublished at 64 mins

    Scotland 17-21 France

    Scotland are hammering on the door, and they win another penalty, which Finn Russell kicks to the corner again.

    Big chance, with France tiring...

  18. No trypublished at 61 mins

    Scotland 17-21 France

    Ahh, Darcy Graham knocked-on in the build-up, and the try is chalked off - booo.

    However, referee Ben O'Keeffe was playing advantage anyway, and Scotland kick the penalty to the corner...

  19. try

    Try Scotland 22-21 Francepublished at 60 mins

    Blair Kinghorn

    It's an even better comeback now Tom!

    Blair Kinghorn breaks a tackle and races over in the corner, but the TMO wants a second look at something in the build-up...

  20. Postpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Scotland 17-21 France

    Tom English
    BBC Scotland's chief sports writer at Murrayfield

    Hell of a comeback by Scotland.

    Shades of Paris in the Six Nations. Why do they have to give away such a lead before starting to play?

    The big one is the yellow then red for Zander Fagerson. Utterly needless. If that turns into a three-game ban then he will miss the South Africa game in Marseille, which would be nightmarish.

    That would leave WP Nel and Murphy Walker and/or Javan Sebastian as the tightheads. Against the Boks. That's not a good landscape.