Just four weeks out from the Rugby World Cup Scotland have staged an emphatic comeback to defeat World Cup hosts France in Murrayfield. The victory is about as impressive a statement a team can make this far out from Paris, however, Scotland's fortunes could very well be our misfortunes as we try escape the group of death.
This was truly a game of two halves, with Scotland unable to live with France in the opening forty minutes. They cruised into the break with an 18-point lead, having held Scotland to a solitary penalty and frankly having barely gotten out of gear themselves for their own three tries.
"That was a thing of beauty" ✨
Baptiste Couilloud scores the first try of the match after a brilliant link-up from France 🙌#SummerNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/TzM5eVD3iZ— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) August 5, 2023
However, despite their first-half capitulation and Zander Ferguson's careless red card reducing them to fourteen men just fifty minutes into the game, Scotland weren't deterred and played with dogged intensity to hold gobsmacked France scoreless in the second half.
Scotland went on to blow the French away, scoring two unanswered tries in the opening fifteen minutes to close the gap to four. While France thundered away and Scotland looked destined to concede, Blair Kinghorn went over on the hour mark for an emphatic maul try that gave Scotland the lead and set Murrayfield absolutely wild.
Murrayfield is rocking 🤘
Scotland takes the lead after being down 3-21 at half-time 👏#SummerNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/9ClXBatKNX— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) August 5, 2023
Having fought with everything they had to regain their place in the game and at the top level of rugby, there was little chance of Townsend's men relinquishing it, with their favourite son Finn Russell nailing France's coffin shut with a 74th-minute penalty, awarding Scotland a 25-21 win.
While it was no doubt a massive win for the Scots, they'll be only all too aware that it was a costly win over a near second-string French side who were without both Dupont and Ntamack, that cost Scotland their scrumhalf Ben White who hobbled off with an ankle injury late in the first half.
This was a game, that Andy Farrell and Ireland will undoubtedly be fascinated by with Ireland needing to overcome Scotland in their World Cup group of death and looking destined to meet France or New Zealand should they emerge from the initial challenges.
If this was merely a French loss, it would definitely bode well in the Irish camp, with a weak French side simplifying Ireland's progress through to the tournament. However, the reality is, that Ireland now looks set to meet a Scotland side who have been on fire two weeks in a row and a France side who when they get their marquee players back could produce first half domination like they did today.
Fans go wild after Scotland's epic comeback
Scotland's comeback certainly had Murray field going wild, but were so the fans on social media as rugby fans all over basked in what was a fine spectacle of rugby, with one even quipping that England were now miles behind not only Ireland but Scotland too.
England will be lucky to get to the 1/4 finals at best…we are miles behind teams like Ireland, New Zealand, France & even Scotland #RWC2023
— Andrew Leason (@ANDREW0675) August 5, 2023
Two Rugby games today. Scotland and France was exciting and the commentary was entertaining. Watching the Wales/England game, and it's not been very entertaining and the commentary has matched it too.
— Peter Bradders (@Peter_Brads) August 5, 2023
I am sorry WHAT, am I seeing things ?
Scotland beat France ??? #SCOvFRA
Was out all day, just getting ready for the match of the day #IREvITA— Elizabeth Cullen (@Elizabcullen) August 5, 2023
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