France vs Scotland: Les Bleus find their form to record first victory of Six Nations campaign

Re-live all the action from the Stade de France

France vs Scotland: Six Nations preview

Scotland's Six Nations campaign has been reduced to an exercise in damage limitation after failing to end their two-decade wait for a win in Paris.

France secured a 27-10 bonus-point win with tries from Romain Ntamack, Yoahn Huget and a late Gregory Alldritt brace as the injury-hit Dark Blues contributed to their own downfall for the second game running.

Defeat to Ireland a fortnight ago was also self-inflicted and now Gregor Townsend's men are left with two games against Wales and England - the world's number four and three ranked sides - to salvage some pride from a Championship that has so far produced only a win over whipping boys Italy.

Townsend has had to contend with a horror casualty list this campaign but the loss of Scotland's three most dangerous weapons in Finn Russell, Stuart Hogg and Huw Jones was felt as they struggled for attacking inspiration.

Ali Price's late score was mere consolation, while France had four tries chalked off as Scotland escaped an even more chastening afternoon.

Re-live the action below:

[23 February 2019 16:12 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

POSSIBLE TRY! France 20-10 Scotland, 84 minutes

To the back and Wencelas Lauret, the maul doesn't quite form but Dorian Aldegheri spins away and is just short.

Baptiste Serin to his left, Gregory Alldritt seeking a second...

Is he over? France have a penalty regardless, but Alldritt might have placed on the line...

[23 February 2019 16:14 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

NO TRY! 

He's initially short, and Rowan Kitt rules it's a double movement as Camille Chat comes in on the clear-out to force Alldritt over.

France opt for the scrum five metres out.

[23 February 2019 16:14 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

France 20-10 Scotland, 87 minutes

Again Scotland are in reverse gear, Zander Fagerson pinged for collapsing, but France will utilise the advantage...

Yoann Huget goes close, Paul Willemse closer still...

[23 February 2019 16:16 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! France 27-10 Scotland (Gregory Alldritt, 88 minutes)

And Gregory Alldritt squirms his way beneath the tackler for his second try!

A bonus point victory for a rejuvenated France, and Baptiste Serin adds the conversion to widen the margin.

[23 February 2019 16:17 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

FRANCE 27-10 SCOTLAND

[23 February 2019 16:22 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

A battling performance from a Scotland side shorn of so many key players due to injury, but France fully deserve that victory.

The defensive intensity and organisation so absent against England was apparent in spades this afternoon, France winning the collisions in both attack and defence and building from solid set-piece platforms.

The added pace and stardust from Antoine Dupont and Thomas Ramos made a huge difference, while the repositioned Romain Ntamack and Gael Fickou combined beautifully at 10-12 to consistently challenge the Scotland defence.

And in the end, the French went to their pack to grind out the bonus point as Scotland desperately chased their own, Gregory Alldritt a somewhat unlikely two-try hero as Jacques Brunel's side got back on track.

[23 February 2019 16:29 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

A couple of positives to take for Gregor Townsend and Scotland, however.

France had to strain for every point, and defensively the inexperienced Scotland side stood up relatively strongly. 

With improved attacking decision-making, better clarity of though and control exertion from the halves particularly and some work on the lineout, Scotland can better utilise their strike runners out wide. 

Adam Hastings added real quality from the bench, and you would imagine the fly-half is in line for a start against Wales at Murrayfield in two weeks time. 

Without at least eight potential World Cup starters, it was always going to be a tough ask, but Scotland battled hard, and this will only aid their depth in a year where developing options beyond the first-choice 23 may be important.

[23 February 2019 16:32 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

  ↵That's all from me here this afternoon, but today's Six Nations action is far from over. 

Kick-off is drawing ever so near at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff for the centrepiece of the rugby weekend, a potential Grand Slam decider between Wales and England.

Jack de Menezes is in position at one of sport's great arenas and ready to bring you all the action live.

Enjoy!