Scotland vs France LIVE: Six Nations rugby score and latest updates as Jonathan Danty try seals bonus point
Follow live reaction after the favourites for the 2022 Six Nations stayed on course for a Grand Slam
France were at their flamboyant best as they scored six tries in thumping Scotland 36-17 at Murrayfield on Saturday to make it three wins out of three in the Six Nations this year.
Two tries in the opening 13 minutes served notice of their form and status as tournament favourites, as Paul Willemse and Yoram Moefana went over early.
There were four more tries from Gale Fickou, Jonathan Danty and Damien Penaud (2) in a devastating performance, with Melvyn Jaminet adding three conversions
Scotland offered resistance at stages but only went over the line twice through loose forward Rory Darge, making his first start for the home team, and Duhan van der Merwe. Finn Russell converted one of the tries and added a penalty while Stuart Hogg converted the other.
PENALTY - England 6-0 Wales (Smith, 5’)
Wales create an attack but England’s Randall box kicks to clear, who look to continue their impressive start.
Swing low rings around Twickenham as possession switches hands in England’s 22. Wales concede another penalty at the breakdown with Dombrandt forcing the Welsh error.
Smith again points to the sticks and he slots it home.
PENALTY - England 3-0 Wales (Smith, 2’)
Ollie Watkin dropped the ball which saw England pounce and launch the first attack of the match.
They fizzed the ball left and right but Wales’s defence held strong early on. They won a penalty and took it quickly but then it was England’s turn to re-gain possession - Maro Itoje over the ball quickly. The hosts decided to take the points and Smith stepped up.
And the kick is good, England ahead after a frantic few minutes
Kick-off: England 0-0 Wales
We are underway! Marcus Smith starts the match.
Who will win this? It’s sure to be a cracking match either way.
England vs Wales
The teams are out and the anthems will get underway after a message of rugby against racism.
Alex Cuthbert ran out first as he is winning his 50th cap for Wales.
We will get underway in just five minutes!
How are we feeling? The nerves creeping in? On the edge of your seat? Of course, an England Wales fixture is about to begin!
England vs Wales: What has Wayne Pivac said?
There’s always fighting talk around the England vs Wales with the rivalry always bubbling under the surface.
Pivac has made a shock decision by dropping Louis Rees-Zammit and bringing Josh Adams into the wing. He said of the decision: “Everybody wants to be selected and is working pretty hard.
“For us, with this particular match, looking at the opposition and the way we think the game will be played, I think the experience of the other two (wingers, rather than Rees-Zammit), work-rate off the ball and those sorts of things, are really going to come into play.”
Will it pay off? We’ll find out in less than 15 minutes with kick-off at 4.45pm.
England vs Wales: Team news
Well, it’s safe to say France are in control of this championship after that phenomenal 36-17 win over Scotland. But we will leave Murrayfield and travel to Twickenham now for England vs Wales.
This is a crucial match for both teams as whoever loses are affectively out of title contention.
While both sides have been hit by injuries, they have some huge players in their line-ups. England didn’t confirm their team until two hours before the match was due to kick-off as Manu Tuilagi had to withdraw with injury.
Elliot Daly comes in at 13 and Joe Marchant is named on the bench. Courtney Lawes is back and is captain and Luke Cowan-Dickie and Kyle Sinckler start.
England: Freddie Steward; Max Malins, Henry Slade, Elliot Daly, Jack Nowell; Marcus Smith, Harry Randall; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Kyle Sinckler, Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes (captain), Tom Curry, Alex Dombrandt.
Replacements: Jamie George, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Nick Isiekwe, Sam Simmonds, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Joe Marchant.
While Wales have made two changes from their victory over Scotland two weeks ago.
Josh Adams replaces Louis Rees-Zammit and Taulupe Falatau comes in at no.
Wales: Liam Williams; Alex Cuthbert, Owen Watkin, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar (captain), Tomos Williams; Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Ross Moriarty, Taine Basham, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Leon Brown, Seb Davies, Jac Morgan, Kieran Hardy, Gareth Anscombe, Jonathan Davies.
Scotland 17-36 France
Antoine Dupont has a chat to Princess Anne - about what I struggle to fathom - before being asked to take the Auld Alliance Trophy off its plinth and over to his teammates. Dupont, as ever, was at the beating heart of so much of what France did today.
F/T: Scotland 17-36 France
France go marching on. Some fluent, fabulous rugby from the visitors to ensure their Grand Slam hopes remain intact.
How crucial was that final five minutes of the first half? Had Stuart Hogg gathered Chris Harris’ pass cleanly, Scotland would have gone ahead; as it was, France scored before the interval at the other end and from there the result was never really in doubt.
Scotland 17-36 France, 81 minutes
First left and then right, Scotland nearly get to the edge but eventually they are quelled. Darcy Graham flings an offload in the vague direction of a teammate and it hits the deck. Knock-on - that’ll be that.
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