The 'bleus', in inferiority after the red to Haouas, fall clearly against Scotland (28-17) and run out of Grand Slam options.
Haouas and Ritchie, in the action that was worth the red to the French.
The full three wins at the start of the Six Nations had unleashed euphoria, but the visit to Murrayfield was a real blow to reality for France. The loss to Scotland (28-17), the fourth in a row in Glasgow and the first since Fabien Galthi took over as team manager, not only ruined the Grand Slam options, but complicated the 'bleus' title options, now surpassed by England in the table.
The afternoon was completely twisted in the 36th minute, after a very committed mel for the French defense. Mohamed Haouas, pillar of Montpellier, threw a punch to Jamie Ritchie that New Zealand's Paul Williams did not hesitate to punish with a red card.
A decisive action for a France that was trying to reach rest despite numerous adverse contingencies. To the injury of his heeller Camille Chat in the previous hours, the yellow early riser was added to Franois Cros and the hasty goodbye of Romain Ntamack, who left the pitch in the 8th minute due to the protocol against concussions.
“A group under construction”
“We are going to learn from this defeat. We are a group under construction and we are going to stay together. We are going to take it on and work. It is difficult to do a hot analysis, but we have lacked things this afternoon. I want to turn the page,” said Charles. Ollivon, French captain.
The XV del Cardo built their victory with two trials by Sean Maitland in the added time of the first half and shortly after he returned from the break. Adam Hastings' effectiveness, with three punches, also kept the locals in the most difficult stretch of the first half, when Damian Penaud signed the first French trial.
In numerical superiority, the Scots buttoned a partial of 21-7, only made up by a late Ollivon trial. The afternoon was fateful for France, which still had to fight a lot to certify its first Six Nations title since 2010. The fight could also be joined by Ireland, which this weekend could not dispute its commitment to Italy due to the coronavirus.
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