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France player ratings vs Scotland | 2023 Guinness Six Nations

By Ian Cameron
France's scrum-half Antoine Dupont reacts after the Six Nations rugby union tournament match between France and Scotland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, northern Paris, on February 26, 2023. (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)

France player ratings: Although France, last year’s Grand Slam winners, suffered a setback in their previous match against Ireland, they were eager to recover their form.

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With an enforced change at tighthead prop, as Mohamed Haouas replaced suspended Uini Atonio, the French team was looking to overcome Scotland’s challenge.

The game looked to be done and dusted at 19-0 but Scotland fought back into it. A frantic game but France had enough in the tank to see it out.

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15. Thomas Ramos – 7.5
Struck like a thief in the night to break Scottish hearts in the 19th minute after being gifted a 5-pointer by a speculative Finn Russell pass. Was caught loafing covering back by Stuart Hogg, which gifted Scotland an attacking scrum on the 5-metre line. Kicked well throughout.

14. Damian Penaud – 6
Drifted in and out of the game without quite cutting loose and had plenty to do in defence. Was looking to make things happen even if none of them quite paid off.

13. Gael Fickou – 8
Defended gamely against an in-form Scotland three-quarters line and had his hands full trying to contain Huw Jones, a feat that got away from him at times, but the Frenchman ultimately had the last laugh.

12. Yoel Moefana – 6
Another largely steady-neddy 80 minutes from Moefana. Failed to get a pass away when France had a possible break in the offing in what was a breathless first half and was unable to stop Finn Russell on the angle. Yet to bring his Bordeaux form to the Test arena.

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11. Ethan Dumortier – 7.5
Made the most of some quick hands and thinking for France’s second. He must think this Test rugby stuff is dreadfully easy.

10. Romain Ntamack – 6.5
Scored France’s first but in truth it could have been one of about three players queing outside him. With opposite number Finn Russell see-sawing between dangerously loose and utterly brilliantly moments in attack, Ntamack cut a more considered figure for the reigning champs.

9. Antoine Dupont – 7.5
A quiet first half by his own lofty standards and despite his best efforts wasn’t able to hold up Huw Jones early in the second. His tap tackle on Russell after he’d his kick chase, which led to a turnover for France, was a peak Dupont. A handful of visionary moments later in the game may have been the difference between the sides.

1. Cyril Baille – 7
Continues to mix mobility as a carrying option with an impeccable set-piece game.

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2. Julian Marchand – 7
A fired-up Marchand carried hard in front of his home crowd and was part of a dominant French scrum.

3. Mohamed Haouas – 3
A brainless head-on-head contact with Ben White saw the hot-tempered Haouas sent off for an early shower. The end of his Guinness Six Nations and another black mark in an already jaded disciplinary record.

4. Thibaud Flament – 7
Continues to cement his role in Galthie’s team as a mobile and athletic option at lock who isn’t scared of a strong carry.

5. Paul Willemse – 6.5
A solid 50-minutes from the giant second row, who’s still in search of his best form after returning from injury.

6. Anthony Jelonch – NA
Statement made with an early doors hit on Duhan van der Merwe, although he was on receiving end of huge and illegal shot from Grant Gilchrist, that saw him sent off, despite his protestations, by his own medic for a HIA. He didn’t return.

7. Charles Ollivon – 7.5
Thought he had scored just before halftime before it was ruled out. Imperious at the lineout. A return to form after a sub-par performance against Ireland in Dublin.

8. Gregory Alldritt – NA
Clearly wasn’t happy when he came off to make way for Haouas’ replacement Falatea.

Replacements – 7
A decent shift on what was a busy outings for the replacements bench. Tighthead Sipili Falatea was excellent after coming on early, while Romain Taofifenua got through a mountain of work. Francois Cros wasn’t quite at the races, while Matthieu Jailbert looked lively again.

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Jon 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 7 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

21 Go to comments
T
Trevor 10 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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