Scotland player ratings vs France | 2023 Guinness Six Nations
Scotland player ratings: Scotland’s hopes of a first Six Nations Grand Slam were brought to an end in Paris as France edged a pulsating contest at the Stade de France.
Scotland made a disastrous start as they found themselves a man down with Grant Gilchrist’s early red card, and though that was cancelled out by the sending off of Mohamed Haouas, the Scots were 19-0 down inside the first quarter.
Two tries from Huw Jones put the visitors back in contention, and Finn Russell’s score set up a dramatic finale, but Gael Fickou’s try secured victory for the home side.
Scotland can still win the championship, and the Triple Crown, but must beat Ireland at Murrayfield to do either and to ensure the championship does not become another ‘what if’ story.
Here is how Scotland’s players showed up at the Stade de France.
15. Stuart Hogg – 7
Looked to threaten in the wide channels. Also made a terrific strip of Fickou with France
threatening a fourth score.
14. Kyle Steyn – 6.5
Denied a couple of attacking chances by dubious forward passes, but worked hard on and off the ball. His carry up the middle put Scotland on the front foot in the build-up for Jones’ try.
13. Huw Jones – 8
Found plenty of room in the outside channel and scored two superb tries. Hit an excellent line for his first and showed good power to score his second.
The link up from Huwipolotu allows Scotland back into this contest…#SixNations2023 #FRAvSCO pic.twitter.com/fgZYKVvrrO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 26, 2023
12. Sione Tuipulotu – 7
Some strong carries in close quarters, while he linked well with Russell to give others space. Terrific delay allowed Jones over for his second and then strong carry set up Russell’s try.
11. Duhan van der Merwe – 6.5
Well shackled by the French defence, including a huge early hit by Jelonch that led to Ntamack’s try. Made an excellent defensive read as the hosts looked to break.
10. Finn Russell – 7.5
A mixed bag from Scotland’s talisman who took his try superbly and controlled the game with aplomb at times. At his best, he is sensational. However, he threw a costly interception and was
guilty of overplaying trying to free van der Merwe very early.
Finn Russell has shown his A game when it's counted in this second half #SixNations2023 pic.twitter.com/TXM608AYtl
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 26, 2023
9. Ben White – 7
Controlled Scotland’s attacks well and filled the spaces in the defensive line. Couple of nice half-breaks. Outstanding defence to deny Dumortier.
1. Pierre Schoeman – 7
As always, gets through so much work. Really matched France physically. A total of 12 carries for 60+ metres and eight tackles before he departed.
2. George Turner – 7
Carried hard and got Scotland on the front foot. Maybe a bit guilty of leaving Scotland’s mauls early and will have been disappointed with a costly fumble in the first half as Scotland attacked the French line. His ruck clean-outs are so effective.
3. Zander Fagerson – 6.5
Cut out the daft penalties and was effective at set-piece. Came close to scoring from a maul, but should’ve just held on.
4. Richie Gray – 6.5
Back at the Stade de France since winning 2019 Top14 final with Toulouse for the first time. His experience helped in the aftermath of the red card and he worked tirelessly.
5. Grant Gilchrist – 1
Close to tears as he was sent off on seven minutes for a high shot on Jelonch.
6. Jamie Ritchie – 6
A huge shift from the skipper who also took on some of the lineout onus following Gilchrist’s sending off. Might have dummied to van der Merwe when the big wing was bundled into touch on 24 minutes.
7. Hamish Watson – 3
The 2021 Lion was brought back in to slow the French down, but lasted only 10 minutes – sacrificed following Gilchrist’s red card.
8. Matt Fagerson – 6
Threw himself about defensively and was Scotland’s top tackler when he departed on 58 minutes. Outstanding against Wales, he wasn’t able to make much ground with ball in hand.
Replacements
16. Fraser Brown – 5
Part of a full front-row change on 63 minutes, made a good carry with his first touch. An errant late lineout proved costly.
17. Jamie Bhatti – 5
Excellent and immediate impact at the scrum.
18. WP Nel – 6
The veteran put Baille under huge pressure at his first scrum.
19. Jonny Gray – 8
Got some much-needed game time off the bench following the red card. Managed the lineout well alongside his brother and added his weight to some powerful carries.
20. Sam Skinner – 6
On late on for Richie Gray and put huge pressure on the French lineout with two minutes to go.
21 Jack Dempsey – 7
An excellent cameo. Powerful with ball in hand and a threat at the breakdown.
22. Ali Price – 6
Experience wins the 2021 Lion a spot on the bench ahead of George Horne. On just before the hour.
23. Blair Kinghorn – 5
On for Steyn in the final 10 minutes, but wasn’t able to hold on to a high ball that gave France valuable territory.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
16 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
16 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
16 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
16 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
16 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
16 Go to comments