Scotland player ratings vs France | 2023 Summer Nations Series
Scotland player ratings: Scotland sorted out their slow start issues but were unable to deliver the 80-minute performance needed to overcome Les Bleus on home soil.
The visitors made a blistering start, Kyle Steyn scoring inside the opening five minutes, but France took control thereafter as they scored 17 points.
Another fightback – including tries from Rory Darge, Duhan van der Merwe and a second from Steyn – looked to have secured a draw, but France’s power at the scrum secured a penalty, from which Thomas Ramos kicked the home side to victory.
Despite a first defeat of the summer, Gregor Townsend and his coaches will have taken plenty from the performance as they prepare to name their final World Cup squad on Wednesday.
Here is how the Scotland players fared at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
15. Blair Kinghorn – 6.5
Started with a lovely ball to Steyn for his first try and a gallop up the midfield on the half-hour. Was guilty of overplaying in the first half, but not once Scotland levelled late on.
14. Kyle Steyn – 7
A lovely finish for his first try, and did so well to get on the end of Horne’s kick for the second. Was off his wing early on looking for work too.
13. Huw Jones – 6.5
An excellent break before van der Merwe scored and played a pivotal role in the lead-up to Scotland’s early score. Looked really dangerous when the game broke up.
12. Sione Tuipulotu – 6
Nice variety again with some soft hands adding to his power game. Didn’t quite get the change from the French defence he did a week ago, but still a decent outing.
11. Duhan van der Merwe – 6.5
An enterprising start as he looked for work and caused problems, and another try for the big wing either side of some handling errors.
10. Finn Russell – 7.5
When Scotland tick, their talismanic fly-half is usually at the heart of things. Showed lovely variety to set them en route to Steyn’s score, while Darge’s try was all about Russell’s creativity. A better tackler than most fly-halves.
9. Ali Price – 5
Given another chance to rediscover his form with White injured an started well, but his yellow card brought a shift in momentum and was avoidable. Didn’t really get into the second half and hooked on 55 minutes.
1. Pierre Schoeman – 6
A spilled pass early in the second half was costly. Under a bit of pressure at the scrum early on, but held his own thereafter before making way for Sutherland.
2. George Turner – 6
Looks Scotland’s first-choice hooker. Back in the side and helped the lineout function better than it did a week ago. Also won a turnover early on.
3. WP Nel – 6
The 37-year-old held his own at the scrum but didn’t have the impact around the field as he did during a cameo from the bench seven days ago.
4. Richie Gray – 5
One of Scotland’s best players of the Six Nations hasn’t quite found his best form this summer so far. Made two important lineout steals, but was otherwise pretty quiet.
5. Grant Gilchrist – 5
Not his usual direct carrying and gave away a couple of penalties – including the one from which Ntamack scored.
6. Jamie Ritchie – 6
Industrious as ever on his return to the side, and won a couple of good turnovers. However, he did concede a couple of penalties and didn’t seem to strike a great rapport with ref Nic Berry.
7. Rory Darge – 6.5
Such a threat at the breakdown and unlucky not to win a turnover under Scotland’s posts.
8. Jack Dempsey – 7.5
Another terrific outing from the off included three involvements in the build-up to Steyn’s try. A barnstorming carry off the second half kick-off was undone by Schoeman’s drop.
Replacements
16. Stuart McInally – 6.5
Added impetus with a couple of excellent carries and some good handling. A late lineout malfunction cost Scotland territory.
17. Rory Sutherland – 5
Worked hard, but has fallen behind Jamie Bhatti in the pecking order and conceded the penalty from which France kicked the match-winning penalty.
18. Javan Sebastian – 6.5
Carried well and some nice touches after replacing Nel just before the hour.
19. Scott Cummings – 6
Route one carrying allowed Scotland front-foot ball in the final quarter.
20. Sam Skinner – 6.5
Terrific awareness to find Duhan van der Merwe for his try. Also a lovely offload in the run-up to Darge’s try.
21. Josh Bayliss – N/A
A late cameo and wasn’t able to affect the game.
22. George Horne – 7
Unlucky not to start but adds so much from the bench.
23. Ollie Smith – 6
A vital tackle to deny Villiere his only real involvement.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood 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.
31 Go to comments