France win Six Nations title after Moefana’s double sinks Scotland

In the end, no arguments. England may have done all they could to put France under some pressure – and Scotland went on to exert a bit more, testing France as few others can – but Les Bleus can play rugby any which way. They ran through the full gamut in the third quarter, blasting and slashing Scotland with equal facility to take the game away from the visitors and the championship from everyone else.

They are worth it and then some. The Stade de France rang out euphorically, as its darlings returned home after three matches on the road. It was the first of those – in London – that cost France the grand slam they were surely good for. Carelessness blighted their every genius move against England that day, and we wondered if they had it in them, despite it all. But they have been unplayable since and claim a first title since 2022.

Records were collected along the way. Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored his eighth try of this Six Nations, a record. France surpassed the 29 tries England scored in 2001 to set a collective try-scoring record too.

Scotland were the perfect foils. These two have been the best teams to watch this championship. Scotland lack France’s power, but they can weave all the same patterns – and here they did again. France looked rattled for around 45 minutes. England dared to dream. A lot of the old questions regarding their temperament bubbled up for a few minutes, only to be answered in such decisive fashion.

That France went in at the break ahead owed as much to the grace of the gods as it did to their own prowess. Scotland thought they had scored their second try, the game’s third, on the stroke of half-time. A brilliant counter by the full-back of the tournament, Blair Kinghorn, set up the position from which Finn Russell, in his best matador form, switched play to the right to put over Tom Jordan.

That would have earned Scotland an 18-16 lead, with the conversion to come, but the television match official advised the referee that Kinghorn’s elbow had clipped the touchline as he offloaded. The try was chalked off without further consultation, and France retained their narrow lead.

Dave Cherry and Peato Mauvaka clash after the France hooker was only given a yellow card following an incident with Ben White. Photograph: Dave Winter/Inpho/Shutterstock

More fortune had come their way earlier in the half, when Peato Mauvaka was sent to the sin-bin for a bunker review of the gratuitous way he lashed out at Ben White with the ball dead. Mauvaka had not looked as if he were trying to head-butt White, but his head did clip the Scotland scrum-half, whose reaction was disappointingly de trop. The card stayed at yellow, because the incident was not high danger – but certainly his action represented a glaring lapse of discipline. As such, it was more deserving of a red card than every other red card we have seen this championship.

France had a real match on their hands. They started with confidence, coaxing a yellow card for Jamie Ritchie, who was sent to the bin early for dragging down an advancing lineout and drive. France capitalised a few minutes later, when Ramos turned the ball inside to Gaël Fickou, who sent Yoram Moefana to the line to open up a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Russell and Ramos exchanged penalties, before Scotland replied with a try of their own. Russell’s long ball found Huw Jones, who danced down the right. Moments later, Russell expertly changed direction close to the ruck to find Darcy Graham on his inside shoulder. Scotland’s deadly winger hared between multiple pairs of clutching hands to the line.

Russell levelled with five minutes to half-time, when he landed his second penalty. Jean-Baptiste Gros saw yellow this time for a high tackle during more inventive Scottish attack. But Ramos converted his third penalty with two to go for the lead that Jordan’s disallowed try would not overturn.

France made their move in the third quarter. First by the rapier – albeit thrust into their hand by the opposition – and then by the bludgeon.

Louis Bielle-Biarrey scores France’s second try.
Photograph: Stéphanie Lecocq/Reuters

Scotland came out of the break looking as dangerous as ever, when Russell and Graham tried one switch too many. The ball went to floor, and Romain Ntamack was way. Bielle-Biarrey, who else, appeared on his shoulder to run the ball home for his Six Nations record.

So much for the rapier. In the few minutes that followed, on came six of the seven forwards France keep on their bench. On came enormous pressure.

France sent a penalty to touch and drove deep into Scotland’s 22. After the next penalty went to the right corner, those forwards drove to the brink, before allowing the rapier-types the coup de grace. Damian Penaud’s pass found Ramos and France’s full-back added a try to all those other points he has been accruing for a record of his own. Here he passed Frédéric Michalak as France’s top point-scorer.

More pertinently, France suddenly had a 14-point lead, which became more or less unassailable when Bielle-Biarrey’s footwork paved the way for a second try for Moefana, France’s fourth, bonus point sewn up. Championship too.