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Scotland player ratings: Gregor Townsend made three changes to his Scotland XV to play France in Murrayfield. Fresh from the round three win over Italy in Rome after opening defeats to Ireland and England, the Scots changed up their pack for the visit of the Grand Slam-chasing French.
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In their 20 meetings in the Guinness Six Nations, France have won 17 times, but Scotland had won two of their last four, both in Murrayfield. The RugbyPass Index also predicted a 71 per cent win chance for Townsend’s men.
Here are our Scotland player ratings:
STUART HOGG 6
Noises from inside the camp are that Hogg was to the manor born as a captain, and if you allow for his first-round fumble, this Six Nations has been a return to form after a flat Rugby World Cup. His vision and smart decision making with ball in hand told in many of Scotland’s most productive plays. However, his kick selection and accuracy let him down here at times. No doubt his initial steps as skipper will see a temporary depreciation in his own game.
SEAN MAITLAND 8
We’ve been quite harsh on Maitland’s performances to date in this tournament on the back of some phoned-in performances in the opening rounds. The Saracen opened brightly here however – carrying well and brilliantly won the ball in the air in the 16th minute. Bagged his two tries liked he worked in Tescos.
CHRIS HARRIS 7
He’s earned his way into the team after the strangely flat form of Huw Jones in the first two rounds, and his second start in a row saw him get a chance to showcase his rangy running style. He doesn’t seem to miss tackles, so a gold star for that.
SAM JOHNSON 6.5
Sometimes when you look at the game Townsend wants Scotland to play, Johnson might look like the odd one out – a short-term rather than a long-term fix. A sliced kick into touch wasn’t a great start, but his selfless pass to Maitland in the 41st minute summed up his game. An altruistic grafter.
BLAIR KINGHORN 7.5
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Solid under the highball and survived when put under the pressure by the French when turning in defence. Ran hard and chased ever kick like a trusty Golden Retriever. Deserved a try at the end but the kick ahead didn’t quite play out.
ADAM HASTINGS 7.5
A return to form after a patchy performance in Italy in which he missed three kicks. He kicked a lot of ball in the first half despite what looked like a dry Murrayfield track. Has lots of time on the ball. He’s said in the media that he wants to prove himself but here we saw him truly expressing himself. Finn who? (Jokes, please don’t write in)
ALI PRICE 5.5
Thoroughly middle of the road contribution at the base of the scrum. Scotland used to base their game on super-fast ruck speed – some of the Scottish rucks today could be measured in minutes. If Scotland want to play the fastest rugby in the world, then Price needs to press the fast forward button. His excellent 20 metre angled run in France’s 22 was a highlight in attack.
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RORY SUTHERLAND 7.5
Scotland’s prop duo of Sutherland and Fagerson have probably been the form pairing in the 2020 Six Nations. Carried well when and didn’t take a backward step all day.
FRASER BROWN 7.5
Brown won his 50th cap today and it was his best performance in this year’s competition to date. Great work over the ball helping to earn a turnover in the 14th minute was one of his many excellent contributions. A landmark cap to be very proud of.
ZANDER FAGERSON 7.5
It was 70-30 in favour of the Scots in the scrums, until the sending off of Mohammed Haouas. Fagerson got the better of Jefferson Poirot.
SCOTT CUMMINGS 5
Can be a bit of a non-entity at times. It’s very early days in his career but this game largely passed him by. No doubt there is more in the tank from this 23-year-old prospect.
GRANT GILCHRIST 7
Up-ended by Cros in the opening minute in a weird contact that won a yellow card. Got the ball away from the ruck for Scotland’s try just before halftime and a hell of a lot faster than Ali Price too.
JAMIE RITCHIE 8
Continues to be a nuisance and managed to incite a big right hook from France’s Haouas. That alone warranted two of his eight points here. Brian Moore’s Man of the Match.
HAMISH WATSON 8
While he was kept in check with ball in hand, his savagery over the ball was there for all to marvel at. His 42nd turnover might well have won the match.
NICK HAINING 7
Today was always going to be a massive test for the 6’4, 115kg No.8 against a powerful but mobile French forward pack. Was unlucky to give away the first penalty, which Ntamack duly missed. Plenty of aggression and in the thick of it when things boiled over. Litmus test passed.
REPS:
STUART MCINALLY 6.5
Townsend seems to be swapping him and Brown in a sort of horse-for-courses manner. His bodged lineout throw as conditions deteriorated wasn’t a great start. His 8th try for Scotland came moments later when he pounced on a fumbled stolen lineout (off his own throw), and all was forgotten.
ALLAN DELL 6
Again, the scrum looks a tad shakier with Scotland’s Dell n’ Nel coming off the bench. Bamba put a lot of pressure on at scrumtime.
WILLEM NEL 6
Known for his scrummaging, but as with his dance partner Dell, the Loeriesfontein bron tighthead didn’t get much of a chance to put a stamp on the game.
Scotland just flipped this Six Nations on its head! #SCOvFRA pic.twitter.com/4NjKcPfFsy
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 8, 2020
SAM SKINNER NA
Not on long enough to rate.
MAGNUS BRADBURY 6
Swapped back out to accommodate Hainings’ return. Tackled hard and brought physicality.
GEORGE HORNE 6.5
The wet conditions that he came into aren’t ideal conditions for a livewire like Horne. Looked dangerous but maybe a little too eager to make a big play. Playing second fiddle as an impact sub but would like to see him start a game.
Scotland were incredible today! #SCOvFRA pic.twitter.com/zpDJvQNWp8
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 8, 2020
DUNCAN WEIR 7
Hardly on long enough to rate but he did manage a turnover so why shouldn’t he get a seven?
KYLE STEYN 6
Won his first cap in the 66th minute. Made a positive contribution disrupting on kick-chase duty.
WATCH: Wales coach Wayne Pivac and captain Alun Wyn Jones speak at a press conference following the team’s Guinness Six Nations match against England.
