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Mon 13 Feb 2017 | 02:53
Lopez helps France to edge Scotland after tight encounter in Paris

22
Comments

France edged Scotland 22-16 in a tense Six Nations clash on Sunday. Camille Lopez kicked two late penalties to deny Scotland their first win in Paris since 1999. Scores were tied with ten minutes left, but France made sure that they took this one, after a narrow defeat to England last weekend.

For Scotland, Stuart Hogg scored his third try of the tournament, and lock Tim Swinson scored after halftime. France only scored one try, through centre Gael Fickou.

Consolation for the Scots is that they picked up a losing bonus point.

Posted By: Grant Constable

22 Comments

  • oliver
    11:48 AM 15/02/2017

    yeah these memos never make it across the channel for some reason!

    Anyways thanks for the explanation. Crazy how complicated this beloved game is.

  • stroudos
    10:16 AM 15/02/2017

    PS

  • drg
    9:59 AM 15/02/2017

    I was surprised Dan Coles wasn't penalised for kicking the ball away. We've seen yellows for that in the past. I guess there were no warnings...

  • oliver
    8:34 AM 15/02/2017

    and you meant " I was surprised he wasn't penalised himself" ?

    Anyways I rewatched the incident and you're right, it was a push from the front. Funny how my memory works when it comes to Les Bleus haha.......

  • drg
    10:04 PM 14/02/2017

    "World Rugby HQ is in Ireland, we speak Irish"

  • drg
    10:01 PM 14/02/2017

    Bloody hell, what I meant was:
    "What he did, doesn't excuse"

  • felipeg
    8:24 PM 14/02/2017

    Agreed. The article states that a former french international ref working for world rugby called "L"Equipe" to explain this new rule. And that he agrees they might have "undercommunicated" regarding this directive which was issued in June.
    Sounds like an admission of guilt to me.

  • im1
    3:30 PM 14/02/2017

    so the TMO/Ref must make a subjective decision on whether or not the player has control of the ball rather than making what is a very easy objective call of whether when the ball touched the ground was the player touching the ball? You could argue that Lamerat was in control of the ball and needed to push the ball a bit further forward to get it on the line. But you can't argue with whether he was touching the ball or not. So why have world rugby picked the more difficult option to referee correctly?

    Seems daft, particularly when referees/TMO's are not allowed to make a subjective decision on whether a player deliberately or accidently takes a man out in the air.

  • im1
    3:25 PM 14/02/2017

    the push was penalised, because the ref had warned scotland for exactly the same thing 5 mins earlier and said, next time I'll reverse it. The incident itself was nothing really.

    I don't see why Lamerat's try wasn't given, his finger was 100% on the ball as it was grounded as you can see it being bent backwards.

  • drg
    2:08 PM 14/02/2017

    I know why you mentioned Coles Oliver, I was surprised he was penalised himself, however what he didn't does excuse what Lopez did because it was worse.... They're both bad....

    If memory serves me, it was more a push to the side/front than back....But I could be wrong...

  • drg
    1:59 PM 14/02/2017

    I don't think it's just people new to rugby.... Andy Nicol was still talking about downward pressure in Lamerats try and he's been around longer than all of us....

  • oliver
    11:40 AM 14/02/2017

    I know Lopez was walking away with the ball, but pushing him in the back like that seemed a bit much. Not to mention that the day before, Dan Coles at one point actually kicked the ball away instead of giving it to the Welsh.....

    Now that I think of it, one thing I did not like at all in the ensuing scuffle is that Guirado seemed to be the most belligerent French player. He's captain! Should be calming things down.

  • drg
    11:06 AM 14/02/2017

    Just to answer a couple points, the push was for Lopez walking away with the ball, players shoving for this is quite common, but it was definitely unecessary.. as Ali Williams said, wouldn't have happened in the past, but in this day and age, keep your hands to yourself.

    The kick in front of the posts, I think initially the commentary box suggested they heard the voice on the referees microphone - so assumed it was the referee, I think subsequently someone has suggested it was actually Nathan Hines? (Did he bring on the kicking tee?) Not really sure on the latest of this matter.

    Naikitaci being taken out was indeed a very odd decision, personally I don't mind if that is the ruling from now on, but I dare say soon enough we'll see some poor French sod carded for it...

    Lamerat try no try, I don't know, I have seen in the past referees give no try when the player is not in control of the ball.... It looked to me that that ball had fallen from Lamerats hand and his pinky finger was still touching it.... So 50-50.... Pinky in contact = try, ball fell from grip so not in control = no try...

    I'd also like to highlight my previous comment of odd decisions regarding the head clash between a Scottish tackler and a French ball carrier.... Seems to me this could surely be ruled as not protecting the players head area?

  • vladimir
    11:02 AM 14/02/2017

    There have been many instances of a players touching but not controlling the ball leading to a try. So, as usual, the rules are 'rewritten', even if they are not at first, every time France plays.

  • oliver
    11:02 AM 14/02/2017

    ok thanks for that. So an unwritten, brand new directive?
    No wonder people who are new to rugby don't understand much!

    As for the game, I agree, it was not a beauty. Tense, yes, but not the same level as Wales-England the day before. Might be down to Peypers' reffing at the breakdown?

  • felipeg
    10:11 AM 14/02/2017

    Watched part of the game while my toddler kept distracting me...
    What I saw was a lot of tension and mistakes. And that final quarter of power based control by the french. So I m glad to read here that it was an enjoyable game. It seemed more frustrating than entertaining. There is a feeling that the french are capable of so much more, that they themselves are their worst ennemy.
    Good to see their scrum doing so well. OK it was Scotland but VS England the scrum was also doing good imo. Only problem was they need indeed to adapt to the ref. That should be easier to fix!
    Regardin Lamerat's try, check :
    http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Xv-de-france-d-apres-world-rugby-l-essai-de-remi-lamerat-n-etait-pas-valable/777831
    World Rugby confirmed the decision not to award it. Even if it's not written there is a directive among refs stating it's not a matter of touching the ball but a matter of controling the ball. Lamerat lost control, that's all folks...

  • krip
    10:05 AM 14/02/2017

    Lopez is one tricky pony. I don't understand the negativity towards him and quite frankly if PSA didn't dismiss him too early and gave him more game time he could've been much much more prepared now. Truth is there is no better 10 in France for the style of rugby Guy Noves wants to establish.

    Serin was over-burned in the beginning. He couldn't control the pressure and the emotion and he did some pretty awful passes and mistakes. At the same time he made amazing passes and great decisions. I truly believe he is the future at 9 for France as he has tremendous talent. All of his problems can be solved by experience and that's why I think Guy Noves starts him in front of Machenaud.

    Gourdon, Picamoles and Fickou are a revelation!

    Pretty happy with the result, though I didn't understand why the ref decided to stay so ignorant and idle towards the breakdown play. The Scots consistently broke every law in the rucks and were not penalized almost at all...

  • oliver
    8:28 AM 14/02/2017

    OUF!! I think that was the collective sigh of relief from French fans and players.
    Les Bleus could not afford to lose this game and I think the pressure got to them a bit. Anyways, I'll gladly take such a win after all these "encouraging defeats". Especially considering the fact that the Scots have proven they are not to be taken lightly this year.

    Also there were quite a few weird incidents/talking points in this game IMO.

    - Price pushing Lopez in the back for absolutely nothing. One of the most pointless things I've seen in a professional game. He was lucky it did not cost his team 3 points!
    - The scottish player not being carded for tackling Nakaitaci in the air. Considering how these things are ruled these days, it's very strange. He clearly grabbed the player, not the ball, and brought him down.
    - The missed conversion right in front of the posts.....The british press says the ref told the kicker to hurry but why would he do that ? The French press says the Scottish team feared it might go to TMO. And Spedding apparently asked for that, saying he was pushed in the back and therefore missed the ball. So why no TMO?
    - The Lamerat try-non try. At first I thought it was a 50-50 call and was ok with the decision. Now that I've watched it again, it seems absurd. Especially when you compare that with a try like Yarde's against Australia, which was awarded.

    So again, France just never getting the benefit of the doubt with refs. What else is new?

    (oh I'll gladly admit to being biased when it comes watching France play, I've said it before.....)

  • vladimir
    7:58 PM 13/02/2017

    I felt the same. It seems, to me, referees are trying to find a way to avoid the new directives. For instance, they created a precedent with the new notion of 'sliding tackle' when the tackler grabs the shoulder without taking the head. They almost stopped to referee the up and unders (several instances of players taken in the air, Nakaitaci for instance). And so on.

    About the game. I am quite pleased to the players try the impossible pass so that they can learn their limits. It is so refreshing to see players with flair and determination after all these years of fear and oppressive management.
    The biggest problem for France is their ability to adapt to the referee. Other teams do it very well, do not mind being cynical (see England against Wales), while France is to obedient, and loses time to complain to the ref during the game. They need more 'vice'.

  • drg
    6:54 PM 13/02/2017

    Thoroughly enjoyed this game. I think France probably deserved the win in the end, but I think the game was definitely there for the Scots to take.

    A question regarding the recent directives, does anyone sort of feel that they're not really being considered in the 6N??

    A couple incidents last week, Nowell copped a couple high shots this week, CJ Stander (although I don't like how he called for it) copped a shot during a try scoring dive, then a Scottish back row head clashed with a French back row.... apart from a penalty surrounding one of the Nowell clocks I don't think there has been much in the way of notice towards the directives.

    Perhaps the laws are just being applied correctly so there is no need to blow whistle, yellow, or red card players, but it just seemed there were a few heavy handed decisions earlier on in club stuff (or at least that's what my memory says), but none now...

  • colombes
    6:23 PM 13/02/2017

    Was in the stadium this sunday
    And effectively, it was very entertaining and frustrating at the same time.

    As much as i was pleased by french ambition to run the ball and pulverize the scots in the set-pieces, this team sometimes play too much, making silly mistakes and forgetting to be present in the rucks where the scots accepted the gifts.
    Fortunately, guys like Gourdon and Vahaaminha are really imposing themselves since this autumn, well orchestrated by Serin. Still not convinced by Lopez.

    Impressed by Scotland and Cotter who gave identity to this team. Can see them winning vs Wales... but shortly lose vs England, the rose has a four leaf clover in the pocket.

  • danknapp
    4:25 PM 13/02/2017

    I loved this match, utterly enthralling. Both teams came to play an exciting brand of rugby and didn't just take easy points (which would have ended the game as a contest much sooner). France were the deserved winners.

    Scotland have obviously forgotten previous 6Ns and are really starting to get excited. I hope this is just the first chapter in a fantastic period of Scottish rugby.

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