It was the epitome of the union of the six nations and rugby. Tense and furious, every tackle mattered, and every mistake had a meaningful impact. The draw contrasts sharply with Saturday’s game in the Principality.
It may have gone against common sense, but the potential for a Scottish return seemed perfectly reasonable, at times inevitable, until it happened. When Gael Ficu raced to the trial line, earning his team the coveted bonus point and depriving Scotland of one of theirs, Scotland was simply out of the game.
Even then, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Finn Russell somehow turned back time and wanted to win.
Scotland is constantly called the champion dark horse, her qualities are always evident, but her reputation is further strengthened by impressive victories over England and Wales, in which Russell shone. But her fans know only too well what a test hope brings, as it only prolongs the inevitable pain. And after eight minutes, her ambitions for the Grand Slam tournaments seemed to have collapsed.
Discussions about Scottish rugby inevitably turn to Russell. He is the dominant force on the pitch, nearly eclipsing the other 14 men next to him. His greatness is full of flaws, and usually one outweighs the other. If it’s the former, Scotland seems unstoppable. On that day, his magic helped to show that Scotland could beat France and possibly anyone, if not through their own mistakes.
For Scotland it was just eight of the 80 minutes that betrayed the 70 minutes of good work they put in. The French heavy carries and deadly speed ripped through their defense too easily, allowing Romain Ntamak to score the game’s first try five minutes later. IN.
Two minutes later, Grant Gilchrist was sent off for shooting Anthony Jeloncha in the head with a shoulder, leaving Scottish fans from Paris to Glasgow bewildered to believe. The French scored again thanks to Ethan Dumortier. Eleven minutes later, it was Thomas Ramos who pocketed Russell to make it 19-0.
The game alternated between hectic and unprecedented, with both sides switching roles for 80 minutes. This early period for Scotland was largely hectic and tense, causing more drama on the pitch than the SNP’s lead play, which is saying something.
France, on the other hand, remained calm and thrived in the chaos of the game. Your midfielders are almost psychopaths in their composure.
When Russell’s unmistakable presence emerged and brought with it the quality of Hugh Jones and Sione Tuipulot, Scotland changed enthusiasm to confidence and began to put pressure on Fabien Galtier’s side. It was France that suddenly seemed tense, restless and under pressure.
Russell’s miss on the interception of Ramos could attract headlines and hype, but the flying half was great as he put the ball on the line and engaged runners both outside and inside.
His beautifully executed pass to Hugh Jones was one of those Messi-style performances that he does so effortlessly. His movement and passing choices open up opportunities and help create great running lines for both his center Jones and Sione Tuipulotu.
This Scottish team is full of confidence and quality, but it’s easy to wonder where they would be without Russell. Although it would be funnier to imagine where they would be without the bugs standing in the way of the magic he summons.
Source: I News
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.