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A20 SPORTS
Monday 13 February 2017

6 Nations: Happy ending for France in 22-16 win vs Scotland

JEROME PUGMIRE ter against England, but a 13-5 deficit, it was 16-16
AP Sports Writer this game was about resil- with 10 minutes left and
SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) ience and finding enough tough to call.
— This time, France had a grit to grind out a win. Lopez held his nerve to of-
happy ending. “Maybe it wasn’t as pretty fer a much-needed boost
Flyhalf Camille Lopez’s two but we won,” Lopez said. to coach Guy Noves, who
late penalties finished off “We just have to be satis- is in his second season in
Scotland 22-16 in a hard- fied with that and keep charge and still rebuilding.
fought Six Nations match working.” “We’re frustrated in terms
on Sunday, a week after The French had also en- of how we played but not
France succumbed to a dured narrow and frustrat- with the result,” Noves said.
demoralizing late try in a ing home losses to Australia “Last time we lost because
bitterly disappointing 19-16 and New Zealand in the of a lack of character but
loss in England. November tests and, af- this time the last quarter of
France played much bet- ter the Scots clawed back an hour went in our favor.”

Scotland’s Huw Jones, left, and Scotland’s Alex Dunbar, right,
try to stop France’s Virimi Vakatawa during the Six Nations in-
ternational rugby match between France and Scotland at the
Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Sunday,
Feb. 12, 2017.
(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Scotland’s tries came from for an early French lead.
star fullback Stuart Hogg Scotland hit back through
in the first half — his third Hogg, who scored two tries
of the tournament — and in a 27-22 win over the Irish
lock Tim Swinson’s effort af- at Murrayfield last week-
ter the break. Neither was end, and expertly took his
converted, with flyhalf Finn opportunity after a gritty
Russell failing to kick the opening 15 minutes.
extras from in front of the Following a long spell of
posts after Swinson’s try. pressure, Hogg collected
Center Gael Fickou fin- a short pass from center
ished off a good move Huw Jones and then stood
in the first half as France up scrumhalf Baptiste Serin
moved eight points ahead, for a try in the right corner.
but sloppy mistakes al- Scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw’s
lowed the Scots back in. conversion attempt from
However, following Lopez’s the touchline hit the bar.
two penalties, a converted Soon after, Lopez’s penalty
try in the last four minutes made it 6-5.
proved too much of a task Then, Scotland’s chances
for Scotland. “It was a bit of were dealt a blow when
a stop-start affair at times, Laidlaw went off with a
we couldn’t get rhythm knock to his ankle after 25
into our attack,” Scotland minutes and was replaced
coach Vern Cotter said. by Ali Price.
“Credit to the French, they “(It’s difficult) when you
came at us and created lose your captain and play-
pressure. The rucks were maker,” Cotter said.
fiercely contested.” After Laidlaw hobbled
Cotter’s side picked up off, France moved fur-
a defensive bonus point, ther ahead. The French
moving it level on five drove forward relentlessly,
points with France. France stretching the Scottish line,
is in fourth place, Scotland and after several phases
is fifth. England is top after the ball was moved wide
two wins. to Fickou, who darted into
Lopez slotted a penalty the right corner for a con-
from nearly 40 meters out verted try.q