Scotland-France: defense bonus for the Blues, but an attack that was far too wasteful... The tops and the flops

TOPS

Despite the French victory in Scotland (5-15), it is difficult to stand out an offensive performance as the French were wasting ammunition (see below). So we must highlight the defensive performance of the entire French collective. It’s simple, the Scots have never managed to get past the French defense once. With a good 93% of successful tackles (122 successful out of 132 attempted) but above all great resistance in the final moments during which Scotland increased the playing time, the French victory can be put to the credit of this iron defense.

With the favorable wind in the first period, the Scots, and in particular the two centers Thomson and Orr, used this advantage to perfection. Often without a solution offensively, the two centers repeatedly pushed the French team back and reversed the pressure through kicking play. A strong point on which they relied to contain the French women in their camp as much as possible and take advantage of French mistakes.

Whether with the 100% Bordeaux first line (Deshaye, Sochat, Khalfaoui) or with their replacements (Mwayembe, Bigot and Joyeux), the Blue scrum has always pushed back the Scots and allowed the French team to be able to rely on it failing to count on a successful conquest in touch (5 balls lost in touch). Like the second French try, the French forwards made their direct opponents suffer, as was the case for Romane Ménager, voted best player of the match and real spearhead of the French attack.

FLOPS

Too hasty, imprecise and lacking lucidity in the opposing 22 meters, we long believed that the Blues would never get behind the Scottish goal line this Saturday. Whether it was through hand faults, too long footwork or simply bad choices, the number of munitions wasted by the French could have been costly if Scotland had been more dangerous. Courageous, the Scottish women especially took advantage of this lack of efficiency to stay in contact in this match.

The Scotland fly-half struggled against the French women's XV this Saturday. Uninspired to lead a Scottish attack which relied on its forwards to advance, the number 10 of the Chardon girls also suffered in her kicking game. In the current game already, with several games with too long or poorly balanced feet, but also against the poles with in particular two attempts, although easy and close to the poles, completely missed. So many points left behind which could have cost Scotland dearly.