France Clinches Six Nations Glory With Hard-Fought Victory Over Scotland

FRANCE 35-16 SCOTLAND

France cemented their status as Six Nations champions with a commanding 35-16 victory over Scotland in Paris, overcoming a spirited challenge to reclaim the coveted title. In front of a raucous home crowd, Les Bleus delivered when it mattered most, securing their first championship triumph since 2022.

France Responds to England’s Dominant Win

Earlier in the day, England had sent a statement with a ruthless 64-14 demolition of Wales, meaning France had no margin for error. A win was the only option, and despite a resilient Scottish side pushing them to the limit, the hosts got the job done in emphatic fashion.

Moefana Strikes First as France Seizes Early Momentum

The contest began with high intensity, and France wasted no time asserting their dominance. Yoram Moefana found the breakthrough after a slick combination with Gaël Fickou, slicing through Scotland’s defensive line to open the scoring.

However, the early lead did little to settle French nerves. Their aggressive start was soon disrupted when hooker Peato Mauvaka received a yellow card for a dangerous clash with Scotland scrum-half Ben White. With a man down, France found themselves under pressure.

Scotland Battles Back Amidst French Ill-Discipline

Taking advantage of their numerical superiority, Scotland responded with a well-worked try from Darcy Graham. The visitors then kept their foot on the gas, capitalizing on repeated French infractions to level the score through a penalty.

Discipline continued to plague the hosts as prop Jean-Baptiste Gros was also sent to the sin bin following a series of infringements. Suddenly, France’s title hopes looked vulnerable.

Ntamack and Bielle-Biarrey Spark Second-Half Surge

Despite their shaky first half, France emerged from the break with renewed purpose. Their moment of magic came when Romain Ntamack pounced on a loose ball deep inside his own half. Outpacing the Scottish defense, he fed the ball to the electrifying Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who showcased his trademark speed to race over the line.

With the crowd behind them, France shifted gears. Thomas Ramos soon extended the lead with a well-worked try off a clinical lineout move, making it 30-16 and putting the result beyond doubt.

Moefana Seals the Victory as France Celebrates

Any lingering Scottish hopes were crushed when Moefana added his second try of the match. As the clock wound down, the Stade de France erupted in celebration, signaling the return of French dominance in the Six Nations.

France Finds Redemption After Recent Setbacks

For France, this triumph represents more than just another title. After the disappointment of their 2024 Six Nations campaign and the heartbreak of their 2023 World Cup semifinal exit, this victory serves as redemption for Fabien Galthié’s squad.

“It’s a relief to win after two years of seeing others lift trophies,” said fullback Thomas Ramos. “There was a lot of stress at the beginning, but the halftime break did us good.”

Head coach Galthié echoed those sentiments, commending his team’s resilience. “It was a very difficult game, not the scenario we expected. But the team reacted well and we scored four tries again,” he said.

A Statement of Intent for France’s Golden Generation

With a squad brimming with talent, France’s so-called “golden generation” has reasserted itself on the international stage. This Six Nations crown not only restores confidence but also sets the foundation for future dominance. As the rugby world watches, one thing is clear—Les Bleus are back, and they mean business.

Line-ups

FRANCE

15-Ramos; 14-Penaud, 13-Fickou, 12-Moefana, 11-Bielle-Biarrey; 10-Ntamack, 9-Lucu; 1-Gros, 2-Mauvaka, 3-Atonio, 4-Flament, 5-Guillard, 6-Cros, 7-Boudehent, 8-Alldritt (capt).

Replacements: 16-Marchand, 17-Baille, 18-Aldegheri, 19-Auradou, 20-Meafou, 21-Jegou, 22-Jelonch, 23-Le Garrec.

SCOTLAND

15-Kinghorn; 14-Graham, 13-Jones, 12-Jordan, 11-Van der Merwe; 10-Russell (co-capt), 9-White; 1-Schoeman, 2-Cherry, 3-Z Fagerson, 4-Brown, 5-Gilchrist, 6-Ritchie, 7-Darge (co-capt), 8-M Fagerson.

Replacements: 16-Ashman, 17-Sutherland, 18-Hurd, 19-Johnson, 20-Sykes, 21-Muncaster, 22-Dobie, 23-McDowall.

Stats

FRANCE (16) 35

Try: Moefana (18′, 62′), Bielle-Biarrey (43′), Ramos (57′)

Conversion: Ramos (18′, 44′, 58′)

Penalty: Ramos (4′, 26′, 39′)

SCOTLAND (13) 16

Try: Graham (29′)

Conversion : Conversion : Russell (30′)

Penalty : Russell (21′, 36′, 51′)

Man of the match: Yoram Moefana (France)

Referee: Matthew Carley (England)

Guinness Six Nations 2025 | All Reports

Guinness Six Nations 2025 | Homepage