France Defeats Scotland, Clinches Six Nations Championship

PARIS, France — France clinched the Six Nations championship on Saturday with a convincing 35-16 victory over Scotland at Stade de France, showcasing their dominance in the tournament and ending England’s title hopes in the process.

Fabien Galthie‘s squad surged to an early lead, scoring 10 unanswered points, which included two tries from Yoram Moefana and a penalty from Thomas Ramos, who also became France’s all-time top points scorer. By the final whistle, France had set a new Six Nations record with a total of 30 tries across their five matches, eclipsing the previous record of 29 set by England in 2001.

Scotland struggled to keep pace, suffering a yellow card to Jamie Ritchie early in the match. Despite this setback, they managed to stay competitive, with Finn Russell converting three penalties and Darcy Graham scoring a try to make it a tight 16-13 at halftime. However, the early momentum created by the French proved too challenging for the visitors to overcome.

“It was a dream beginning for the title-chasers,” commented Galthie. “But Scotland came back strong; they always have the ability to surprise.”

In the second half, France regained control, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey equaling the all-time single-season championship try-scoring record by scoring his eighth try of the campaign. The French continued to capitalize on Scotland’s mistakes, leading to more scores, including another try from Moefana.

Ramos’s early penalty saw France lead 3-0 and set the tone for what would become a relentless onslaught. Although Scotland appeared to threaten at times, including a disallowed try from Tom Jordan just before the break, they couldn’t maintain the pressure needed to challenge the French.

As the match unfolded, Scotland’s attempts to retaliate were met with careful French defense and strategic play. A notable moment occurred when Russell made a beautiful inside pass to Graham, allowing him to break through and score, momentarily putting Scotland in contention.

Blair Kinghorn launched a promising attack just before halftime, but a crucial foot-in-touch call disallowed the effort, frustrating the Scottish side. “That was a turning point,” noted Scotland co-captain Russell. “We felt we could have had more if not for a few missed opportunities.”

In the closing stages, the French bench made a significant impact, and Ramos’s try made it 28-16, signaling a decisive moment for the hosts. The power-play from the French maul kept Scotland on the back foot as they struggled against the fresh legs of the French replacements.

The final try from Moefana was a fitting end to a dominant performance. As fans erupted in celebration, the absence of their star player Antoine Dupont in the lineup only underscored France’s depth and talent.

“We didn’t need him today, but he is crucial for us moving forward,” added Galthie. “The team’s resilience showed today that we are capable of handling challenges.”

As the home fans celebrated, the victory confirmed France’s status as the leading team in this year’s Six Nations, a title that they will retain with pride as they look forward to future competitions.