France wins Six Nations after beating Scotland with record flourish

PARIS (AP) — France saw off a resilient Scotland 35-16 and clinched the Six Nations title with a tournament-try record on Saturday.

Coach Fabien Galthié's side needed only a victory at chilly Stade de France to ensure a first title since 2022. The bonus-point win helped Les Tricolores finish one point above England, which hammered Wales 68-14 with 10 tries.

France scored four tries to set a tournament record with 30, one more than England in 2001.

The final score was far more comfortable than the first half.

French indiscipline led to two sin-bins — one of which could have been a red for a lunging headbutt — and almost cost a try on the buzzer.

Scotland started the second half only 16-13 down and with an extra player for a few minutes, but managed just one penalty from flyhalf Finn Russell in the entire period.

The match turned following careless play from Russell, who tried a no-look pass from the back of his hand, resulting in a counterattack try in the 43rd minute.

Galloping flyhalf Romain Ntamack sent Louis Bielle-Biarrey into the left corner for his eighth try of the tournament. He equalled the record of England’s Cyril Lowe in 1914 and Scotland’s Ian Smith in 1925 when the tournament was the Five Nations.

“I’m very happy,” Bielle-Biarrey said. “But I’m more happy that we won the match.”

France took control and fullback Thomas Ramos converted his own try near the hour mark. Ramos scored 20 points to move onto 450 overall and overtake Frédéric Michalak (436) as his country's all-time leading scorer.

With the pressure off, Gaël Fickou set up midfield partner Yoram Moefana for his second try to make it 35-16 and start the celebrations.

Injured captain Antoine Dupont joined his teammates on the field, walking on crutches after rupturing cruciate ligaments in his right knee last weekend against Ireland.

“He was hurting physically and also mentally this week,” scrumhalf Maxime Lucu said. “We won it for him.”

It was a gritty start against the determined Scots.

Flanker Jamie Ritchie was sin-binned in the 12th minute for collapsing a maul and France punished the error.

On his 50th Six Nations appearance, Fickou broke through and passed inside to his midfield partner Moefana for a converted try.

Then, a reckless moment from hooker Peato Mauvaka saw him sin-binned midway through the first half for lunging with his head at scrumhalf Ben White when they were on the ground. Ramos had actually pushed White onto him.

The decision went to a bunker review as Russell’s penalty got Scotland on the board. Ramos replied from in front of the posts and there was relief in the crowd when Mauvaka’s blatant foul was not upgraded to a red card.

But the Scots still punished the French sin-bin, with Russell neatly setting up right winger Darcy Graham and then converting.

With French nerves fraying, prop Jean-Baptiste Gros was sin-binned late in the first half and Russell drew the sides level, before Ramos slotted over again in tit-for-tat play.

Scotland's running game was troubling France, however.

Fullback Blair Kinghorn galloped from inside his half and deep into France’s camp, leading to a try from center Tom Jordan in the right corner with seconds remaining in the half.

But it was ruled out following a video review because Kinghorn touched out of bounds.

Three-way title tussle

Defending champion Ireland and England both won earlier to put some pressure on record-chasing France, which became the tournament favorite again after beating Ireland 42-27 despite playing 50 minutes without Dupont.

Ireland stayed in contention by securing a scrappy bonus-point 22-17 win over Italy in Rome and England did their best to prolong the suspense.

Both ultimately fell short against a France side with erratic composure but ruthless finishing. ___

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Topics

France overpower Scotland to win Six Nations title

France secured the Six Nations championship with a flourish - and quashed England's hopes - by ultimately overpowering a dogged Scotland in Paris.
BBC News - 8h
Ruthless France beat Scotland to win Six Nations title

Watch highlights as France beat Scotland 35-16 to end England's title hopes and win the Six Nations title.
BBC News - 7h
France vs Scotland prediction: Final French flourish from champions-elect

Follow our Six Nations betting tips as France bid to wrap up the title with a win over Scotland in Paris
Yahoo Sports - 1d
France beat Scotland in thriller to win U20 Six Nations

France clinched the Under-20 Six Nations title for the first time since 2018 but were made to work for their win as they edged a 12-try thriller against a brave Scotland in Paris.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
France win Six Nations title after Moefana’s double sinks Scotland

France 35-16 Scotland Bielle-Biarrey and Ramos also score tries in victory In the end, no arguments. England may have done all they could to put France under some pressure – and Scotland went on ...
The Guardian - 8h
France face win-or-bust Six Nations duel with Scotland after England rout Wales

France faced a win-or-bust Six Nations showdown against Scotland in Paris on Saturday after England routed sorry Wales to send the title battle down to the wire.France must now defeat Scotland in ...
Yahoo Sports - 10h
How Scotland could help England to win the Six Nations

France v Scotland - LIVE
Yahoo Sports - 12h
France sweep to Six Nations title as England hand Wales record humiliation

France swept to the Six Nations title with a 35-16 victory over Scotland on Saturday, edging out bitter rivals England whose 68-14 rout of hapless Wales had sent the championship battle down to the ...
Yahoo Sports - 8h
France v Scotland match preview, coverage & key stats

Preview, team news and match facts as Scotland seek to deny France the Six Nations title by winning at the Stade de France on Saturday.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Six Nations 2025: Fixtures and results

France delivered a second-half surge to beat a battling Scotland 35-16 at the Stade de France in the final round and clinch the Six Nations title for the first time since 2022.
Yahoo Sports - 8h
France v Scotland, Six Nations 2025: What time is today’s kick-off and what TV channel is it on?

France and Scotland bring the curtain down on their 2025 Six Nations campaigns with a fifth-round clash at Stade de France.
Yahoo Sports - 17h
France takes over Six Nations lead after crushing Ireland 42-27 in Dublin

France has replaced Ireland’s hand on the Six Nations rugby trophy after a momentous 42-27 win in Dublin
ABC News - Mar. 8
France eye 'supreme objective' of Six Nations as Scotland visit

A France side brimming with confidence host Scotland on Saturday with a second Six Nations title of head coach Fabien Galthie's rollercoaster tenure on the line. The World Cup defeat to South ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
‘We can’t wait’: Scotland’s Townsend relishing France test after win over Wales

Scotland hang on to beat Wales 35-29 at Murrayfield Townsend: ‘France is the toughest fixture in world rugby’ After dominating yet another match without maximising the return on the scoreboard, ...
The Guardian - Mar. 8
How final day unfolded as France win Six Nations

BBC Sport looks how the final day unfolded as France win Six Nations
Yahoo Sports - 7h
France overpower Scotland in Paris to deny England the Six Nations title

France did not quite hit the heights of their Dublin demolition last weekend, but Les Bleus did enough on a nervy night in Paris to clinch a second Six Nations title in four years – and kill off ...
Yahoo Sports - 7h
'Does it always have to be so dramatic, Scotland?'

Scotland earn their second win of the 2025 Six Nations, but only after doing things the hard way, writes Tom English.
BBC News - Mar. 8
France 35-16 Scotland: Six Nations 2025 – live reaction

France can wrap up title; 8pm (GMT) kick-off Get in touch: email thoughts to Lee 6 mins. The visitors are not here to shepherd France to victory and FInn Russell get them going with a raking ...
The Guardian - 8h
Ten-try England rout Wales but title bid falls short

England run in 10 tries to destroy woeful Wales in Cardiff, but see their hopes of Six Nations glory vanish as France beat Scotland to win the title.
BBC News - 8h
Ten-try England rout Wales but title bid falls short

England run in 10 tries to destroy woeful Wales in Cardiff, but see their hopes of Six Nations glory vanish as France beat Scotland to win the title.
Yahoo Sports - 8h
Gray dropped by Scotland for finale against title-chasing France

Gregor Brown and Matt Fagerson replace the benched Jonny Gray and injured Jack Dempsey for Scotland's final Six Nations match away to France.
BBC News - 2d
Can Scotland's 'France-lite' thwart Les Bleus and hand England title?

Imperious yet vulnerable, France face a less clinical version of themselves as Scotland aim to spoil the hosts' Six Nations title hopes, writes Tom English.
BBC News - 22h
Can Scotland's 'France-lite' thwart Les Bleus and hand England title?

Imperious yet vulnerable, France face a less clinical version of themselves as Scotland aim to spoil the hosts' Six Nations title hopes, writes Tom English.
Yahoo Sports - 20h
France v Scotland LIVE: Score and updates from Six Nations title decider as England hope for favour

Fabien Galthie’s team will win the title with victory over Gregor Townsend’s side
Yahoo Sports - 9h
Dominant France win ends Ireland's Grand Slam hopes

Watch highlights as France beat Ireland 42-27 to end Irish Grand Slam hopes and go top of the Six Nations table.
BBC News - Mar. 8
'Wounded Ireland aim to end Six Nations on a high'

Following a humbling defeat by France, wounded Ireland approach Six Nations Super Saturday with only slim hopes of winning the title.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Try records fall as France ransack Dublin

France, and wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey in particular, have accumulated tries at an astonishing rate in this year's Six Nations.
BBC News - 5d
France vs Scotland referee: Who is Six Nations official Matthew Carley?

The Englishman is one of the referees for this year’s championship
Yahoo Sports - 22h
Italy v Ireland LIVE: Score and updates from Six Nations as visitors snatch lead

A win is a must for the visitors after their grand slam hopes were ended by France
Yahoo Sports - 15h
'Scotland bum cheek away from converting' in Paris

Scotland were "a bum cheek away from converting" as they concluded their Six Nations campaign with a loss to France, says head coach Gregor Townsend.
Yahoo Sports - 6h
France take Six Nations title race to the wire with thumping win over Ireland

Ireland 27-42 France France run in five tries in Dublin to set up grand finale This was not just a game of two halves, it was a story of two games. In the first you were counting yourself lucky ...
The Guardian - Mar. 8
France angry after Dupont suffers 'serious' injury

France head coach Fabien Galthie fears captain Antoine Dupont has sustained a "serious" knee injury during their Six Nations victory over Ireland.
BBC News - Mar. 8
Seven-try England maintain Six Nations title hopes with emphatic win over Italy

England 47-24 Italy Sleightholme scores two tries in bonus-point win Six weeks ago England would definitely have settled for their current position, still mathematically in the hunt for the Six ...
The Guardian - 6d
Mbappé in France squad after 6-month absence

Kylian Mbappé on Thursday was included in Didier Deschamps' squad for France's Nations League quarterfinals March 20 and 23, after more than a six-month absence from the team.
ESPN - 2d
Is France vs Scotland on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Six Nations clash

Everything you need to know ahead of the final fixture of the championship
Yahoo Sports - 11h
France captain Dupont has cruciate knee injury

France captain Antoine Dupont ruptured cruciate ligaments in his knee during Les Bleus' Six Nations win over Ireland on Saturday.
BBC News - 6d
Ireland overcomes Italy 22-17 in Rome to keep alive Six Nations title hopes

Ireland kept alive its Six Nations title hopes by overcoming Italy 22-17 at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday. The scrappy bonus-point win ensured France and England had to win their later matches ...
Yahoo Sports - 14h
Wales must not be 'chewed up' by losing run

Interim head coach Matt Sherratt says Wales must not fixate on breaking their record losing sequence after a 35-29 Six Nations defeat to Scotland.
BBC News - Mar. 8
Ireland Grand Slam hopes ended by rampant France

France take control of the Six Nations title race as they score 34 unanswered points to beat Ireland in Dublin and end the home side's Grand Slam hopes.
BBC News - Mar. 8