France 51 Scotland 9
France signalled their World Cup intentions by ravaging Scotland at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney today. Outhalf Frederic Michalak led the rout with 28 points as Scotland collapsed badly after an encouraging start.
The manner and margin of France's victory will give England coach Clive Woodward something to ponder if the two sides do meet at the same venue on October 16th, but for his Scottish counterpart Ian McGeechan there are seven days of worry ahead before his side face Fiji in a qualification decider at Aussie Stadium.
Chris Paterson was quick to level Frederic Michalak's early penalty and though the French outhalf later landed a drop-goal, Scotland were well in the game until Glenn Metcalfe was penalised for catching Fabien Galthie with a high tackle.
Television replays suggested Irish referee David McHugh had got it wrong and the initial impact had been round the shoulder. It might not have meant much to the final score but Michalak's successful penalty sagged Scottish spirits.
Soon after France worked a fine backrow combination as openside flanker Olivier Magne broke through midfield, number eight Imanol Harinordoquy took the ball on and blindside Serge Betsen touched down.
From being in a contest, France were suddenly in the clear. Paterson and Michalak exchanged penalties before the break, but the damage had been done.
After the break, Nicolas Brusque slotted over a drop-goal which gave his side a bit more breathing space then Harinordoquy spearheaded a French forward charge from a close-range line-out to grab his side's second try.
Paterson interrupted the scoring flow with a penalty which Scotland might have been better to run, but the faint hopes his side still held were quickly extinguished.
Michalak slipped through a couple of woeful tackles and crashed over to complete his haul, then veteran skipper Galthie charged to the corner after the French pack had wheeled the Scots off their own scrum.
Another Michalak penalty edged France further clear, then, in the final minute, Brusque completed a magnificent kick and chase by charging in at the corner. Michalak's conversion brought up the half century and completed a night of misery for Scotland.