With the expulsion of their second line Grant Gilchrist from the 7th minute of the match, the disputed meeting, Sunday February 26 at the Stade de France, could have looked like a long way of the cross.
But they were able to count on the indiscipline of the French, in turn reduced to 14, and the quality of their three-quarters to threaten the French until the end who finally won 32 to 21.
The Scots only played shorthanded for 4 minutes as French prop Mohamed Haouas also received a red card in the 11th minute for a Scots header.
A player who had already been sent off in 2020 in the Scotland-France match for a punch.
The French showed formidable efficiency in the first twenty minutes, scoring two tries by Romain Ntamack and Ethan Dumortier on their only two forays into the opposition's 22.
And Thomas Ramos was responsible for registering a third on a superb interception from the French camp.
Trailing 19-0, the Scots were able to get their hands on the ball and bring danger into the opposing camp, prop Zander Fagerson narrowly missing out on his team's first try.
The efforts of the XV du Chardon are rewarded in the 26th minute with a good run from the three-quarter center Huw Jones, perfectly launched by his opener Finn Russell, who scores between the posts.
The Scottish playmaker, who plays in the Top14 in the colors of Racing 92, was particularly expected on the lawn of the Stade de France.
And he was able to brilliantly animate the Scottish attack on the rare balls he was able to play.
Taken by the aggressive defense of the Blues, the Scots indeed struggled to be dangerous during the first half, returning to the locker room with the score of 7 to 22.
The Scottish Flame
The fifteen minutes spent in the heat did the Scots the greatest good, determined to save their chance of achieving a Grand Slam this year.
As soon as the game resumed, they multiplied the offensives, like Huw Jones who pierced the French defense to sign a double in the 48th.
The Scottish grip on the match becomes stronger and stronger as the minutes go by, the game taking place practically only in the French camp.
And on their rare attack balls, the French no longer know the same success, like Ethan Dumortier who sees a Scottish defender prevent him from flattening the ball in the opposing in-goal.
Scottish opener Finn Russell further lowered the already very cool temperature by scoring a try in the 68th minute, thus bringing his team to 4 points behind (25-21).
The management of the Blues then made its final changes to try to restore vigor to the team in the last 10 minutes, in particular by bringing in Mathieu Jalibert as opener.
The Blues no longer leave the Scottish camp at the end of the meeting, the forwards pounding and dominating their Scottish opponents.
They end this meeting better and can finally breathe when they see Gaël Fickou score a try in the 79th minute, transformed by Thomas Ramos (32-21).
The Blues suffered in the second half but they are back to winning ways in this Tournament after their defeat in Ireland.
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