London
2 °C
Manchester
-2 °C
Glasgow
3 °C
Dublin
3 °C
Belfast
Washington
Denver
Atlanta
17 °C
Dallas
Houston Texas
New Orleans
El Paso
15 °C
Phoenix
Los Angeles
-5 °C
-5 °C
13 °C
24 °C
20 °C
34 °C
Bourgeois inspires France to Six Nations rout of Scots / Photo: © AFP
NYSE - LSE
Bourgeois inspires France to Six Nations rout of Scots
Morgane Bourgeois scored 20 points in an outstanding performance as France outclassed Scotland in a 38-15 victory in their women's Six Nations match on Saturday.
The 22-year-old fullback contributed 15 points with the boot and scored one of the hosts four tries as they picked up a bonus point win.
Their second win in as many matches sets them well on the way to a potential blockbuster of a Grand Slam decider against holders England at Twickenham on April 26.
They are the last side to beat England, who play Wales later Saturday, in the competition but that was back in 2018.
"We put in a huge week of work after our win over Ireland (27-15)," said Bourgeois.
"We were not best pleased by that performance.
"Today was better, we executed really well."
France surged into a 10-0 lead in the 13th minute -- fly-half Carla Arbez producing a superb sidestep to outfox one Scottish defender, then breaking a tackle to touch down under the posts.
Bourgeois, who had broken the deadlock with a penalty, converted. She added another penalty soon afterwards for 13-0 as the Scots struggled to get a foothold in the contest.
However, out of the blue the Scots were back in the game as half-time approached.
Emma Orr touched down under the posts and Helen Nelson converted to send the visitors in with their tails up only 13-7 down at half-time.
Bourgeois gave the French some breathing space with another penalty in the fourth minute of the second-half for 16-7.
It quickly became 19-7 thanks to a superb drop goal by French scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus.
Nelson slotted over a penalty for 19-10 to just about keep the Scots in the game.
On the hour mark, though, the hosts finally put the game to bed with two tries in quick succession.
Impressive No 8 Teani Feleu broke down the left flank, brushed aside dismissively two tame Scottish tackles and touched down -- Bourgeois converted for 26-10.
The second try came down the other flank, a brilliant back-handed offload by Kelly Arbey released Seraphine Okemba, who coasted over the line.
It turned into a rout as Bourgeois scored to secure the French a bonus point win -- she added the extras to boot for 38-10.
The Scots dotted down for a consolation try but that failed to dampen French joy.
A. Martins--JDB
