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15. Blair Kinghorn – 8
Added pace and energy whenever he got on the ball, with an impressive 178 metres made off 15 carries, leading to the official player-of-the-match award. Unfortunate to have a try chalked off because a knock-on by Darcy Graham earlier in the move was belatedly highlighted by the TMO.

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14. Darcy Graham – 8
Spent the early part of the game tidying up other peoples’ messes. Took his try well, a brilliantly timed and executed tackle on Brice Dulin a short time later set up an excellent turnover, always looking for work, and an absolute handful every time he gets his hands on the ball.
13. Huw Jones – 6
Few chances to shine in the first half but came into the game as Scotland got on top after the break. Important rip stole possession as France tried to reclaim the initiative after Scotland’s third try.
12. Sione Tuipulotu  – 6
Struggled to impose himself in the way he consistently did during the Six Nations, especially during the first half, and was then replaced by Cameron Redpath just ahead of the hour mark.
11. Duhan van der Merwe – 7
A deadly combination of pace and power which is hard to stop when he is in this sort of mood. He broke eight tackles over the course of the match. But all that running across the pitch inside his own 22 isn’t good for the blood pressure.

10. Finn Russell – 7
This was the first time he had captained any team from the start of the match and he took to it like a duck to water. Good rapport with the referee, a calm head when things didn’t go right in the first half, kicked accurately and judiciously from hand and tee, and still managed to produce enough trademark flashes of flair to keep the opposition guessing.
9. Ben White – 5
Perhaps his least assured performance since breaking into the Scotland side just under a year and a half ago, before that ankle injury led to his 30th minutes departure. His slightly longs box-kick handed France the possession which led to their opening try, got himself in a tangle at the back of one maul which had been marched backwards, and an unsympathetic pass back inside to an onrushing forward derailed a promising attack just before he was replaced. Strange that he was left on the park for several minutes after picking up that injury.

 
1. Pierre Schoeman – 6
Caught on his heels defending the side of the ruck when Woki powered over for France’s third try. Scored one of his own in similar fashion which hauled Scotland right back into it a shirt time after Fagerson’s sending off. Scrummed well and remains Scotland’s first choice number one.
2. Ewan Ashman – 6
Battled to get into the game but it just didn’t quite click in the loose like he would have hoped, and the line-out wasn’t altogether convincing. Not an opportunity missed, but neither will he feel he grabbed his chance with both hands.
3. Zander Fagerson – 5
Four penalties conceded in total. Gregor Townsend reckons the red-carding offence was a “rugby incident”, but head-on-head is a big no, which he knows full well from bitter experience back in 2021, He came from distance with very little realistic chance of connecting with Bourgarit below the neckline given Darcy Graham’s positioning. The French hooker roared in pain and hit the deck dramatically after the collision, so slightly curious that he didn’t have to go for an HIA.
4. Richie Gray – 6
A nuisance to France on their ball and the primary source of Scotland’s touchline possession, although he didn’t have it all his own way with Cameron Woki managing two steals. Worked hard around the park with nine carries and seven tackles, but looked like he needs another game to get full up to speed.
5. Grant Gilchrist– 6
Some good hard yards made in heavy traffic and nine tackles  from this tireless workhorse. Replaced by Scott Cummings on 71 minutes.
6. Matt Fagerson – 7
Can always be relied upon to get through a shedload of work. Contributed 14 tackles (the most of any player on the park)  and nine carries for 23 metres in this game.
7. Hamish Watson – 6
Not the dominant character he once was, but still a mighty fine operator both sides of the ball. Perhaps sucked in slightly for France’s second try but, realistically, he wasn’t getting to Louis Bielle-Biarrey so can’t really be pinpointed as at fault. Will be hoping for another chance and a vintage performance next week to shake Rory Darge off his back.
8. Jack Dempsey – 6
Intercepted five-yards from the French line 15 minutes in, on one of the few moments Scotland looked dangerous during the first half, and although he got good g0-forward for his team generally, with 65 metres made from seven carries, you wonder if Matt Fagerson’s relentlessness both sides of the ball might give him the edge in the final reckoning for the No 8 jersey against South Africa.

Replacements –
16. Dave Cherry – 7
A nuts and bolts hooker who hit his man at the line-out, controlled the ball at the back of the maul well to claim the try which put Scotland ahead, and worked hard in every play.
17. Jamie Bhatti – 6
Another solid all round performance from a player who was deemed surplus to requirements by both Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh a short time ago. One of the great survivors and characters of Scottish pro rugby, and deserves every good thing tat comes his way.
18. WP Nel – 7
Looks like the 37-year-old is about to become a very important figure in Scotland’s World Cup campaign, and he is showed here that he is up for the challenge with an indomitable rearguard scrummaging effort and eight tackles during 23 minutes on the park (one tackle every 2.875 minutes) which was the highest hit-rate of any player in the match.
19. Scott Cummings – 5
Managed two carries for nine yards and one tackle during the final nine minutes.
20, Rory Darge – 6
Snatched the injury-time turnover which prompted wild scenes of mass jubilation at the end of Scotland’s biggest ever comeback win. He’s the coming man and needs to be given as much time in the saddle as possible.
21. George Horne – 7
Not as easy to get those game-breaking second touches at international level as opposed to club level, but played an important role in setting the tone and tempo of Scotland’s much-improved second half performance.
22. Cam Redpath – 6
Ended up at flanker during those high-pressure scrums at the end as the Scottish seven were squeezed by France’s eight, and an excellent tag-team effort with Rory Darge secured that crucial injury-time turnover penalty.
23. Ollie Smith – N/A
Didn’t get on.

RWC23: Scotland v France reaction: Gregor Townsend faces anxious wait over Ben White and Zander Fagerson

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